Four Jacks And A Jill – Master Jack lyrics

The song is by a south african band and is about apartheid. How the youth were sold the idea and couldn't question as master jack told them it was 'god's law'. I believe they left the country shortly after this song possibly fearing the master's wrath and to live a different life where churches don't preach loving your neighbour, except if he's a kaffir. But it was never banned, master was that bright - black beauty was banned even though it was a story about a horse.

I think that this song is a backlash by English speaking South Africans against the perceived treatment of South Africa and Rhodesia by the uk aka Master (Union) Jack and how they were moving against a perceived unshakable loyalty to the uk and finding common ground with Afrikaans speakers. 'It's a strange world' yet no one understands are often the way that many Saffas feel to those who condemn Apartheid yet never lived in rsa. Apart from this the lyrics speak of a thanks yet a need to move away from Jack as many English speakers did feeling alienated by the uk.
There are also several visual references such as the two lions (symbolic of British coats of arms) being faded out in favour of two Bokke (traditionally associated with rsa crests). Also look at the colours they're wearing- orange, blue and white; synomomous with the rsa flag from the 1920's-1994.
In short it's about the identity, yet rememberence of the English speakers in an independent and isolated rsa.

It's an "elisa doolittle" type relationship. An older. Wiser "master" finds a young girl, begins molding her, teaching, her about life, then. Love (i saw right thru the way you started teaching me love, and how you hoped to someday use it somehow. " come on people, it's not rocket science. He taught her many thngs because she was so young, but she wasn't too naive to realize he was actually grooming her to be his s** slave.

One has to consider the time and circumstances in South Africa when this song was released. The country was already long independent from English rule and was governed by the National Party who did many things that spoke against the principles of human freedom. Apart from apartheid there was also laws that forced boys leaving school to join the army. This song is about how the government indoctrinated the citizens of the country by making all these inhumane laws seem colorful, "a ribbon from the skies, tying op the problems, selling it to the people on the streets" 
The writers eyes then opens up to reality seeing that all these laws were to control the citizens and "enslave" them to this "master" who is so "kind" to his people. Protecting them under the guise of enslaving them. And he has to leave that loyalty to his country to see the country and the world through their own eyes, beyond the disguises and the lies. To see the reality of how wrong things are.
Why does he thank him? Because he taught him the ways that governments and institutions cover up their indiscretions and agendas by tying it up in pretty little packages and selling it (propaganda) to the people on the streets. Preparing him for being able to recognize it in the future. Leaving him is leaving his blind loyalty to the country's rule and seeing the world for himself, for what it really is. And he learned that in fact the world isn't as simple as they propagated, but that the world is indeed strange, seeing how those who are there to serve and protect you, are there only for their own personal gain and to retain control over those very people. 

I've heard a different version - the term "Master Jack" was something like a shift leader on the gold mines way back when in SA... someone with experience who knew the ropes. Apparantly the song grew up in the mining environment. No guarantees but I've been told that ;-) okay