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The Irish Orphan

from Ota Benga by The May Day Orchestra

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    High quality vinyl pressing from Pirates Press. Two 12" records (cut at 45rpm) with lyric sheet and liner notes.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Ota Benga via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 2 days

      $15 USD or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    CD version includes booklet with lyrics and liner notes.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Ota Benga via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 2 days

      $10 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1 USD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

lyrics

Crops are failing because the workers have gone
you'd know without opening your eyes
while the noisy shareholders are happy
as ever with their dividends
and an Irish orphan becomes the British consul
in the free state of Leopold
a place that is haunted by the ghosts
of all who had been enslaved
his report brings this mad king to the world
undoes the lies of an empire

then back to England with reports of slavery
to report just what he saw
he'll go to the docks to explain the difference
between moral grounds and the law
for reporting on the enemy
our Casement he was knighted
refused each and every bribe tempted by that devil king

reported back to England and it was to their liking
if this occurred in Europe all the workers would be striking
but England sends the guns and Belgium forged this chain
thousands have died of exhaustion
Joseph Conrad met with Mister Kurtz
who had gone mad from the sun
Casement told Conrad
there's a heart of darkness in everyone

(Ota an orphan bought at the slave market
from one hell to another
dreams of a circus a great carnival)

credits

from Ota Benga, released November 9, 2010

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all rights reserved

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about

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The May Day Orchestra St. Louis, Missouri

The May Day Orchestra was founded in 2008 by songwriter Tim Rakel. The current line-up features drummer Mary DeLeonardis, bassist Jake DeLeonardis and guitarist Charlie Tabing. The band is currently releasing installments of their fourth album.

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