[verse 1]
Picture the morning, taste and devour,
we rise early, pace up the hour
Streets is rustling, hustling they heart out
you can't have the sweet with no sour
Spices, herbs, sweets and the flour
she came out precisely the hour
Clouds disappear, the sun shows the power
no chance of a probably shower
I feel in love with my neighbor's daughter
I wanted to protect and support her
Nevermind, I'm just 12 and a quarter
I had dreams beyond our border
[bridge]
Is it true when they say all you need is just love? (Is it true?)
What about those who have loved,
only to find that it's taken away?
And why do they say that the children have rights to be free? (To be free)
What about those who I've known,
whose memories still lives inside of me?
[chorus]
Fatima,
what did the young man say,
before he stole you away,
on that fateful day? (Fatima)
Fatima,
did he know your name,
or the plans we made,
to go to New York City? (Fatima)
[verse 2]
After school, we studied the lessons,
I asked God to slow down the seconds,
He does the opposite, that's what I'm guessin',
I better chill and count my own blessings
Fatima, Fatima
What is the matter?
How come you ain't come up the ladder?
So we can be like there is no tomorrow,
Damn, you gon make me wait 'til tomorrow
She spoke Arabic and Swahili,
She'd say "Upendo, Anta Habibi."
You so bright, you sound like my TV,
then one day, she never came to meet me
[bridge]
[chorus x2]
[verse 3]
If beauty was in the eyes of beholder,
how come everyone hushed when she walked by?
How come girls would look just to scold her?
How come the angel wanted to hold her?
Fatima, Fatima,
I'm in America,
I make rhymes and I make em delicate,
You would have liked the parks in Connecticut,
You would have said I'm working to hard again.
Damn you shooter, damn you the building,
Whose walls hid the blood she was spillin'?
Damn you country, so good at killin',
damn you feelin' for persevering.
[bridge]
[chorus II x2]
Fatima,
what did the gunman say,
before he took you away,
on that fateful day? (Fatima)
Fatima,
did he know your name,
or the plans we made,
to go to New York City? (Fatima)
Picture the morning, taste and devour,
we rise early, pace up the hour
Streets is rustling, hustling they heart out
you can't have the sweet with no sour
she came out precisely the hour
Clouds disappear, the sun shows the power
no chance of a probably shower
I wanted to protect and support her
Nevermind, I'm just 12 and a quarter
I had dreams beyond our border
Is it true when they say all you need is just love? (Is it true?)
What about those who have loved,
only to find that it's taken away?
What about those who I've known,
whose memories still lives inside of me?
Fatima,
what did the young man say,
before he stole you away,
on that fateful day? (Fatima)
did he know your name,
or the plans we made,
to go to New York City? (Fatima)
After school, we studied the lessons,
I asked God to slow down the seconds,
He does the opposite, that's what I'm guessin',
I better chill and count my own blessings
What is the matter?
How come you ain't come up the ladder?
So we can be like there is no tomorrow,
Damn, you gon make me wait 'til tomorrow
She'd say "Upendo, Anta Habibi."
You so bright, you sound like my TV,
then one day, she never came to meet me
If beauty was in the eyes of beholder,
how come everyone hushed when she walked by?
How come girls would look just to scold her?
How come the angel wanted to hold her?
I'm in America,
I make rhymes and I make em delicate,
You would have liked the parks in Connecticut,
You would have said I'm working to hard again.
Whose walls hid the blood she was spillin'?
Damn you country, so good at killin',
damn you feelin' for persevering.
Fatima,
what did the gunman say,
before he took you away,
on that fateful day? (Fatima)
did he know your name,
or the plans we made,
to go to New York City? (Fatima)
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This song is so beautiful. K'naan's voice is so soft - especially compared to the stronger, rougher style he uses in other songs such as "Voices in My Head" - and the effect is just so heartbreaking. With the rage and grief behind the story, K'naan is really strong to be able to sing about it so gently; he almost sounds like a curious child. What an amazing artist!
I just found out what he sings after "She spoke Arabic and Swahili, / She'd say..." It's "Upendo, Anta Habibi." "Upendo" is Swahili for "love" and "Anta Habibi" is Arabic for "you are my love/dearest friend." So sweet.
Thanks for this gingerosity.
Thanks for this gingerosity.
This song seems to be about a girl with whom K'naan feel in love with at a young age back in Somalia. Their young love however was cut short when she was killed by militants of the civil war going on.