Come Away

by Matana Roberts

From the album: Coin Coin Chapter Three: River Run Thee

Track 10 of 12 on Coin Coin Chapter Three: River Run Thee (2015).

Duration: 05:25

Coin Coin Chapter Three: River Run Thee cover art

Lyrics for Come Away

Our boat first boarded the dhow inside the ship and probably within Three miles of land, therefore in Zanzibar waters which exempted Her from capture without the commission of it was therefore useless To detain her any longer as there would have been no probability Of obtaining a condemnation. On returning to Zanzibar a few weeks Later I found the owner had reported the occurrence in a tone of Injured innocence to the Sultan who pretended to be very irate about It but I gave him to understand that I only regretted not having Risked detaining her altogether and taking her into court if she Had too many slaves on board. On the afternoon of the 2nd of August The cutter chased a dhow and the boarding party found a cargo of Forty slaves on her. The dhow was brought alongside the paper to Take her into the charter to examine them which he did he found her Licensed to take forty nine slaves only the forty was a small Laughing infant on the back of its mother who appeared to be about That age as I heard in England they are of the only two seasons Through the interpreter I asked the owner how was he had one slave More than the other one infant very small sir well that doesn't Exempt it from the tax why is it not put in the papers It was born since we were in Zanzibar how long since you Left three days sir tell him black baby grow very fast Yes sir nigger woman not know how she got baby till she Finds it come down her back then tell him it is God's person

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More from Coin Coin Chapter Three: River Run Thee

  1. All Is Written
  2. The Good Book Says
  3. Clothed to the Land, Worn by the Sea
  4. Dreamer of Dreams
  5. Always Say Your Name
  6. Nema, Nema, Nema
  7. A Single Man O' War
  8. As Years Roll By
  9. This Land Is Yours
  10. Come Away
  11. With Me Seek
  12. J.P.