Citizen Shanty

• Words & Music: Boff Whalley
• Music: Based on Roll The Old Chariot Along, a traditional sea shanty.
• Notes: At the Conservative Party Conference in 2016, Theresa May declared that "If you believe you are a citizen of the world, you're a citizen of nowhere". This song was written in response, as a declaration of support and encouragement to all those people across the globe having to flee their homes and look for help in other parts of the world. It's hopefully sung as an uplifting, positive and joyful declaration of our love of humanity - a melodic hand of friendship. To be sung with gusto!

Well, we’ve come a long way for to find our­selves a home (×3)
‘Cos we’re cit­i­zens of the world.

And you’re more than, more than wel­come here,
And you’re more than, more than wel­come here,
And you’re more than, more than wel­come here,
‘Cos you’re cit­i­zens of the world.

Well my moth­er abnd her moth­er and her moth­er before, (×3)
They were cit­i­zens of the world.

And here’s a hand to help you ashore, (×3)
‘Cos you’re cit­i­zens of the world.

Well our nation’s roots spread wide and deep
‘Cos we’re cit­i­zens of the world.

Well you’re nowhere if you believe There­sa May, (×3)
‘Cos we’re cit­i­zens of the world.

Extra verse:
It’s time to end deten­tions and to open all the doors, (×3)
‘Cos we’re cit­i­zens of the world.

You can hear the Com­mon­ers Choir sing it here (note — Boff changed the sec­ond verse to ‘moth­er’ when he shared the song at a street choir massed sing in Brighton in 2018.)