The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
If you call am woman
African woman no go 'gree
She go say, she go say, "I be lady, oh"
She go say, "I be lady, oh"
She go say, "I be lady"
She go say, "I no be woman"
She go say, "Market woman na woman"
She go say, "I be lady"
I want tell you about lady
I want tell you about lady
I want tell you about lady
She go say him equal to man
She go say him get power like man
She go say anything man do himself fit do
I never tell you finish
I never tell you finish
I never tell you finish
I never tell you finish
I never tell you
She go want take cigar before anybody
She go want make you open door for am
She go want make man wash plate
For am, for kitchen
She want salute man
She go, sit down for chair
She want salute man
She go, sit down for chair
She want sit down
For table before anybody
She want sit down
For table before anybody
She want a piece of meat
Before anybody
She want a piece of meat
Before anybody
Call am for dance
She go dance lady dance
Call am for dance
She go dance lady dance
African woman go dance
She go dance the fire dance
African woman go dance
She go dance the fire dance
She know him man na master
She go cook for am
She go do anything he say
But lady, no be so
But lady, no be so
But lady, no be so
But lady, no be so
Lady na master
Lady na master
African woman no go 'gree
She go say, she go say, "I be lady, oh"
She go say, "I be lady, oh"
She go say, "I be lady"
She go say, "I no be woman"
She go say, "Market woman na woman"
She go say, "I be lady"
I want tell you about lady
I want tell you about lady
I want tell you about lady
She go say him equal to man
She go say him get power like man
She go say anything man do himself fit do
I never tell you finish
I never tell you finish
I never tell you finish
I never tell you finish
I never tell you
She go want take cigar before anybody
She go want make you open door for am
She go want make man wash plate
For am, for kitchen
She want salute man
She go, sit down for chair
She want salute man
She go, sit down for chair
She want sit down
For table before anybody
She want sit down
For table before anybody
She want a piece of meat
Before anybody
She want a piece of meat
Before anybody
Call am for dance
She go dance lady dance
Call am for dance
She go dance lady dance
African woman go dance
She go dance the fire dance
African woman go dance
She go dance the fire dance
She know him man na master
She go cook for am
She go do anything he say
But lady, no be so
But lady, no be so
But lady, no be so
But lady, no be so
Lady na master
Lady na master
Lyrics submitted by Anarchitect
Lady Lyrics as written by Fela Kuti
Lyrics © F.K.O. Music, BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, BMG VM MUSIC FRANCE
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Such an addictive rhythm to this song...
As for the meaning, it's quite obvious that it's spitting on women quite a bit. Some seem to think it's that he's against women being liberated, which I suppose you could find evidence for. I prefer to think of it as him spitting on the whole concept of women's liberation; think about it. It's not equality that he thinks she wants. He thinks she wants to eat, sit down, get respect before everybody else. More than anything, Fela seems to simply be against allowing women to become more dominant than him. it's not against equality; in fact, it's against the opposite inequality that we have now. What happens when women's rights go too far?
"Lady" happens. And it's a fucking GROOVE. SHE GO SAYYYY I BE LADY OHHH... He could be singing about decapitating his mother with a hacksaw and I'd be jamming to it in the dark with a strobe light.
I don't disagree that it's not against equality, but I think it's more of a mockery of African women trying to be "lady-like", like European women, ignoring their more passionate selves in order to seem more gentrified. "if you call a woman 'african woman', she's not going to agree, she's says 'I be lady, not woman'..."<br /> <br /> Fela's mother was a very outspoken and well known women's rights activist and I believe part of the reason he was so politically outspoken in his music.