Name: Blessed
Duration: P00H05M43S
Description: By Esme and Brigitte

Esme - Blessed

from Spotlights by String of Hearts CIC

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about

By Esme and Brigitte

lyrics

"Mama", said my son,
"Do you realise you’ve been in England now for 60 years?"
60 years, 60 years!
A long, long story of laughter and tears.

My husband made the finest shoes.
He left Jamaica, feeling hopeful and bold.
With a reference he tried his luck
"Do you think we need more n**** here?" he was told.

I am blessed, I am truly blessed
Every day that I live I am blessed.
When I wake up in the morning 'til I lay my head to rest
I am blessed, I am blessed, truly blessed.

In ‘61 I followed him
and left my children in my mother’s care.
Started working as a nurse,
we saved the money for each child’s fare.

Our rented house was on Upper Brook Road.
Sometimes the landlord sent his wife to spy on us
But we, full of faith went about our life
We did not ask - the question "Why?".

I remember getting home one day
from hospital, - this sounds insane -
a policeman came and said to me,
"your son has just stepped off the plane".

Time passed and the children grew.
Sometimes I missed my homeland’s flowers.
The hibiscus’, the purple tree of life,
I imagine the colours for hours.

I put on my hat with the pheasant’s feather.
Went to church, sang where the choir sat.
In all my life I trust the Lord
And came to be known as the 'Woman with the hat’.

Today I’m on my own, my husband has passed.
He had dementia and knew me no more.
My children, grandchildren, even great-grandchildren
bring me lunch each day and come through my door.