A hundred years in the skin of a slave
And just after a hundred more years
Looking for crumbs under the tables
Before the whites step on them
Sleeping on bundles of planks
Singing but only on Sundays
Oh, you see the black woman
In the role of the maid
With her man all twisted beside her
After that, you shouldn't be surprised

It's them who made
Them who made
Son House and Charlie Patton
Howlin' Wolf and Blind Lemon

The blood of Africa is bright red on the pretty cotton flower
The brand new America, the beautiful democracy "welcome"
Boats deporting villages
At the end of the immense journey
Oh, engraved in memory
For light years
Each ivory tear and each iron necklace
After that, you shouldn't be surprised

It's them who made
Them who made
Son House and Charlie Patton
Howlin' Wolf and Blind Lemon

Always pleasing the ghost merchants
(Them who made)
She who is bought and he who is given
(Them who made)
Born with the maximum penalty
(Them who made)
But always alive in what we are
(Them who made)
The people forbidden from the rest of men
(Them who made)
Looking for the blue of the old kingdom
(Them who made)
It's them who made, you shouldn't be surprised
(Them who made)
Son House and Charlie Patton
Ma Rainey and Robert Johnson
Howlin' Wolf and Blind Lemon
Son House and Charlie Patton

Always pleasing the ghost merchants
She who is bought and he who is given
Born with the maximum penalty
Always alive in what we are
The people forbidden from the rest of men
(Them who made)
Looking for the blue of the old kingdom
(Them who made)
It's them who made, you shouldn't be surprised
(Them who made) Son House and Charlie Patton

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