The song describes British imperialism in India from 1858 to 1947. It notes that the British declared themselves rulers in 1858 and sought to industrialize and use India as a "money machine." While the British brought infrastructure and goods, they primarily cared about spreading Christianity, industrialization, and nationalism and "ruined" India's "tenured way of life." The song suggests that while the British left in 1947, their culture and influence still remain in India today.
2. British-Indian Imperialism
The British Came in 1858 declaring themselves
rulers of India
They wanted to industrialize us and make us into
a money machine
And soon we were but what do you know
It turns out that their promises weren’t true.
They said they wouldn’t use us but that wasn’t true
And what do we say
3. British-Indian Imperialism
Chorus
Oh the British came and turned us into a money
machine
But so turns out that we were just a jewel for
them
they only cared about spreading
Christianity, Industrialization , And Nationalism
And ruined our tenured way of life
4. British-Indian Imperialism
We thank the British for the great government
We thank them for the great schools
We thank them for the railroads, the
telegraph, the postal service , the cotton
But what about the massive starvation
The destruction of our local values?
And What do we say
5. British-Indian Imperialism
Chorus
Oh the British came and turned us into a money
machine
But so turns out that we were just a jewel for
them
they only cared about spreading
Christianity, Industrialization , And Nationalism
And ruined our tenured way of life
6. British-Indian Imperialism
Though our population boomed
And our resources needs were met
We were nothing but a jewel for Queen Victoria
She paraded us around like a play thing
And what do you expect we were nothing but a
colony
And what do we say.
7. British-Indian Imperialism
Chorus
Oh the British came and turned us into a money
machine
But so turns out that we were just a jewel for
them
they only cared about spreading
Christianity, Industrialization , And Nationalism
And ruined our tenured way of life
8. British-Indian Imperialism
Though they got kicked out in 1947
Who's to say they even left
With their culture still around us everywhere
They polluted our every way of life
In the end it was a good thing but
How can we be the same
9. British-Indian Imperialism
Chorus
Oh the British came and turned us into a money
machine
But so turns out that we were just a jewel for
them
they only cared about spreading
Christianity, Industrialization , And Nationalism
And ruined our tenured way of life
