Bar on the West Coast of South Africa
In a hole in the wall bar on the west coast of South Africa, a man is found with a poem inked in flesh…
‘The Roker’s Song’
In a hole in the wall bar on the west coast of South Africa, a man is found with a poem inked in flesh.. The Roker’s Song.
I’ve found versions of this poem as far back as 1943 with different versions of events. Each. hold the same theme. This tattooed version includes Dagga (a name for Cannabis in Africa).
The Roker’s Song
A Roker Boy came here one night
and found his house without a light
He struck a match to go to bed
when a sudden thought came into his head
He went into his daughter’s room
and found her hanging from a beam
He took his knife and cut her down
and on her breast these words he found
My love was for a Roker Boy
who smoked his dagga just for joy
So dig my grave and dig it deep
and plant some dagga at my feet
And on my breast a turtle dove
to show the world I died for love
Now all young Sheilas bear in mind
a Roker’s love is hard to find
If you find one good and true
never change it for a new
