When I get older
I will be stronger
(A reference to his childhood, during the South African apartheid and a lot of racism will still be around)
They'll call me 'Freedom'
just like a wavin' flag
(He dreams of a day when blacks and whites can co-exist together in freedom, just like a waving flag, united under one banner)
and then it goes back, and then it goes back
and then it goes back, and then it goes . . .
(His dreams are shattered, nothing is changing, we're going backwards)
Born to a throne, stronger than Rome
(He considers himself well known among the black populations. Together, the blacks (and the whites) are stronger than Rome, and can change things forever (like the Romans did), but the strength of 'Rome' is being used against itself in these ghettos)
but violent-prone, poor people zone,
But it's my home, all I have known,
where I got grown, streets we would roam
(Generally, there is a higher than average % of black people living in Ghettos. They are violent prone, poor, but it's his home and all he's known. He's saying that if blacks want to be equal they have to prove they are just the same as us)
Out of the darkness, I came the farthest
out of the hardest survival
Learn from these streets, it can be bleak,
accept no defeat, surrender retreat
(These ghettos can change people, make people violent prone, he's encouraging people to stay strong united in a common cause working for the good of everyone)
So we strugglin'
fightin' to eat
and we wonderin'
when we'll be free
so we patiently wait
for that fateful day
it's not far away,
but for now we say:
(People may think that with such awful things happening in the world, nothing will ever get fixed, but he's encouraging them to stay faithful, and although governments around the world are against racism, mental scars and mindsets between races still exist, which will take some time, but not as much time as we would think ;) )
chorus
So many wars, settlin' scores,
bringing us promises, leaving us poor,
(I'm not sure how this links into racism, perhaps the war between Somalia (K'naan's home country) and the USA? And how the Somalia warlords left the population poor for their own benefit)
I heard them say, love is the way
love is the answer, that's what they say
(Again, governments and famous people say that love is the way and we're all equal)
But look how they treat us, make us believers
we fight their battles, then they deceive us
(But the Somalian warlords (could also be a reference to South African apartheid) use them, manipulate them away from love and towards hatred)
try to control us, they couldn't hold us
'cause we just move forward like Buffalo soldiers
(But united together they can make a stand against racism and wars, together, blacks can unite as 'buffalo soldiers' to move forward and help spread peace in Africa)
So many wars, settlin' scores,
bringing us promises, leaving us poor
So many wars, settlin' scores,
bringing us promises, leaving us poor
You weren't sure about this whole bit on war etc. I think it's more of a reference to colonialism and neocolonialism, as many Africans fought in European/American wars (e.g. WW1 and WW2). Still today many wars in Africa are a result of Western commerce etc.
After colonialism, military coups and all out wars plagued the continent as it was thrown into Independence with no real hope for peace (but constant promises ... "bringing us promises, leaving us poor")
You weren't sure about this whole bit on war etc. I think it's more of a reference to colonialism and neocolonialism, as many Africans fought in European/American wars (e.g. WW1 and WW2). Still today many wars in Africa are a result of Western commerce etc.
After colonialism, military coups and all out wars plagued the continent as it was thrown into Independence with no real hope for peace (but constant promises ... "bringing us promises, leaving us poor")
I heard them say, love is the way
love...
I heard them say, love is the way
love is the answer, that's what they say
But look how they treat us, make us believers
we fight their battles, then they deceive us
Again i think "they" refers to the West - North Americans & Western Europeans.
Definitely the Buffalo Soldier reference to Bob Marley's song suggests that this is about Europeans controlling Africa... I think Bob Marley's song in particular is about an African "brought to America" (in the slave trade).
Actually, somalia has never had apartheid, so it's probably not about that, or even general racism as whites are nearly non existant there, and as his songs are usually about gang violence and street life in somalia, than racism and similar issues.
Actually, somalia has never had apartheid, so it's probably not about that, or even general racism as whites are nearly non existant there, and as his songs are usually about gang violence and street life in somalia, than racism and similar issues.
So many wars, settlin' scores,
bringing us promises, leaving us poor,
Is probably about the UN not keeping promises in several of somalias wars, something K'naan has critizised before.
So many wars, settlin' scores,
bringing us promises, leaving us poor,
Is probably about the UN not keeping promises in several of somalias wars, something K'naan has critizised before.
It's also worth mentioning this song was not written with the thought of making it the world cup song, so it's unlikely it's at alla about south africa.
It's also worth mentioning this song was not written with the thought of making it the world cup song, so it's unlikely it's at alla about south africa.
When I get older I will be stronger (A reference to his childhood, during the South African apartheid and a lot of racism will still be around)
They'll call me 'Freedom' just like a wavin' flag (He dreams of a day when blacks and whites can co-exist together in freedom, just like a waving flag, united under one banner)
and then it goes back, and then it goes back and then it goes back, and then it goes . . . (His dreams are shattered, nothing is changing, we're going backwards)
Born to a throne, stronger than Rome (He considers himself well known among the black populations. Together, the blacks (and the whites) are stronger than Rome, and can change things forever (like the Romans did), but the strength of 'Rome' is being used against itself in these ghettos)
but violent-prone, poor people zone, But it's my home, all I have known, where I got grown, streets we would roam (Generally, there is a higher than average % of black people living in Ghettos. They are violent prone, poor, but it's his home and all he's known. He's saying that if blacks want to be equal they have to prove they are just the same as us)
Out of the darkness, I came the farthest out of the hardest survival Learn from these streets, it can be bleak, accept no defeat, surrender retreat (These ghettos can change people, make people violent prone, he's encouraging people to stay strong united in a common cause working for the good of everyone)
So we strugglin' fightin' to eat and we wonderin' when we'll be free so we patiently wait for that fateful day it's not far away, but for now we say: (People may think that with such awful things happening in the world, nothing will ever get fixed, but he's encouraging them to stay faithful, and although governments around the world are against racism, mental scars and mindsets between races still exist, which will take some time, but not as much time as we would think ;) )
chorus
So many wars, settlin' scores, bringing us promises, leaving us poor, (I'm not sure how this links into racism, perhaps the war between Somalia (K'naan's home country) and the USA? And how the Somalia warlords left the population poor for their own benefit)
I heard them say, love is the way love is the answer, that's what they say (Again, governments and famous people say that love is the way and we're all equal)
But look how they treat us, make us believers we fight their battles, then they deceive us (But the Somalian warlords (could also be a reference to South African apartheid) use them, manipulate them away from love and towards hatred)
try to control us, they couldn't hold us 'cause we just move forward like Buffalo soldiers (But united together they can make a stand against racism and wars, together, blacks can unite as 'buffalo soldiers' to move forward and help spread peace in Africa)
Beautiful song..
So many wars, settlin' scores, bringing us promises, leaving us poor
So many wars, settlin' scores, bringing us promises, leaving us poor
You weren't sure about this whole bit on war etc. I think it's more of a reference to colonialism and neocolonialism, as many Africans fought in European/American wars (e.g. WW1 and WW2). Still today many wars in Africa are a result of Western commerce etc. After colonialism, military coups and all out wars plagued the continent as it was thrown into Independence with no real hope for peace (but constant promises ... "bringing us promises, leaving us poor")
You weren't sure about this whole bit on war etc. I think it's more of a reference to colonialism and neocolonialism, as many Africans fought in European/American wars (e.g. WW1 and WW2). Still today many wars in Africa are a result of Western commerce etc. After colonialism, military coups and all out wars plagued the continent as it was thrown into Independence with no real hope for peace (but constant promises ... "bringing us promises, leaving us poor")
I heard them say, love is the way love...
I heard them say, love is the way love is the answer, that's what they say But look how they treat us, make us believers we fight their battles, then they deceive us
Again i think "they" refers to the West - North Americans & Western Europeans. Definitely the Buffalo Soldier reference to Bob Marley's song suggests that this is about Europeans controlling Africa... I think Bob Marley's song in particular is about an African "brought to America" (in the slave trade).
Actually, somalia has never had apartheid, so it's probably not about that, or even general racism as whites are nearly non existant there, and as his songs are usually about gang violence and street life in somalia, than racism and similar issues.
Actually, somalia has never had apartheid, so it's probably not about that, or even general racism as whites are nearly non existant there, and as his songs are usually about gang violence and street life in somalia, than racism and similar issues.
So many wars, settlin' scores, bringing us promises, leaving us poor, Is probably about the UN not keeping promises in several of somalias wars, something K'naan has critizised before.
So many wars, settlin' scores, bringing us promises, leaving us poor, Is probably about the UN not keeping promises in several of somalias wars, something K'naan has critizised before.
It's also worth mentioning this song was not written with the thought of making it the world cup song, so it's unlikely it's at alla about south africa.
It's also worth mentioning this song was not written with the thought of making it the world cup song, so it's unlikely it's at alla about south africa.
Really good analysis. But maybe not so heavy on repeating the lyrics? But, honestly, really good run down of the meaning.
Really good analysis. But maybe not so heavy on repeating the lyrics? But, honestly, really good run down of the meaning.