He was just an ailing boy
Seventeen or more
Went away to cotton fields
Upon a distant shore

He was weak, but he was strong
Within his will and mind
He was loved by everyone
Each colour, creed and kind

Even the people that were picking the cotton said
Mmm the spirit is strong
Yes, the people that were picking the cotton said
Mmm the spirit is strong

Heard of diamonds in the west
He could see them glow
Bright and shining in his hand
He knew he had to go

Jack of spades to king of diamonds
Born to lead the land
Sweet charisma of the soul
Is the magic of the man

Even the people that were digging the diamonds said
Mmm the spirit is strong
Yes the people that were digging the diamonds said
Mmm the spirit is strong

Then his eyes were turning North
England in his mind
Shan't be long to Cairo now
With one railroad line

There were Impi's making war
To stop him they would kill
But he conquered them with words
And the power of his will

Even the people that were making the war said
Mmm the spirit is strong
Yes the people that were making the war said
Mmm the spirit is strong

When the end was near he said
Take me to my North
Laid him in a simple grave
In stone of mother earth

He did not want the Abbey splendour
Epitaphs in gold
Just a lone Matopo hill
Where one could view the world

Even the people that visit the hill say
Mmm the spirit is strong
Yes the people that visit the hill say
Mmm the spirit is strong