Fela Kuti Lyrics

Transcribed and Compiled by David McDavitt

Table of Contents:


1. Authority Stealing
2. Beasts Of No Nation
3. Black Man's Cry
4. Coffin For Head Of State
5. Colomentality
6. Confusion Break Bone
7. Expensive Shit
8. Fear Not For Man
9. Fogo Fogo
10. Go Slow
11. J’ehin J’ehin
12. International Thief Thief
13. Kalakuta Show
14. Lady
15. Monday Morning In Lagos
16. Monkey Banana
17. Mr. Follow Follow
18. Mr. Grammarticalogylisationalism Is The Boss
19. No Agreement
20. Opposite People
21. Original Sufferhead
22. Power Show
23. Question Jam Answer
24. Shakara
25. Shuffering and Shmiling
26. Sorrow, Tears, and Blood
27. Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense
28. Trouble Sleep, Yanga Wake Am
29. Upside Down
30. Water No Get Enemy
31. Yellow Fever
32. Zombie


______________________________________________________________
AUTHORITY STEALING (many thanks, GEZA!)

[Chorus]
Authority stealing!
You be thief (I no be thief)
You be rogue (I no be rogue)
You dey steal (I no dey steal)
You be robber (I no be robber)You be armed robber (No be armed robber)
I no be thief (You be thief)
I no be rogue (You be rogue)
I no dey steal (You dey steal)
I no be robber (You be robber)
I no be armed robber (You be armed robber)
[Chorus]
Argument, argument!
Argument, argument, argue
Them argue
Everbody dem argue
Them dem dem argue
Up and down them argue
Everbody dem argue
Them dem dem dem argue
Yes yes, them argue
Everbody dem argue
Argument about stealing
Somebody don take something
Wey belong to another person
Then you go hear:
You be thief (I no be thief)...
On top of the road, on the side
People dey waka
Office workers, laborer workers, workers' workers
Them go dey waka
Inside bus them go dey
Motorcycle them dey ride
Plenty, plenty crowd
Inside this crowd
Sometimes for one corner
Sometimes for one street
You go dey hear: ha ha!
[Chorus]
Thief, thief, thief!
Rogue, rogue, rogue!
Robber, robber!
Catch am, catch am! Thief, thief, thief!
Catch am, catch am! Rogue, rogue, rogue!
Catch am, catch am! Robber, robber!
Catch am
Pull am
Get am
Keep am
Ole...
[Chorus]
Catch am, catch am!
Looking go start
Watching go start
Chasing go start
Somebody go dey
Wey them go grab
Them go beat am well-well
Them go lynch am well-well
Police go come well-well
Them go carry am go court
Them go put am for jail
Them fit put am six months
(Them go put am for one year)
Them fit put am two years
(Them go put am for five years)
Them fit put am seven years
(Them go put am for ten years)
If not them go shoot am well
Them go shoot am for armed robbery
On top of the road, on the side
People dey waka
Office workers, labourer workers, workers' workers
Them go dey try
To try to make ends meet
Them go dey hustle
To try to make ends meet
Them go put hands for back
To try to make ends meet
Them go dey beg oga
To try to make ends meet
Them go be slaves for them town
To try to make ends meet
I say turn your face small
To the right wing
Oga patapata dey for there
Authority people dey for there
Instead of workers
We have officials
Instead of buses
Them dey ride motor-car
Instead of motorcycle
Na helicopter
Instead of them waka
Na worker go waka for them
Authority people them go dey steal
Public contribute plenty money
Na authority people dey steal
Authority man no dey pickpocket
Na petty cash him go dey pick
Armed robber him need gun
Authority man him need pen
Authority man in charge of money
Him no need gun, him need pen
Pen got power gun no get
If gun steal eighty thousand naira
Pen go steal two billion naira
[Chorus]
Thief, thief thief!
Rogue, rogue, rogue!
Robber, robber!
You no go hear them shout
You no go hear them shout at all
You no go hear them say
You no go hear them say response at all
Na different way be them way
Na civilize style be them style
[Chorus]
Yes, yes, yes, yes!
"Oh yes, of course, contract, have some money back in hand, ha ha"
Hear the words them dey take deceive the people:
Misappropriation
Maladministration
Nepotism
Mitigation
Make I remember another one wey them dey use
Defraudment
Forgerylization
Embezzlement
Vilification
Mismanagement
Public inquiry
Authority stealing pass armed robbery
We Africans we must do something about this nonsense
We say we must do something about this nonsense
I repeat, we Africans we must do something about this nonsense
Because now authority stealing pass armed robbery
Authority man him go dey steal
Public contribute plenty money...
[Chorus]
Authority stealing!
______________________________________________________________
BEASTS OF NO NATION


Ah- Let’s get now into another, underground spiritual game
Just go to help me the answer, go to say, “Aiya-kata”- Oh ya

O’feshe-Lu
[CHORUS] AIYA-KATA *(after each line)
O’feshe- g’Boh
*(2x)

O’feshe-Woh
[CHORUS] AIYA-KATA *(after each line)
O’feshe-g'Beh
Aiya kata
Aiya Koto
Aiya Kiti
Aiya Kutu

O’feshe-Lu
[CHORUS] AIYA-KATA *(after each line)
O’feshe- g’Boh
*(2x)

Oh-----.......

Basket mouth wan start to leak again, oh-
[CHORUS] BASKET MOUTH WAN OPEN MOUTH AGAIN, OH
Abi** you don forget I say I sing, ee-oh **(is it not)
[CHORUS] BASKET MOUTH WAN OPEN MOUTH AGAIN, OH
Oh, I sing-ee say, I go my mouth like basket, ee-oh, malan biag bere
(stanza 2x)

Basket mouth wan start to leak again, oh-
[CHORUS] BASKET MOUTH WAN OPEN MOUTH AGAIN, OH

Fela, wetin you go sing about?
[CHORUS] DEM GO WORRY ME… *(after each line)
(3x)

Dem go worry me, worry me-- worry, worry, worry, worry
[CHORUS] DEM GO WORRY ME *(After each line)
Dey wan to make us sing about prison
Dem go worry me, worry me-- worry, worry all over da town
Dem wan to know about prison life
Dem go worry me, worry me-- worry, worry all over da town
*(repeat stanza)

Fela, wetin you go sing about?
[CHORUS] DEM GO WORRY ME
Dem go worry me, worry me-- worry, worry, worry, worry

The time weh I dey, for prison, I call am “inside world”
The time weh I dey outside prison, I call am “outside world”
Na craze world, na be outside world

[CHORUS] CRAZE** WORLD *(after each line) / **(crazy)
Na be outside- da police-i dey
Na be outside- da soldier-ha dey
Na be outside- da court dem dey
Na be outside- da magistrate dey
Na be outside- da judge dem dey
Na craze world be dat
Na be outside- Buhari* dey *(Nigerian Head of State via coup d'etat)
Na craze man be dat
Animal in craze-man skin-i
Na craze world be dat
Na be outside- Idiagbon* dey *(Chief of General Staff- 2nd in command)
Na craze man be dat
Animal in craze-man skin-i
Na craze world be dat
Na be outside- dem find me guilty
Na be outside- dem jail me five years
------------------I no do nothing
Na be outside-dem judge dey beg ee-o
Na craze world be dat, Na craze world be dat
Na be outside- dem kill dem students
Soweto, Zaria, and Ife** (600+ students killed protesting Afrikaans schooling)
Na craze world be dat, ee-oh
Na craze world be dat,
Na be outside- all dis dey happen
Na craze world be dat, ee-oh
Na craze world be dat, ee-oh
Na craze world be dat, ee-oh
Na craze world be dat, ee-oh
Na craze world be dat, ee-oh…..


Make you hear this one [sax responses]
War against indiscipline, ee-oh

Na Nigerian government, ee-oh
Dem dey talk ee-oh
“My people are us-e-less, My people are sens-i-less, My people lack discipline”

Na Nigerian government, ee-oh
Dem dey talk be dat
“My people are us-e-less, My people are sens-i-less, My people lack discipline”

I never hear dat before- oh
Make Government talk, ee-oh
“My people are us-e-less, My people are sens-i-less, My people lack discipline”

Na Nigerian government, ee-oh
Dem dey talk be dat
Which kind talk be dat- ee-oh?
Na craze talk be dat ee-oh
Na animal talk be dat ee-oh
Na animal talk be dat ee-oh

[CHORUS] MANY LEADERS AS YOU SEE DEM
[CHORUS] NA DIFFERENT DISGUISE DEM DEY-OH
[CHORUS] ANIMAL IN HUMAN SKIN
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I PUT-U TIE-OH
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I WEAR AGBADA* *(robe)
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I PUT-U SUIT-U
*(2x- 2nd time with lead voc)

These disguising leaders ee-oh, na wah for dem [sax responses after each]
Dem hold meeting everywhere, dem reach America (2x stanza)

Dem call the place, the “United Nations” [sax responses after each]
Hear-oh another animal talk
Wetin united inside “United Nations”?
Who & who unite, for “United Nations”?
No be there Thatcher & Argentina dey
No be there Reagan & Lib-i-ya dey
Is-i-rael versus Lebanon
Iran-i-oh versus Iraq-i
East West Block versus West Block East
No be there dem dey oh- United Nations
Dis “united” United Nations
One veto vote is equal to 92 […OR MORE, OR MORE]
What kind sense be dat, na animal sense (2x)

[CHORUS] MANY LEADERS AS YOU SEE DEM
[CHORUS] NA DIFFERENT DISGUISE DEM DEY-OH
[CHORUS] ANIMAL IN HUMAN SKIN
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I PUT-U TIE-OH
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I WEAR AGBADA
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I PUT-U SUIT-U
*(2x- 2nd time with lead voc)

Dem go hold meeting, oh, Dem go start yab* human beings *(tease/bother)
Animal talk don start again
Dash* dem, human rights *(give/grant)
*(repeat stanza)

How animal go know-say dem no born me as slave?
How animal go know say slave trade don pass?
And, dey wan dash us human rights
Animal must talk to human beings
Give dem human rights

I beg-ee, oh , make you hear me well-u well
I beg-ee, oh, make you hear me very well

Human rights na my property
So therefore, you can’t dash me my property
Human rights na my property
Dey want dash us human rights

Some people say, “Why I dey talk like dis,"
No be talk like dis, dem take to carry me go prision ee-oh”
No be me dey talk, na Prime Minister Botha* dey talk, ee-oh (2x) *(PM of S.Africa)

Him say, “this uprising will bring out the beast in us”
[CHORUS] THIS UPRISING WILL BRING OUT THE BEAST IN US
(repeat stanza 3x)

Eh Ji Keke- my argument

Botha na friend to Thatcher & Reagan
Botha na friend to some other leaders too
And together dem wan dash us human rights
Animals wan dash us human rights
Animal can’t dash me human rights
Animal can’t dash us human rights

[CHORUS] MANY LEADERS AS YOU SEE DEM
[CHORUS] NA DIFFERENT DISGUISE DEM DEY-OH
[CHORUS] ANIMAL IN HUMAN SKIN
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I PUT-U TIE-OH
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I WEAR AGBADA
[CHORUS] ANIMAL-I PUT-U SUIT-U
*(2x- 2nd time with lead voc)

Beasts of no nation- Egbe Ke Gbe na bad society

[CHORUS] BEASTS OF NO NATION, EGBE KE GBE
[CHORUS] BEASTS OF NO NATION, OTURU GBE KE
(repeat stanza many x, lead vamp)

Easy… easy

[solos]

**Do chorus & end again…

---------------
Explanation
-Corrupt world leaders are animals with no country (greedy, ruthless)
-the outside world is crazier and more dangerous than prison

**Muhammadu Buhari took over as Head of State via a 1983 coup d'etat (deposing Shagari). He & his second in command Tunde Idiagbon persecuted Fela. In 1984, they had Fela arrested on fake foreign currency charges prior to an international tour to prevent him from "publishing anything that might embarrass any government official"- even if true (which they had formally made illegal). Fela's trial judge Okoro Idogu admitted that he was ordered by Idiagbon to find Fela guilty & give him a harsh sentence- the judge later begged to dismiss Fela's conviction. Fela served 5 years in prison.
Buhari & Idiagbon also instituted a campaign against "indiscipline" known as "War Against Indiscipline" (WAI).

-Pieter Willem Botha was the militantly racist white prime minister of apartheid era South Africa. A cartoonish super-villain, he made almost unbelievably racist public statements, laws, and atrocious violations of human rights (including torture & murder) against blacks in South Africa.


____________________________________________________________

BLACK MAN’S CRY

Nijo wo la ma bo ………l’oko eru o (2X)
A o bo njokan o,……... l’oko eru o (2X)
REPEAT STANZA

-[VOX FILLS] HEY----- JEH- AH-JEH

Talo so fun mipe awo dudu mo gbe sara mi oda o
Emu wa ki nri o (4X)

-[VOX FILLS] --HEY- YEH AH YAH
-[VOX FILLS] JEBU-JAY-U-JAY- U-JAY JAY JEBU-JAY-U-JAY- U- DAY (ETC)



Nijo wo la ma bo ………l’oko eru o (2X)
A o bo njokan o,……... l’oko eru o (2X)

* SAX, KEYS SOLOS

Nijo wo la ma bo ………l’oko eru o (2X)
A o bo njokan o,……... l’oko eru o (2X)

She-ma Hey, She-ma Hey, She-ma Hey

Talo so fun yin pe awo dudu m ti e gbe s’ara yin oda o
E mu wa k’eri o (2x)
-REPEAT STANZA

Ko s’oshun to da bi awo dud tu e gbe sara yin
Ko s’oshun to da bi awo dud tu mo gbe sara mi
E wo mi dada o
-REPEAT STANZA

YEAH_YEBA YEAH-EE YEAH YEAH
THAT’S THE BLACK MAN’S CRY
GET IT ONE MORE TIME
-REPEAT AT WILL





-----------------------
Translation:

When will we be free from plantation slavery (2X)
We’ll be free one day from the plantation (2X)

Who says my black skin is not beautiful?
Show me the person- I want to see him

When will we be free from plantation slavery (2X)
We’ll be free one day from the plantation (2X)

SAX, KEYS SOLOS

When will we be free from plantation slavery (2X)
We’ll be free one day from the plantation (2X)


Who tells you that your skin is not beautiful
Produce the person so you can see him
REPEAT STANZA

There is nothing as beautiful as your black skin
There is nothing as beautiful as my black skin
Look at me closely


___________________________________



COFFIN FOR HEAD OF STATE

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen

Woh! Ahhhhh Ch! Ahhhh! Ch! Ch!

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN – [AFTER EACH LINE]
By the Grace of Allmighty Lord
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord
By the Grace of Allmighty Lord
Inspiritus Christus, Mass Christus, Mass Christus, Mass Christus,
Allah, Waku-baru,Hamud, Salem Elekum, Allah *(Muslim prayers)
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord
By the Grace of Allmighty Lord

So I waka waka waka** **(walk)
*[CHORUS] WAKA WAKA WAKA- [AFTER EACH LINE]
I go many places
I see my people
Dem dey cry, cry cry
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
I say I waka waka waka
I go many places
I see my people
Dem dey cry, cry, cry
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen
Amen-i, Amen-i, Amen


I say I waka-waka-waka-waka, waka-waka-waka
(HORNS response)
I waka any village anywhere in Africa
I waka any village anywhere in Africa
Pastor’s house na ‘im dey fine pass
My people dem dey stay for poor surroundings
Pastor’s dress na ‘im dey clean pass
Be it hard for my people for dem to buy soap
Pastor na ‘im dem give respect pass
And dem dey do bad-bad-bad-bad, bad-bad-bad-bad, bad-bad-bad things


Through Jesus Christ our Lord
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN - [AFTER EACH LINE]
By the Grace of Allmighty Lord
Inspiritus Christus, Mass Christus, Mass Christus, Mass Christus,
Allah, Waku-baru, Hamud, Salem Elekum, Allah



So I waka waka waka
*[CHORUS] WAKA WAKA WAKA- [AFTER EACH LINE]
I go many places
I go business places
And I see, see, see
All the bad, bad, bad things
Dem dey do, do, do
Call corruption
And dey call “nepotism”
Inside promotions
And inside all business
I say I waka waka waka
I see, see, see
*[CHORUS] WAKA WAKA WAKA

So I waka-waka-waka-waka, waka-waka-waka
(HORNS Short response)

I waka any business anywhere in Africa
I waka any business anywhere in Africa
North and South dem get dem policies
One Christian and the other one, Muslim
Anywhere the Muslims dem dey reign
Na senior Allaha-ji na* ‘im be director *(Islamic leader)
Anywhere the Christians dem dey reign
Na the best friend to Bishop na ‘im be director
It is a known fact that for many thousand years
We Africans, we had our own traditions
These money making organizations
Them come put we Africans in total confusion

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN- [AFTER EACH LINE]
By the Grace of Allmighty Lord
Inspiritus Christus, Mass Christus, Mass Christus, Mass Christus,
Allah, Waku-baru,Hamud, Salem Elekum, Allah


So I waka waka waka
*[CHORUS] WAKA WAKA WAKA – [AFTER EACH LINE]
I go many places
I go government places
I see, see, see
All the bad, bad, bad things
Dem dey do, do, do
Look Obasanjo,
Before anything you know at all,
And for dey shout
Oh Lord, Oh Lord, Oh Lord, Oh mighty Lord, Oh Lord, Oh God

And den dey do bad-bad-bad-bad, bad-bad-bad-bad, bad-bad-bad things
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN
By the Grace of Allmighty Lord
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN

I say look-a Y’aradua
I say look-a Y’aradua
Before anything you know at all
It would dey shout
Haba Allah- Haba Allah- Haba Allah- Haba Allah -
Haba Allah
And den dey do yes, yes
And den dey do bad-bad-bad-bad, bad-bad-bad-bad, bad-bad-bad things


Through Mohhmmed our Lord
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN
By the Grace of Allmighty Allah
*[CHORUS] AMEN, AMEN, AMEN

So I waka waka waka
*[CHORUS] WAKA WAKA WAKA- [AFTER EACH LINE]
I go many places
I go government places
I see, see, see
All the bad, bad, bad things
Den dey do, do, do
Den steal all the money
Dem kill many students
Dem burn many houses
Dem burn my house too
And killed my mama
So I carry the coffin
I Waka waka waka
Movement of the People* *(Fela's political movement)
Dey Waka waka waka
Young African Pioneers
Waka waka waka
We go Obalende,
We go Dodan barracks
Reach dem gate ee-oh
And put the coffin down
Obasanjo dey there,
With him big fat stomach
Y'aradua dey there,
With him neck like ostrich
We put the coffin down.


Dem no wan take am
*[CHORUS] BUT DEM TAKE AM - [AFTER EACH LINE]
Dem no wan take am
Who go wan take coffin?
Dem must take am
For the bad bad bad things
Wey dem don do
Dem no wan take am
Obasanjo grab am
Y'aradua carry am
Yes, dem no wan take am
Obasanjo carry am
Y'aradua tow am
Dem no wan take am
Dem no wan take am
It der for dem office
Dem no wan take am
It der dey now now now now
It der dey now, now, now, now
It der dey now, now, now, now
It der dey now, now, now, now
It der dey now, now, now, now
It der dey now, now, now, now
* Repeat as desired






Coffin for Head of State- Explanation

A criticism of arbitrary/artificial religious & ethnic boundaries, and of religious hypocrisy- people who invoke god, but then commit atrocities, including Obasanjo (General) & Y’aradua (Leiutentent Colonel), two of Fela’s attackers.

The poor live in squalor while the pastor lives in luxury. Fela walks (waka), & sees the unhappiness of his people,and the corruption & greed of the colonial-influenced Nigerian government. Colonial culture confuses the African people.

In 1978, when Fela’s mother (a government official & activist) dies from injuries inflicted by the Army during an attack on Fela’s compound, Fela and his Movement of the People Carry an effigy of his mother’s coffin to the barracks of two noted Fela enemies, Gen. Obasanjo & Lt.Crnl. Y’aradua. As a protest, Fela & MOP put the coffin down, and force the army to take it (Obasanjo & Yaradua eventually help to carry it). “It remains there. ”

***********************************************************************
COLOMENTALITY

Colomentality

E be say you be colonial man
You don be slave from before
Dem don release you now
but you never release yourself

Colomentality

E be so , E be so dem dey do,
dem dey overdo all the things wey dem dey do
e be so dem dey do, dem think say dem better pass dem brother.
No be so?

E be so

The thing wey black no good
na foreign things dem dey like.
No be so?
*[CHORUS] EE BE SO/ I BE SO
Dem go turn air condition and close dem country away.
Na be so?
E be so
Dem judge him go put white wig and jail him brothers away
No be so?
E be so

Dem go proud of dem name and put dem slave name for head
No be so?
E be so

Colomentality now make you hear me now

*[CHORUS] COLO MENTALITY

Mr. Ransome you make you hear
Mr. Williams you make you hear
Mr. Ali -a you make you hear
Mr. Mohammed you make you hear
Mr. Anglican you make you hear
Mr. Bishop you make you hear
Mr. Catholic you make you hear
Mr. Musulim you make you hear

Na Africa we dey O make you hear
Na Africa we dey O make you hear

Colomentality hear
Colomentality! listen!
Mr. Ransome you make you hear
Na Africa we dey o make you hear this

*[CHORUS] COLOMENTALITY –[REPEATED]


------------
Explaination
Colomentality= Colonial mentality
***********************************************************************

CONFUSION BREAK BONE *(live circa 1980)

I sing dis song some time ago
Call am “Confusion”
Then army never burn my house
Oil money flow for Lagos then

[CHORUS] LARUDU REPEKE *( after each line)
Repeke Laru, Laru, laru
Repeke Laru,

My people dey say Nigeria done dey
But me as I see am
I no say, Nigeria go-go down
Our country go dey make-ee money
My people of country no see money

[CHORUS] LARUDU REPEKE *( after each line)
Repeke Laru, Laru, laru, laru
Repeke Laru, Laru, laru
I see many many things in Nigeria
I see many wrong things in Nigeria
Some time ago I come sing one song
Repeke Laru, Laru, laru
Repeke Laru,
When I say confusion
Everything out of-ee control
When everything out-ee of control-ee
Go be say, it “Bafuka”-oh

[CHORUS] BAFUKA NA QUENCH* (Confusion kills] **(after each line)
Bafuka fi tbe hospital-u
Bafuka fit be police station
Bafuka fit be mortuary
Bafuka fit be nortuarty
I sing about one street for Lagos
Called “Ojou Eelegba”
I take a copy how Nigeria be
One crossroad in center town

[CHORUS] LARUDU REPEKE *( after each line)
Repeke Laru, Laru, laru, laru
Repeke Laru, Laru, laru

For “Ojou Eelegba”
For “Ojou Eelegba”
For “Ojou Eelegba”
For “Ojou Eelegba”
Moto* dey come from-u East*(car)
Moto dey come from-u West
Moto dey come from-u North
Moto dey come from-u South
And police-ee man no dey for center* (not directing traffic- there are no traffic lights in Lagos)
Na confusion be dat ee-oh

[CHORUS] BAFUKA NA QUENCH* (Confusion kills) **(after each line)
Bafuka fit tbe police station
Bafuka fit be hospital
Bafuka fit be mortuary

[CHORUS] CONFUSION NA WAH
Den I say confusion na wait ee-oh
Confusion na wait ee-oh
After he go take, Police-ee Army come burn-u my house
[HORN RESPONSES]
After he go take, Police-ee Army come burn-u my house
I started to think, I started to think-ee think
Dey police wey go help people, not dem dey burn burn so
Say army wey go defend cities, not dem dey burn burn so
A na time around 1975 and ’77 *(dates police/army attacked Fela’s home)
Police go seize expensive goods, dem start to go burn burn dem
Army go go market, and meeting cost money, go burn burn dem (2x)
Why dem like to burn the things wey dey cost-ee money?
Government fit sell to people cheap-ee cheap-ee
Government fit dash people, we no get-ee money
And di burn burn, na him dey sweet-ee dem pass (them burn & bribe)
Na him dey sweet-ee dem pass
Oya oh, dem burn burn

[CHORUS} OYA *(after each line)
Oya oh……, dem burn burn
*{Repeat stanza 4x]

My problem is no small at all
Nothing dey for me to sing about
*[HORN RESPONSES]
All di things wey I de see I know like, All of dem I see, I sing about
If something good today I go sing, nothing good is ever dey to sing about

If I sing I say food –u nothing
*[CHORUS] NA OLD-U NEWS-EE BE DAT *AFTER EACH **(That is old news)
Dey old-u news-ee be dat-oh
If I sing-ee say, water no dey
Old old old news be dat-ee-oh
If I sing-ee say, electric -ee light no dey
Old old news be dat-ee-oh
If I sing-ee say, Inf-i-lati-on
If I sing-ee say, mismanagement
If I sing-ee say, corrup-u-tion
If I sing-ee say, stealing by government
Old old old news be dat-ee-oh
Di problems still dey ba’gba ra ‘gba
I say di problems still dey ba’gba ra ‘gba

Dey thing weh dey worry me
How dis robbery come get-ee big-ee head
*[REPEAT last 2 lines 3x]

The first –ee one, na leg-ee robbery
*[CHORUS] LEG-EE ROBBO-ERY *[AFTER EACH]
Where money go pick-ee pockets
Dey man go start take leg-ee wrong
The second one na, armed robbery

*[CHORUS] ARM-O ROBBO-ERY *[AFTER EACH]
Where man-o go-go steal big things
He go take-ee gun defend himself

The third one, na head-oh robbery
*[CHORUS] HEAD-O ROBBO-ERY *[AFTER EACH]
Where all pata-pata* go-go steal *(everything)
He go take position, steal all free
Free stealing, na him policy
Head-ee robbery, Which head-ee get-ee no dey steal?

Which president we get-ee never steal?
*[HORN RESPONSES]
Dem come go hold Shagari, dem say President Shagari steal
But Shagari don talk before, na empty treasury him meet for der

*[CHORUS WITH LEAD] CONFUSION BREAK-EE BONE-EE, YEPA,
*[CHORUS WITH LEAD] CONFUSION BREAK-EE BONE-EE, YEPA,

*[CHORUS WITH LEAD] DOUBLE WAHALA FOR DEAD-EE BODY
*[CHORUS WITH LEAD] ABIOLA OH DEAD-EE BODY
*[REPEAT STANZA MANY TIMES/ LEAD IMPROV VOX]

***********************************************************************
EXPENSIVE SHIT

Eran na goat-ee-o, for Yoruba land
Eran na goat-ee-o, for Yoruba land
Him go bend him yansh* him go shit *(ass)
Him go come-o away from him shit
Him shit go be the last thing wey he go like to see

Because why o
[CHORUS- BECAUSE THE SHIT DEY SMELL] After each line
Because why-o

Obo na monkey for Yoruba land
Him go bend him yansh him go shit
Him go come-o away from him shit
Him shit go be the last thing wey he go like to see

Because why-o
[CHORUS- BECAUSE THE SHIT DEY SMELL] After each line
Because why-o

Obinrin na woman for Yoruba land
Obinrin na woman for Yoruba land
She go bend she yansh she go shit
She go come-o away from she shit
She shit go be the last thing wey she go like to see

Because why-o
[CHORUS- BECAUSE THE SHIT DEY SMELL] After each line
Because why-o

Okunrin na man for Yoruba land
Okunrin na man for Yoruba land
Him go bend him yansh him go shit
Him go come-o away from him shit
Shit go be the last thing wey he go like to see

Because why-o
[CHORUS- BECAUSE THE SHIT DEY SMELL] After each line
Because why-o

Tell me now now
Me I be Fela, I be black power man
Me I be Fela, I be black power man
I go bend my yansh I go shit
I go come-o away from the shit
The shit go be the last thing wey I go like to see

No be so for some fools wey I de know
No be so for some stupid people I know
No be so for some fools wey I de know

People wey go like to quench** your soul **(kill/destroy)
People wey go like to quench your soul

[CHORUS] IN ALAGBON** -O ....*(after each line) **Alagbon prison
Them go use your shit to put you for jail
And don tell my shit too expensive shit
My shit na exhibit, it must not lost-o
And don tell my shit too expensive shit
My shit na exhibit, it must not los- o

In Alagbon-o
In Alagbon-o
In Alagbon-o
In Alagbon -o

--------------------
Explanation
Derides authorities who locked Fela in Alagbon prison on drug charges, after eating the evidence.
The police monitored him closely, collecting his "expensive shit," only to find it clean as a baby's (Carlos Moore, "Fela Fela This Bitch of a Life").

***********************************************************************
FEAR NOT FOR MAN


Doctor Kwame Nkrumah
The Father of Pan-Africanism
Says to all black people
All over the world:
`The secret of life is to have no fear`.
Now we all have to understand that

I`m a man
I`m a man
Run run run I no go run
Run run I no go run
Brothers and sisters
Na GOAT dey run, n MAN dey stand
I`m a man I`m a man


***********************************************************************
FOGO FOGO* (broken bottles)

*[VOC FILLS:]
Hey ya du-dey du, da-bu-dey (9x)
Hey ahhhhhhh
Huh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh

*[SAX SOLO]
*[NEW GROOVE]

Mola numo kori
Moko jeun koku
Mola numo kori
Moko na “fight e-oh”
Mola numo kori
Moko “who are you,” u-reh
Mola nu mo kori
Moko alu joy-joy ki-joy
Mola numo kori
Moni yeah, yeah-ki, yeah---yeah... hey [snare hit]
*[REPEAT STANZA]

Gbese tefe komi sini mofe kolese ee-oh [2x]

Ma g’bo, Ma g’bo timo fesho, Ma g’bo
Ma g’bo, Ma g’bo ro timo fesho, Ma g’bo
Ma g’bo, Ma g’bo ro timo fesho, Ma g’bo
Ma g’bo, Ma g’bo

More-ah beer, temu
More-ah stout-u, temu
More-ah whi-si-ky, tensha
More-ah gogoro, tensha g’bora
More-ah gogoro, tensha g’bora
More-ah gura, tefi-wenu
More-ah pomi, apomi g’be
More-ah pomi, apomi g’be

Emu temu, tefi fogo sili, tefi da gbese simi lorun
Ile mo…..heh

Ebe mi oh

Fogo-Fogo ebe mi oh
*[CHORUS: FOGO FOGO EBE MI] *After each line
Fogo-fogo ebe mi ee-o
Te fogo le, te pate wo
Te fogo le, te pate wo
Te dagbese le, te pate wo
Sisi sisi nigo kankan
Sisi sisi nigo kankan
Ati wa control-i, ko lagbara
Sisi-sisi nigo kankan
Hey-hey, ebe mio
Hey-hey, ebe mio
Hey-hey, ebe mio

Hey... Ma g’bo

Mola numo kori
Moko jeun koku
Mola numo kori
Moko na “fight ee-oh”
Mola numo kori
Moko “who are you,” u-reh
Mola nu mo kori
Moko alu joy-joy ki-joy
Mola numo kori
Moni yeah…… yeah-ee-yeah, ee yeah-yeah, hey

G'bese te-fe komi sini moti ko, teh-tee beh ee-oh [2x]

***********************************************************************
GO SLOW

Go slow, go slow* *(traffic jam)
[CHORUS] GO SLOW, GO SLOW *[after each line]
Go slow, go slow
Go slow, go slow
Go slow, go slow

Go slow, go slow

Man must be man for him land-ee-o
I say, man must be man for him land-ee-o
You musta agree with me
Man must dey work for him land-ee-o…..
You musta agree with me
Man must dey chop for him land-ee-o
You musta agree with me

When go slow catch you for your house
[CHORUS] OLE MAKE-I YE-I-YE** *[after each line] **play
Impossible
Impossibility
Impossibilityism
Impossibilityismalogy
[Nonsense syllables]
Impossibilityismalogicalization
Impossibilityismalogicalization, Baba* *[Father]
When go slow catch you for your house
When go slow catch you for your house
When go slow catch you for your house

You dey make your business every day
Then your head start to ache
Because car crush dey for your head
Your nose start to run
Because water pour cool for your head
You dey cough-cough every time
Because kelebe de for your throat
You dey shaky-shaky like a paper
Because your yansh cold like ice

Go slow catch you
[CHORUS] GO SLOW, GO SLOW *[after each line]
Go slow don't come

Go slow, go slow….Go slow, go slow ….Huh

You dey make your business every day
Then you buy your motor car
Or you join your public transport
Then you start to go for work
Then suddenly, suddenly, suddenly
Lorry dey for your front
Tipa dey for your back
Motorcycle dey for your left-ee-o
Taxi-moto dey for your right
Helicopter dey fly fly for your top-o
You self don dey for cell

Go slow catch you
[CHORUS] GO SLOW, GO SLOW *[after each line]
Go slow don't come

Go slow, go slow……Go slow, go slow…. Huh

Man must be man for him land-ee-o
*[HORN Responses]
You musta agree with me
Man must dey chop for him land-ee-o
You musta agree with me


When go slow catch you for your house
[CHORUS] OLE MAKE-I YE-I-YE** *[after each line] **play
Impossible
Impossibility
Impossibilityism
Impossibilityismalogy
Impossibilityismalogicalization
Ole make-I ye-I-ye

KEYBOARD SOLO
*************************************************************************


J’EHIN J’EHIN

J’Ehin J’Ehin-o** **(fool)
Wa ma ba tire lo
Wa ma ba osi e lo- o

Mo fun e ni obirin
Ekini oni o fe o

Mo fun e ni obirin
E keji oni o gba

Mo fun e l’eke ta
O wa oro so o

Mo fun e l’ekerin
O ni o Ko gba

Ma lo o ona wa
Lo pa po

Now I’m gonna
Change the rhythm of this song
It’s still the same groove



J’EHIN J’EHIN: Translation

Fool, Fool (chopteeth: teeth-eater, one who eats his own teeth)
Go away
Get your useless self out of here

I offer you a woman
You say you don’t want her
I give you a second
You refuse
I give you a third woman
You find an excuse
I offer a fourth time
You refuse to accept
Go away
Our ways are different

***********************************************************************

INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF

*[CHORUS] INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF (x3)
I.T.T
*[CHORUS] INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF – [AFTER EACH LINE]
International Thief
Oh
*(CHORUS) INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF (x2)　[Bass Guitar enters]
I.T.T.
*[CHORUS] INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF – [AFTER EACH LINE]
International rogue
Oh, eh
*(CHORUS) INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF (x2)

<<[Drums change]>>

Wella wella wella wella, wella wella wella wella, wella wella wella wella, wella
wella wella wella-- Ha (x2)

Wella**, **(this is true)
wella wella wella,
Wella wella wella wella, wella
Wella wella wella wella, wella wella
Wella wella * [Rhythmic- improvise]
Wella wella wella wella, wella
Wella wella wella wella, wella wella wella wella, wella wella wella wella wella,
wella wella wella---Ha - Yeh- Ch – Ch – Ch -Ch

Mother fuckers, Bastard Mother fuckers
*(CHORUS) YEAH –[AFTER EACH LINE]
You go yab** dem **(make fun of/abuse)
Hurry up der
Say, “yeah”


Wella well, na true I want talk again o
*(CHORUS) WELL WELL – [AFTER EACH LINE]
Na true I want talk again o
If I dey lie o
Make Osiri punish me
Make Ifa dey punish me o
Make Edumare punish me o
Make the land dey punish me o
Make Edumare punish me o
I read ‘em for book ee-o
I see so myself ee-o (2x on the 3rd repetition)
Well-ee well-ee o
*(CHORUS/LEAD) WELL WELL-EH-EH-EH-EH-EH-EH-ELL- WELL WELL
Well-ee well-ee o
*(CHORUS/LEAD) WELL WELL-EH-EH-EH-EH-EH-EH-ELL- WELL WELL [REPEAT STANZA 3X]



Long time ago
Long, long time ago
*(CHORUS) LONG TIME AGO – [AFTER EACH LINE]
Long, long, long, long time ago
African man we no dey carry shit
We dey shit in-side big big hole
For Yourba-land in na "Shalanga"
For Igbo-land in na "Onunu-insi"
For Hausa-land in na "Salunga"
For Ga-land in na "Tiafi"
For Ashanti-land in na “Yarni"
For Ethiopia-land in na "Sagara-bet"
For Kikuyu-land in na “Cho-Cho”
For Bemba-land in na “Chimbuzi”
For Tunga-land in na “Echibuzi”
Long, long, long, long time ago
African man we no dey carry shit
We dey shit inside big big hole
Long, long, long, long time ago
Long, long, long, long time ago
Before them come force us away as slaves
During the time them come force us away as slaves
Na European man, na him dey carry shit
Na for them culture to carry shit
During the time dem come colonize us
Dem come teach us to carry shit
Long, long, long, long time ago
African man weh no dey carry shit
Na European man teach us to carry shit


Many foreign companies dey Africa carry all our money go
*(CHORUS) SAY AM, SAY AM –[AFTER EACH LINE]
Many foreign companies dey Africa carry all our money go
Dem go write big English for newspaper, Dabaru* we Africans *(ruin/confuse)
Dem go write big English for newspaper, Dabaru we Africans
I read about one of them inside book like that- Them call him name na I.T.T
I read about one of them inside book like that- Them call him name na I.T.T


Them go dey cause confusion
*(CHORUS) CONFUSION
Cause corruption
*(CHORUS) CORRUPTION
Cause oppression
* (CHORUS) OPPRESSION
Cause inflation
*(CHORUS) INFLATION

Dem go dey,
Cause oppression
*(CHORUS) OPPRESSION
Cause confusion
*(CHORUS) CONFUSION
Cause corruption
*(CHORUS) CORRUPTION
Cause inflation
*(CHORUS) INFLATION

Cause oppression
* (CHORUS) OPPRESSION
Cause confusion
*(CHORUS) CONFUSION
Cause inflation
*(CHORUS) INFLATION
Cause oppression
*(CHORUS) OPPRESSION
Oppression, Opression, Inflation, Corruption, Opression, Inflation----
**[SAX RESPONSES AFTER EACH LINE]


Dem get one style wey dem dey use
Dem go pick one African-i man
A man with low mentality
Them go give am million naira breads
To become of high position here
Him go bribe some thousand naira bread
To become one useless-i chief
Like rat dey do, dem go,
Dey do from
Corner corner pass-ee, pass-ee
Under, under pass-ee, pass-ee
Inside-ee, Inside-ee pass-ee, pass-ee
In-ee, in-ee, pass-ee, pass-ee
Out-ee, out-ee, pass-ee, pass-ee
Peep-peep, peep-peep, pass-ee pass-ee

In-ee, in-ee, pass-ee, pass-ee
Corner corner, pass-ee, pass-ee
Under, under, pass-ee, pass-ee
Inside-ee, Inside-ee, pass-ee, pass-ee
Over world, pass-ee, pass-ee
Corner corner, pass-ee, pass-ee
Under, under, pass-ee, pass-ee
Inside- inside
Then he gradually, gradually, gradually, gradually (2x)
Them go be:
Friend friend to journalist
Friend to friend to Commissioner
Friend friend to Permanent Secretary
Friend to friend to Minister
Friend to friend to Head of State
Then start start to steal money
Start start them corruption
Start start them inflation
Start start them oppression
Start start them confusion
Start start them oppression
Start start to steal money
Start start to steal money
Like Obasanjo and Abiola

*(CHORUS) INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF　–[AFTER EACH LINE]
I.T.T
International rogue
International thief
Go fight dem,


Well well
*(CHORUS) WELL WELL - [AFTER EACH LINE]
Wella wella
We don tire
to carry
anymore of
them shit
**[repeat indefinitely, add next stanza occasionally]


INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF (explanation)


* Uses abbreviation of “International Telephone & Telegraph” to attack all foreign companies for stealing from Africa, and for turning Africans into human-waste carriers [agbepo]. Derides stupid Africans who are put into power as puppets of the companies. Tricked & used by these companies, they become equally greedy & ruthless.

“I still want to speak the truth. If I lie, may I be punished by Edumare (a Yoruba god), Osiris, the Ifa (Nigeria gods), & the land itself. I have read about it read it in books, I have seen it personally.

Europeans came & forced their ways on Africa. Long ago, Africans didn't carry shit, we shat in a big hole (as evidenced by words for this hole in many African tribal languages-Yoruba, Igbo, Haussa, Ashanti …). When the Europeans came to colonialise us, it was part of their culture to carry shit & taught us Africans to do it, too. They have turned us into agbepo, waste carriers (the lowest members of society).

Foreign companies confuse & trick Africans by manipulating (English) words in the newpaper. They subvert & control Africa using the same method: they find a stupid, greedy, & dishonest African, pay him a million Naira (Nigerian money), he bribes others to become a chief, but who acts in European interests. Like a rat, creeps here and there, gaining power by befriending journalists, religious leaders, & government officials.
Once in power, he begins embezzling, inflation, confusion, oppression...

Two examples of this are Obasanjo (Head of the military) and Abiola (CEO of International Telephone & Telegraph) . We must fight them. We refuse to carry their shit any longer.

***********************************************************************

KALAKUTA SHOW

Make we talk something
We never talk before and
We dey see am everyday
(Ahh…Ohhh….Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh)
*repeat 2x

Look de man he dey waka
*[CHORUS] GAGA GUGU GAGA GUGU
*repeat

Hungry dey run for him face
*[CHORUS] WOKO WOKO WOKO WOKO
*repeat

Him pepeye* cap for him head
*[CHORUS] PEPE PEPE PEPE PEPE
*repeat

Him khaki woolen shirt for him body
*[CHORUS] WULU WULU WULU WULU
*repeat

Him trouser dey fly above him knee
*[CHORUS] YAYA YAYA YAYA YAYA
*repeat

The people wey employ da man
Give him permit to carry the thing
Weh bad
Dem give him permit to carry baton
Dem give him permit to carry tear-gas
Dem give him permit to carry bullet
Him fit carry basket* for protection too *(helmet)
Na so we dey see am every day
No so he dey happen every day

One day
*[CHORUS] SATURDAY

One day
*[CHORUS] SATURDAY MORNING

The whole thing change

One day
*[CHORUS] 5 A.M.

One day
*[CHORUS] NOVEMBER 23

The whole thing change

One day
*[CHORUS] 1974

One day- Kalakuta Show

One day
*[CHORUS] SATURDAY

One day
*[CHORUS] SATURDAY MORNING


Kalakuta Show
*[CHORUS] 1979

Kalakuta Show

Dem make sure dem
Use tear-gas, baton & bullet
*repeat

Dem use them basket
For protection too
*repeat

Dem do one thing
Dem never do before
*repeat 3x

Dem-o hire … axe-o… dem-o bring… cutlass

*[CHORUS] DEM-O HIRE… AXE-O… DEM BU-RING… CUTLASS
*repeat under verses:
Kalakuta show-o-o
Kalakuta show (una na na na na na na na na)

Kalakuta Show (2x)

Babu wire dem-o cut
Look fence dem break
Look gate dem fall
Everybody dey run
Look head dem break
Look blood him dey flow

Kalakuta show o-o
Kalakuta show
Na na na na na na na

Look loya** him dey come **(lawyer)
Him he loya him dey come
Look loya dem beat
Look loya him dey run
Look loya him dey run

Kalakuta show o-o
Kalakuta show
*Etc….

>Organ solo
>Sax solo

>End with bass/percussion under solo sax

-------------------
Explaination:
Kalakuta was Fela's compound (houses around a courtyard).
This song describes one of many violent police attacks on Kalakuta, this time for "abducting" a girl who sought shelter there. She, of course testified in support of Fela- who was eventually exonerated.
Fela stated the attack was "so fucking terrible that I don't want to talk about it anymore" (Carlos Moore, "Fela Fela This Bitch of a Life" p.129)
***********************************************************************

LADY

If you call woman
African woman no go ‘gree
She go say I be Lady o

If you call woman
African woman no go ‘gree
She go say I be Lady o

She go say:
*(CHORUS) SHE GO SAY I BE LADY O – [AFTER EACH LINE]
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: (3x)
She go say him equal to man
She go say him get power like man
She go say anything man do
Him self fit do
I never tell you finish… (3x)
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 her for kitchen
She want salute man she go sit down for chair (2x)
She want sit down for table before anybody (2x)
She want piece of meat before anybody (2x)
Call am for dance, she go dance Lady dance (2x)


African woman go dance she go dance the fire dance (2x)
She know him man na master
She go cook for am
She go do anything he say
But Lady no be so (4x)
Lady na master (3x)
Call am for dance, she go dance Lady dance (2x)
African woman go dance she go dance the fire dance (2x)
She know him man na master
She go cook for am
She go do anything he say

But Lady no be so (4x)
Lady na Masster (4x)
If you call am woman
African woman no go ‘gree
She go say I be Lady


She go say:
*(CHORUS- AFTER EACH LINE) SHE GO SAY I BE LADY O O
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
*(repeat indefinitely)


------
Explanation
African women are embarrassed to be called "African", but African women should not aspire to Western sensibilities (i.e. be a proper Western "Lady").
**********************************************************************

MONDAY MORNING IN LAGOS

Ahh Ha …………….. Ahhh …. Ah ………….. Ahh Ha

Sati-dey La-fin Ta Ti-Ba-ba Lago…. Ojo Sunday Lafi- Moti a ye …..Huh
Sati-dey La-fin Ta Ti-Ba-ba Lago…. Ojo Sunday Lafi- Moti a ye …..Huh Huh

Ojo Monday Oh-Ka-tuh Rey-se-O Ni shey Ja-moh, A wi-oni shegba moh Otia-wah, Bi-oju
Ojo Monday Eko-boni Gba Gba Kuba-oh
*[CHORUS] OJO MONDAY EKO-BONI GBA GBA KUBA-OH
Ojo Monday Eko-boni Gba Gba Kuba-oh

*[CHORUS] OJO MONDAY EKO-BONI GBA-GBA KUBA-OH [AFTER EACH LINE]
Baby Bagba Ebo Lagba Weh-Wan-La Shahara Monday
WoWah Bami FuBese Tima Dja Ema La Shahara Monday-O
WoWah Bami FuBese Tima Dja Ema La Shahara Monday-O
La-Koni Gba-Gba kuba-o La-aro Monday
Baby Bagba Ebo Lagba Weh-Wan-La Shahara Monday-O
La Kori- BuruKu Wo Shahara Monday-O

HORNS/KEYS

--------------------
“Monday Morning in Lagos” Meaning (partial translation)

On Monday, everything is exhausted
It is difficult to ______
If you want to know about Monday morning, just ask
Don’t get me back too early on Monday morning
Ask Credit from a taxi driver-
He’ll give it to you Monday morning until Monday night
Don’t carry bullshit to me on Monday morning
What you start Monday morning, you do throughout the week

**********************************************************************
MONKEY BANANA

La- La la- la la - la la- la la
La la for me

[CHORUS] LA-LA LA -LA LA- LA LA -LA LA *after each line
La la la la la la la
Fool for forty, na fool forever
Na so the book people dey talk
Fool for forty, na fool forever
Na so the book people dey talk
I no go tell my brother like that
You tell am, realize you be fool at twenty
I no go tell my brother like-ee that
You tell am realize, you be fool at twenty
Book sense different from belly sense
Fool na fool no matter for age
Fifteen to thirty, forty to hundred
Fool na fool no matter for age

Now listen to me now



Hey come
[CHORUS] YES SIR *(AFTER EACH LINE)
Bring me the plate
Go buy yam to chop
Bring me the file
Call the messenger
Hey come
Bring me the plates
Go buy yam to chop
Bring me the file
Call the messenger

They run run about everywhere
[SAX RESPONSES]
They jump jump about the place
Na carry for morning, day, and night
I no sing happy monkey for you
I no say I be fool for you



Okay
[CHORUS] OKAY,
I agree
[CHORUS] I AGREE,
I don vex me to hear
[CHORUS] I DON VEX ME TO HEAR
*[REPEAT STANZA]


[UNSION WITH CHORUS] Okay, I agree, I don vex me to hear
[UNSION WITH CHORUS] Okay, I agree, I don vex me to hear

Before I jump like monkey, give me banana
Make you hear, yes sir

Give me banana
Give me banana

[CHORUS] YES SIR *(CONTINUE THROUGH ORGAN SOLO)

***********************************************************************




MR. FOLLOW FOLLOW


Mr. Follow Follow
*[CHORUS] FOLLOW, FOLLOW, FOLLOW,- FOLLOW, FOLLOW, FOLLOW (2X)

Some dey follow follow, dem close dem eye
*[CHORUS] DEM CLOSE EYE, PIN- PIN- PIN
Some dey follow follow, dem close dem mouth
*[CHORUS] DEM CLOSE MOUTH, PAM- PAM- PAM
Some dey follow follow, dem close dem ear
*[CHORUS] DEM CLOSE EAR, G’BOING- BOING- BOING
Some dey follow follow, dem close dem sense
*[CHORUS] DEM CLOSE SENSE, BIRI- BIRI

I say dem close sense,
Dem close sense

If you dey follow follow
Make you open eye, open ear, open mouth, open sense (2x)

Na dat time
Na dat time you no go fall (2x)

If you dey follow follow dem book
*[CHORUS] NA INSIDE CUPBOARD YOU GO QUENCH (2x)

Coakroach dey, ee-rat dey, Ikan dey, darkness dey- ee
*[CHORUS] NA INSIDE CUPBOARD YOU GO QUENCH** **(destroy)

My brothers, make you no follow book-o
Look am and go your way

*[CHORUS] FOLLOW, FOLLOW (on 3,4- continues until end)

Make you open eye, open ear, open mouth, open sense
(riff/repeat as desired)

My brothers, make you no follow book-o
Look am and use your sense

***********************************************************************
MR. GRAMMARTICALOGYLISATIONALISM IS THE BOSS

Now listen to me now
My brothers & sisters- I beg you
Now listen to me now!
Oh- now listen to me now
My brothers & sisters I beg you
Now listen to me now!
Dey na be man
*[CHORUS] WHICH MAN?
Weh talk Oyinbo** well-a-well to rule our land ee-oh **(foreigner/white)
*[CHORUS] THAT MAN!


Oh yes
*[CHORUS] HE TALK OYINBO PASS-EE ENGLISH MAN – [AFTER EACH LINE]
He talk Oyinbo pass American man
He talk Oyinbo pass French man
Me, I say he talk Oyinbo pass Germany man



The better Oyinbo you talk
The more bread you go get
School start- na grade four bread
BA- na gradee three bread
MA- na gradee two bread
PhD- a gradee one bread
The better Oyinbo you talk
The more bread you go get

Dey na be man
*[CHORUS] WHICH MAN?
Weh talk Oyinbo well-a-well to rule our land ee-oh
*[CHORUS] THAT MAN!
Oh yes
*[CHORUS] HE TALK OYINBO PASS-EE ENGLISH MAN
He talk Oyinbo pass American man
*[CHORUS] HE TALK OYINBO PASS-EE ENGLISH MAN

Hear it! (Horn responses)
One more time
First thing for early morning
Na newspaper dem give us read
First thing for early morning
Na newspaper dem give us read
The Oyinbo weh dey inside
Petty trader no fit to know
The Oyinbo weh dey inside
Market woman- na fit to read
The Oyinbo weh dey inside
Na riddle for- laborer man
Inside dey paper
Lambastical dey
Inside dey paper
Ipso facto- dey dat one na Latin
Inside dey paper,
Jar-gonism dey
Inside dey paper,
Youth delinquency dey
Who be deliquent?
Na dem be deliquent
Who be delinquent?
The Oyinbo talker delinquent
Who be delinquent?
Na be me-oh

Na be man
*[CHORUS] WHICH MAN?
Weh talk Oyinbo well-a-well to rule our land-o
*[CHORUS] THAT MAN!


Oh yes
*[CHORUS] HE TALK OYINBO PASS-EE ENGLISH MAN - [AFTER EACH LINE]
He talk Oyinbo past American man
*He talk Oyinbo past French-e man* [Fill]
He talk Oyinbo past Germany man
Me, I say , he talk Oyinbo past French man
*REPEAT CHORUS INDEFINITELY

*Organ solo…



MR. GRAMMARTICALOGYLISATIONALISM : Explanation


A criticism of African Educational system as a ‘poor imitation’ of the Western Education system. The man who speaks better English gets paid more. The school’s grades are rated (better bread as climb). The English use words against us-- first thing in the morning we are given newspapers, they brainwash us with big words. It’s all jargon/nonsense-- irrelevant issues that have no bearing on common men. Then the leaders blame the poor’s problems on ignorance & delinquency, but it’s the (English speaking) leaders who are delinquent.

***********************************************************************
NO AGREEMENT


*(CHORUS) NO AGREEMENT TODAY, NO AGREEMENT
TOMORROW - 2X


I no go agree make my brother hungry, make I no talk
*(CHORUS) LA LA LA LA ! LA LA ! - [AFTER EACH LINE]
I no go agree make my brother jobless, make I no talk
I no go agree make my brother homeless, make I no talk


My grandpapa talk, your grandpapa talk
My grandmama talk, your grandmama talk
Your papa talk, my papa talk
My mama talk, your mama talk
Those wey no talk them they agree


I no go agree make my brother hungry, make I no talk
*(CHORUS) LA LA LA LA ! LA LA !


No agreement today, no agreement tomorrow
*(CHORUS) NO AGREEMENT TODAY, NO AGREEMENT TOMORROW – [AFTER EACH LINE]
No agreement now, later, never and ever

***********************************************************************
OPPOSITE PEOPLE

Them go show-ee-o, them go show
Them go show themselves clear clear
Them go show-ee-o
Them go show-ee-o, them go show
Opposite people
Them go show themselves clear, clear
Them go show



Anywhere them dey
[CHORUS] THEM GO SHOW *[AFTER EACH LINE]
Anywhere them dey
Them go show themselves
Opposite people

Everyone dey dance
Dey dance for enjoyment
*[CHORUS] DEY DANCE
Everyone dey talk
Dey talk for communication
*[CHORUS] DEY TALK
Everyone dey hear
Dey hear for ideology
*[CHORUS] DEY HEAR
Everyone dey think
Dey think for him progress
*[CHORUS] DEY THINK

Now now but look am, him don show himself
Opposite people
I say look am, him don show himself
Opposite people
I say look am, him don show himself
Opposite people
I say look the thing him don show himself

Everyone dey dance, him go push
Everyone dey talk, him go shout
Everyone dey hear, him go sleep
Everyone dey think, him go drink

Everyone dey dance
*[CHORUS] HIM GO PUSH
Everyone dey talk
*[CHORUS] HIM GO SHOUT
Everyone dey hear
*[CHORUS] HIM GO SLEEP
Everyone dey think
*[CHORUS] HIM GO DRINK

See, him don show himself

Him go dey shakara* *(show off/boast)
Him go dey kata-kata* *(commotion)
Him go dey shakara

[Chorus]
Him go dey shakara!
Him go dey kata-kata!
Him go dey shakara!

Them don show themselves
Opposite people
Them don show themselves

Him go dey shakara
Him go dey kata-kata

Him go dey shakara
Kata-kata put am together



***********************************************************************
ORIGINAL SUFFERHEAD

Water Light
Food House
Ye paripa O** **(exclaimation of despair)
Wetin** do them **(what)
You mean you don`t know
Wetin do them
I go tell you
Wetin do them
You go hear am
Wetin do them

That means to say you no dey
For Nigeria be that
You see yourself
You no dey for Africa at all
You must dey come from London
New York, from Germany, from Italy...

That means to say you no
dey Nigeria be that
You see yourself you no de for
Afrika at all
If you dey for Africa where we dey
you go know
I go know wetin

Plenty, about water, light, food, house
I go know wetin
Plenty plenty water for Africa
Na so-so water in Africa
Water underground, water in the air
Na so-so water in Africa
Water for man to drink nko** O **(so what)

*(CHORUS) E-NO DEY
E-no dey e dey
*(CHORUS) E-NO DEY
Water for town
*(CHORUS) E-NO DEY
Government sef e dey?
*(CHORUS) E-NO DEY

Plenty, plenty light for Afrika
Na so-so energy for Africa
Na the big-big men dey get electrica
If them no get electric dem go
If they don`t get electricity
Get plant O
Ordinary light for man nko O

*(CHORUS) E-NO DEY
E-no dey e dey?

*(CHORUS) E-NO DEY

Plenty, plenty food for Africa
Food under-ground,
Food on the ground
Na so-so plenty food for Africa
Ordinary food for man for chop* nko O **(eat)

E-no dey
Government sef e dey?
E no dey
Dodo nko?
Ten kobo for one

Akara nko? twenty kobo for one (2x)
Bread nko? fourty kobo for one
E no dey
Government sef e dey?
E no dey

House matter na different matter
Those wey dey for London dem
Those wey dey New York dem
They leave dey like kings

We wey ele for Afrika
We dey leave like servants
United Nations dem come
Get name for us
Dem go call us under developed nation
We must be underdeveloped
To dey stay ten-ten in one room O
First and second dey

Dem go call us Third World
We must dey craze for head
To dey sleep inside dust-bin
Dem go call us none-aligned nations
We must dey craze for head
To dey sleep under bridge O

Ordinary house for man


To leave nko O?
*(CHORUS) E NO DEY
Trouble
E yen dey** **(it is there)
Water?
E no dey** **(it is not there)
Wahala** **(affliction/trouble)
E yen dey
Food
E no dey
Trouble
E yen dey
House
E no dey
Wahala

E yen dey
Dem come turn-us to suffer-head* to *(suffer-man)
Original Suffer-head
It' s time for Jefa**-Head O **(lucky man)
Original Jefa-Head O
Dem turn us to Suffer-head O

*(CHORUS) ORIGINAL SUFFERHEAD

It' s time for Jefa-Head O

I want to tell you my brother
One bitter truth
Before we all are to Jefa-head O
We must be ready to fight for am now

Me I say sufferhead must go O O
Original Sufferhead
Jefa-Head must come

***********************************************************************
POWER SHOW

I open my eye I see for my land
*(CHORUS) NA WRONG SHOW O
Everywhere you dey
Everywhere you go
Everybody want do power show
*(CHORUS) NA WRONG SHOW O
You reach boarder immigration
officer dey immigration


Him go bluff you
*(CHORUS) YES – [AFTER EACH LINE]
Waste your time
Change him pen him pants
Some dey comb dem hair
Den tidy dem table
Den him/dem pull dem chair


Before him go know say you dey there
If you no talk quick
Him go go for shit
Him go shit come-back
And you talk to am
Then you suprise when him
Shack for you
Him go say you no go cross
You no go cross today
Na that time dem go start
Dem Power Show O O
Na wrong show
Go post office na the same
Dem go bluff you
Waste your time
Run you up
And then run you down
Dem go tire your body
And then tire your mind
And them tire your whole mind
Dem go say no change for fifty kobo
Na that time dem go start them

Power Show O O
Na wrong show O
Motor car owner sef him go take
him car push him car push laborer
Down for road
Then him start to yab* (tease/bother)
Foolish labourer
Nonentity, him no get money
Look him sandals e don tear finish
Look him trouser e don tear for yansh** **(ass)
Look him singlet e don dirty finish
Look him body e no bath this morning
Look him pocket e don dry finish
You go suffer for nothing
You go suffer for nothing
You no know me sha?
I be General for Army Office I
I be Officer for Police Station
I be secretary for government office
You foolish laborer, you go suffer for nothing
Nonentity, you go suffer
for nothing
Na that time dem go start dem

Power Show
Na wrong show O
Power Show na wrong thing
*(CHORUS) YES

Na sad thing
Na sad thing
Na wrong show O
Power na to help your land
Na to help your mates
Na wrong show O

***********************************************************************
QUESTION JAM ANSWER

When question drop for mouth,
Question go start to run,
When answer drop for mouth,
Answer run after am,
When answer jam question for road
Another thing go shale-o
Another thing go shale-o
Another thing go shale-o

When question drop for mouth,
Question go start to run,
When answer drop for mouth,
Answer run after am,
When answer jam** question for road **(meet/crash)
Another thing go shale-o

Why you mash my leg for ground?
You no see my leg for road?
Why you mash my leg for ground?
You no see my leg for road?

Question dem drop for mouth,
Question go start to run,
Question dem drop for mouth,
Question go start to run,

Why you put your leg for road?
You no see say I dey come?
Why you put your leg for road?
You no see say I dey come?

Answer dem drop for mouth,
Answer dem start to run,
Answer dem drop for mouth,
Answer dem start to run,

When question drop for mouth,
Question go start to run,
When answer drop for mouth,
Answer run after am,
When answer jam question for road
Another thing go shale-o


Dem e na na na na
**(CHORUS) ANOTHER THING GO SHALE-O - [AFTER EACH LINE]
Dem e na na na na
I now leave things to your imagination
When answer jam question for road
Dem e na na na na


SAX CALLS--- Another thing go shale-o
*(CHORUS) RESPONSE







Question Jam Answer: Explanation

People are selfish. Mr. Question stops (jams) Mr. Answer on the road, a surprising thing will happen.

For example:
As you sit, someone steps on your leg,
You inquire- “why did you step on me, didn’t you see my leg?”
You expect an apology & sympathy

Instead, he responds, “Why did you put your leg in my way,
Didn’t you see me coming?

**********************************************************************

****************************************************************************
SHAKARA
To ba b'oni sakara pade
Pashan to ma fi na e oje l'o nje
Kini won se npe o
Shakara* oloje ni *(showing off/claiming the impossible)
*REPEAT STANZA 3x


Shakara oloje ni o...
*[CHORUS] SHAKARA OLOJE NI *(REPEAT STANZA 4X)

We get the shakara man
We get the shakara woman
Shakara man, him go say
"I go beat you, I go nearly kill you"
Na shakara
"I go beat you, go beat am and get accident"
Na shakara
"You no know me"
Na shakara
"Wait make I come out my dress"
Na shakara
You see, even if you do nothing
Na shakara oloje
We get a song for that
We go sing am like this, we go sing:
Ah, ah>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ah ni, ah ni, ah ni, Ah ni, ah ni, ah ni…..

Ma kan na e
*(Horn Responses)
Ma kan na e pa
Iwo ke, oti mo mi ni
To ba to ko duro de mi o
Duro de mi ki'nbo so mi
Wa je baba nla iya
Iro ni o ko le ja, Oje lo nyo,
Kini won se npe o

Shakara oloje ni o...
*[CHORUS] SHAKARA OLOJE NI *(REPEAT STANZA 4X)


The shakara woman
Tell her I say, "My dear I like you"
She go say, "E like you? Who you like"
"Come on jare, look at this man"
"Why you come from self"
"I be near you, no touch me o"
Ah, you see, she wan you
Na shakara
We call am shakara oloje
We get a song for that
We sing am like this, we go sing:
Ah, ah
Ah ni, ah ni, ah ni, ah ni

To ba f'owo kan mi
*(HORN RESPONSES)
To ba f'owo kan mi
Jowo fi mi sile
Tabi ki lo nse e
O m'egbe ni, nibo loti jawa
Nibo loti jawa
Nibo loti jawa to lokun lorun
Emi pelu re ko
Iro ni o, o fe se o oje lon'yo
Kini won se npe o

Shakara oloje ni o...
*[CHORUS] SHAKARA OLOJE NI *(REPEAT STANZA 4X)


**********************************************************************
SHUFFERING AND SHMILING

This is only a taste of our next release, SHUFFERING AND SHMILING

MMMMMMM, ehhhhhhhhh Ahhhhhhhhh
You Africans, please listen to me as Africans
And you non-Africans, listen to me with open mind….Ah

Suffer, suffer, suffer, suffer, suffer, suffer for world
Na your fault be that
Me I say, na your fault be that

Ahhhh, Mmmmm Hmmmmm
Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, woh, Ah

Suffer, suffer, suffer, suffer, suffer, suffer for world
Na your fault be that
Me I say, na your fault be that,,,,
Ahhhhhhh, Mmmmmmmm
Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, Ah-Ch, Ooooo, A ha


[SPOKEN] I want you all to please take your minds
Out of this musical contraption
And put your minds into any god-damn church
Any god-damn mosque
Any god-damn Celestical
Including Seraphoom* and Cheruboom** (God's serpent angels), **(4 faced angel)

Now, we are all there now
Our minds are in those places
Here we go



Suffer, suffer for world
[CHORUS] AMEN (AFTER EACH LINE)
Enjoy for Heaven
Christians go dey yab
“In Spiritum Heavinus"
Muslims go dey call
"Allah-hu Wak-u-bar”

Open you eye everywhere
Archbishop na miliki* *(enjoyment)
Pope na enjoyment
Imam na gba’ladun


[CHORUS]ARCHBISHOP DEY ENJOY
* HORN RESPONSES AFTER EACH LINE
[CHORUS] POPE SELF DEY ENJOY
[CHORUS] IMAM SELF DEY ENJOY
[CHORUS] MY BROTHER, WETIN** YOU SAY? **[WHAT]
[CHORUS] MY BROTHER, WETIN YOU SAY?

My sister wetin you go hear?
My sister wetin you go hear?

Archbishop dey for London

Pope dey for Rome
* HORN RESPONSES AFTER EACH LINE
Imam dey for Mecca
Archbishop dey for London
Pope dey for Rome
Imam dey for Mecca


My people them go dey follow Bishop
*[CHORUS] AMEN (AFTER EACH LINE)
Them go follow Pope
Them go follow Imam
Them go go for London
Them go go for Rome
Them go go for Mecca
Them go carry all the money
Them go juba Bishop
Juba Pope
Juba Imam
Then them go start to yab* themselves: *(tease/bother)
*[Nonsense syllables- fake Arabic/Catholic chants] at least 12 repetitions

Every day, for house
Every day, for road
Every day, for bus
Every day, for work
** Repeat stanza

My people, my people
My people, my people

We now have to carry our minds
Out of those god-damn places
Back into this musical contraption right opposite you
Now we are back here

This is what happens to we Africans, every day
Now, wetin I want tell you now
Na secret- o
Na confidential matter
Don't tell anybody outside
Na between me and you
Now listen

As I dey say before
E dey happen to all of us every day
We Africans all over the world
Now listen



Every day my people dey inside bus
*[CHORUS] SUFFERING & SMILING *[AFTER EACH LINE]
Every day my people dey inside bus
Forty-nine sitting, ninety-nine standing
Them go pack themselves in like sardine
Them dey faint, them dey wake like cock
Them go reach house, water no dey
Them go reach bed, power no dey
Them go reach road, go-slow go come
Them go reach road, police go slap
Them go reach road, army go whip
Them go look pocket, money no dey
Them go reach work, query ready
Every day na the same thing
Every day na the same thing
Every day na the same thing
Every day na the same thing

Suffer, suffer for world
[CHORUS] AMEN (AFTER EACH LINE)
Enjoy for Heaven
Christians go dey yab
“In Spiritum Heavinus"
Muslims go dey call
"Allah-hu Wak-u-bar”
How many, many a many you go make?
Many, many...
How many, many a many you go make?
Many, many...
How many, many a many you go make?
Many, many...
How many, many a many you go make?
Many, many
*{CHORUS AMEN’s CONT THRU KEY RESPONSES SOLO]

**********************************************************************

***********************************************************************
SORROW, TEARS, AND BLOOD

Everybody run run run
Everybody scatter scatter
Some people lost some bread
Some one nearly die
Some one just die
Police dey come, Army dey come
Confusion everywhere

Seven minutes later
All done cool down, brother
Police don go away
Army don disappear

Dem leave Sorrow, Tears, and Blood (2x)
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK

Everybody run run run
Everybody scatter scatter
Some people lost some bread
Some one nearly die
Some one just die
Police dey come, Army dey come
Confusion everywhere

Seven minutes later
All done cool down, brother
Police don go away
Army don disappear

Dem leave Sorrow, Tears, and Blood (2x)
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK
La, la, la, la

My people self dey fear too much
Dem fear for the thing we no see
Dem fear for the air around us

We fear to fight for freedom
We fear to fight for liberty
We fear to fight for justice
We fear to fight for happiness
We always get reason to fear

We no want die
We no want quench** **(destroy)
Mama dey for house
Papa dey for house
I get one wife
I get one car
I get one house
I just build house
I wan enjoy

So policeman go slap your face
You no go talk
Army man go whip your yansh** **(ass)
You go dey look like donkey
Rhodesia dey do dem own
Our leaders dey yab for nothing
South Africa dey do dem own

Dem leave Sorrow, Tears, and Blood
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK

Dem leave Sorrow, Tears, and Blood
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK

That is why-y-y

Everybody run run run
Everybody scatter scatter
Some people lost some bread
Some one nearly die
Some one just die
Police dey come, Army dey come
Confusion everywhere

Time dey go
Time no wait for nobody
Police dey come
Like this
**[make siren noise with voice]

Everybody run run run
Everybody scatter scatter
Some people lost some bread
Some one nearly die
Some one just die
Police dey come, Army dey come
Confusion everywhere

Seven minutes later
All done cool down, brother
Police don go away
Army don disappear

Dem leave Sorrow, Tears, and Blood (2x)
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK
Dem regular trade mark
*(CHORUS) DEM REGULAR TRADE MARK

--------------
Explanation
Details the 1977 police attack on ("the dissident") Fela's Kalakuta compound (14-A Agege Motor Rd)- precipitated by Fela's nursing of a street teen beaten some policemen for mouthing off. Police cut Fela's fence, burned his cars & house, beat his men, beat and raped his wives, threw his 77 year-old mother out of a window (she eventually died from her injuries). Fela was imprisoned for almost a month. A government investigation found Fela's compound was wrongly attacked by "unknown soldiers."

***********************************************************************
TEACHER DON’T TEACH ME NONSENSE


A kujuba, A kujuba,
*[CHORUS]- EH____
(repeat 7x)
Yehhhh- eh!


Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-JI-KE-KE

*[CHORUS]- YAH
Ke-re-ke- JI- Ke-ke
CHORUS)- YAH
---------ke- JI- Ke-ke
*[CHORUS]- YAH
Ke-re-ke-KE- JI- Ke-ke
(repeat 3x)

Ke-RE-ke…

All the wahala**, all the problems, **(affliction/trouble)
All the things, all the things they go do,
For this world go start,
When the teacher, schoolboy & schoolgirl jam** together **(meet)

Who be teacher?
I go let you know...
(repeat 3x)

When we be pikin**, **[child]
*[CHORUS] ‘FATHA/ MAMA” BE TEACHER
When we dey for school
*[CHORUS] TEACHER BE TEACHER
When we dey University
*[CHORUS] LECTURER BE TEACHER
When we start to work
*[CHORUS] GOVERNMENT BE TEACHER
Who be government teacher?
*[CHORUS] CU-ULTURE AND TRADITION
Who be government teacher?
*[CHORUS] CU-ULTURE AND TRADITION
Cu-ulture and tradition
*[CHORUS] CU-ULTURE AND TRADITION
Cu-ulture and tradition
*[CHORUS] CU-ULTURE AND TRADITION

Now the problem side, of a teaching student-ee
I go sing about
I don pass pikin, I don pass school, university, se-fa pass
As I don start to work, na government I must se-fa pass
Da go for France

*[CHORUS] YES SIR (*after each line) [occassionally “YES MAAM”]
Engi-land
Italy
Germany
Na dem culture
For der’
Be teacher
For dem
Go China
Russia
Korea
Viet Nam
Na dem culture
For der’
Be teacher
For dem
Go Syria
Jordan
Iran
Iraq
Na dem culture
For der’
Be teacher
For dem

Let us face ourselves for Afrika
Na de matter of Afrika
This part-ee of my song
Na all the problems of this world
In we dey carry, for Afrika

Wey no go ask-ee me
*[CHORUS] WHICH ONE?
(repeat 4x)

Problems of inflation
*[CHORUS] WHICH ONE? (after each line)
Problems of corruption
Of mismanagement
Stealing by government
Nothing dey we carry
All over Afrika
Na de latest one
Na him dey make me laugh

Austeri-
*[CHORUS] AUSTERITY *(after each line) *(belt tightening/rationing)
Austeri-
Na him dey latest one
Na him dey make me laugh
Why I dey laugh?
Man no fit cry?

Who be our teacher na Oyinbo?
Who be our teacher na Oyinbo?
A na false, the first election
And the second election held in Nigeria
Na the second election na it was na pass
Boba la nonsense

*[CHORUS] BOBA** LA NONSENSE (*repeat after each line) **(misinform,)
Boba la nonsense
He pass o regime-o
He pass corruption
Which kind election be dis?
People na go vote
Dem come get big big numbers
Thousands to thousands
Millions to billions
Which kind election be dis?
Boba la nonsense

Na dem-o-cr-azy be the deal-oh
Na dem-o-cr-azy be the deal-oh
Who don teach us ee dem-o-cr-azy?
(bo-ptch) Oyinbo** teach-ee us **(foreigner/white)
(yuh-ngh) Oyinbo for Europe -oh
Oyinbo teach us many many things-ee
Many of dem things I don sing about-ee
Me I no gin copy Oyinbo style
Let us think say, Oyinbo no pass me
When Shagari finish him elections
Wey dem no tell am, say him make mistake
Say this yo, no be democracy
Oyinbo dem no tell army self
Na for England-ee, I me no fit take over
I come think about this demo-crazy

Democrazy
*[CHORUS] DEMO-CRAZY (*after each line)
Crazy demo
Demonstration of craze
Crazy demonstration
If it no be craze
Why for Afrika?
As time dey go
Things just dey bad
They bad more and more
Poor man dey cry
Rich man dey mess
Demo-crazy
Crazy demo
Demonstration of craze
Crazy demonstration

If good-u teacher teach-ee something
And he student make mistake
Teacher must talk-ee so
But Oyinbo no talk-ee so
I suffer dem, Dey suffer dem
Dem dey say dey teaching get meaning
Different different meaning
Different different kinds of meaning
That is why I say
That is the reason of my song

That is the conclude
The conclud-ee of my song

I say, I sing, I beg everyone to join my song (3x)

*[CHORUS] TEACHER, TEACHER-O NA THE LECTURER BE YOUR NAME
TEACHER, TEACHER-O, NA THE LECTURE BE THE SAME
MAKE-EE NO TEACH-EE ME AGAIN OH
AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE IT DEY OH
AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE

ME & YOU NO DEY FOR THE SAME-EE CATEGORY (4X)



*[CHORUS] NOT THE SAME CATEGORY OH
Category *(repeat/Lead fills vocally)
Not the same category oh…

(KEY SOLO, etc)



Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-KE, Ke-re-JI-KE-KE

*[CHORUS]- YAH
Ke-re-ke- JI- Ke-ke
CHORUS)- YAH
---------ke- JI- Ke-ke
*[CHORUS]- YAH
Ke-re-ke-KE- JI- Ke-ke
(repeat 3x)


*[CHORUS] TEACHER, TEACHER-O NA THE LECTURER BE YOUR NAME
TEACHER, TEACHER-O, NA THE LECTURE BE THE SAME
MAKE-EE NO TEACH-EE ME AGAIN OH
AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE IT DEY OH
AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE

ME & YOU NO DEY FOR THE SAME-EE CATEGORY (4X)



*[CHORUS] NOT THE SAME CATEGORY OH
Category *(repeat/Lead fills vocally)
Not the same category oh…

***********************************************************************






TROUBLE SLEEP, YANGA WAKE AM

(lead vocal scats melody), sax solo, organ intro

*[CHORUS]
RA RA-RA RA, RA-RA-RA-RA-RA
RA RA-RA RA, RA-RA-RA-RA-RA
RA RA-RA RA

When Trouble sleep,
Yanga go wake am,
Waking him dey find
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver**, he go get-e o **(trouble)
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver

When cat sleep,
Rat go bite him tail,
Waking him dey find,
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver, he go get-e o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver

Tenant lost him job,
Him sit down for house,
Him dey think of job,
Mr. Landord come wake am up,
He say, “Mister, pay me your rent”
Waking him dey find
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver, he go get-e o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver

My friend just come from prison,
Him dey look for work,
Waka* waka day and night, *(walk)
Police man come stop am for road,
He say, “Mister, I charge you for wandering”
Waking him dey find
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver, he go get-e o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver

Mr. Husband marry for church,
He make big party,
Then he start to spray**, **(tip, usually musicians)
Because him love him wife,
Him say, “wife come run away”
Bank manager run come,
He say, “Mister, pay me your debt”
Waking him dey find, for Lagos e-o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver, he go get-e o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver

When Trouble sleep,
Yanga go wake am,
Waking him dey find
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver, he go get-e o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver, he go get-e o

When cat sleep,
Rat go bite him tail,
Waking him dey find,
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE DEY FIND
Palaver, he go get-e o
*[CHORUS] PALAVER, HE GO GET
Palaver, he go get e-o

*[CHORUS]
RA RA-RA RA, RA-RA-RA-RA-RA
RA RA-RA RA, RA-RA-RA-RA-RA
RA RA-RA RA

RA RA-RA RA, RA-RA-RA-RA-RA
RA RA-RA RA, RA-RA-RA-RA-RA
RA RA-RA RA


Explanation:

Don’t kick people when they are down,
Nor bother them at inappropriate times:
There is a limit to patience.

When things are calm,
Don’t start trouble by bothering people who are struggling to get by.


*******************************************************************************

UPSIDE DOWN

Open that book dem call dictionary
…..OPEN AM MAKE YOU SEE*** (After every line)
I said, Open that book dem call dictionary
Upside down na there dey proper
Dem recognize the word for sure, yes

Because him get him meaning too
…..HEAD FOR DOWN, YANSH* FOR UP [CHORUS After every line] *(ass)
Because him get him meaning too
Upside down get him meaning too
Upside down get him meaning too

I don* travel, I don see *(do)
Like any professor* for this land *(teacher)
The thing wey I see, I go talk
About upside up, and down-side down
For overseas, where I see:

Communication Organize
….PATA PATA* [CHORUS After every line] *Totally
Agriculture Organize
Electric Organize
Dem system Organize
Dem people Organize
Dem people Organize

Englishman get English name
American man get American name
German man get German name
Russian man get Russian name
Chinese man get Chinese name

For Africa man house, I don't see
Like any professor for this land
I no have to travel anywhere
Everything der under my nose
For Africa man house, I don't see

Village boku* road no der (there) *(plenty)[there are not many villages]
Land boku food no der [there isn’t much good food]
Area boku house no der [there are not many city houses]

People no give their African name
People no dey think African style
People no know Africa way
For Africa man house, I don’t see

Communication Disorganize
….PATA PATA* [CHORUS After every line] *(Totally)
Agriculture Disorganize
Electric Disorganize
Everything is Upside Down
Everything is Upside Down
...Disorganize
...Disorganize
Everything Upside Down
Everything Upside Down
...Disorganize
...Disorganize
Everything Upside Down
Everything Upside Down
[REPEAT LAST 4 LINES// Horns enter]


___________________________
Upside Down Explanation

Africa needs to get their shit together
Africa is ass over head

“Upside Down” is in the dictionary
It has special meaning to Africa

Fela the world-traveling teacher,
He sees that in countries overseas- that everything is organized
But in Africa…Everything is disorganized
There is not even knowledge of African culture,
Few houses, few villages, crappy city houses, people use colonial names…

***********************************************************************
WATER NO GET ENEMY

To ba fe lo weh omi lo- malo <>
If you wan go wash- water you go use

Toba fe sobeh omi lo- malo
If you wan cook soup- water you go use

To ri ba ngbona omi lero lero
If your head be hot- water it cool am

Tomo ba ngagda omi lo- malo
If your child dey grow- water you go use

If water kill your child- water you go use
Tobi ba bwi nao homi lo- malo

Ko sohun tole se ko ma lomi- o
Nothing without water (repeat this couplet)

****
*[CHORUS] WATER, IT NO GET ENEMY - [AFTER EACH LINE]
Oh me a water-o
No go fight am, unless you wan die
I say water No get enemy
No go fight am, unless you wan die
O me a water-o
O they talk of Black-man power
O they talk of Black power, I say
I say water No get enemy
No go fight am, unless you wan die
I say water No get enemy
I say water No get enemy
O me a water-o
O me a water-o


_____________________________________








WATER NO GET ENEMY: EXPLANATION

The "water" is the Nigerian common people. The Government/Military must not make enemies of the populous, nor disturb their "flow" (endevours & routines)- as it is dangerous to make an enemy of the country's most essential resource. The people make everything happen.

Nothing exists without water
Water does not gain enemies
because if you fight (renounce)water, you will die

Power cannot exist without the people…


**********************************************************************
YELLOW FEVER
Different different fever na him dey
Different different fever na him dey
Different different fever na him dey
Different different fever na him dey

Malaria fever nko
*[CHORUS] HE DEY *(AFTER EACH LINE)
Jaundice fever nko
Hay fever nko
Influenza fever nko
Inflation fever nko
Freedom fever nko
Yellow fever nko

[CHORUS] NA HIM DEY BRING THE MATTER NOW HE DEY

Yellow fever nko
*[CHORUS] HE DEY

[Chorus]NA HIM DEY BRING THE MATTER NOW HE DEY

I say tell them make them hear
*[CHORUS] YOU SAY *(AFTER EACH LINE)
All fever na sickness
Original sickness
Hay fever na sickness
Original sickness
Malaria na sickness
Original sickness
Jaundice na sickness
Original sickness
Influenza na sickness
Original sickness
Inflation na sickness
Original sickness
Freedom na sickness
Original sickness
Yellow fever nko

[CHORUS] ORIGINAL AND ARTIFICIAL HE DEY

Yellow fever nko
*[CHORUS] YOU SAY
One more...


[CHORUS] ORIGINAL AND ARTIFICIAL HE DEY

Bom bom bom, tell me now...

Original catch you
*[CHORUS] YOU SAY *(after each)
Your eye go yellow
Your yansh go yellow
Your face go yellow
Your body go weak
I say but later if you no die inside
The yellow go fade away
Artificial catch you
You be man or woman
Na you go catch am yourself
Na your money go do am for you
You go yellow pass yellow
You go catch moustache for face
You go get your double colour
Your yansh go black like coal
You self go think say you dey fine
Who say you fine?

[CHORUS] NA LIE, YOU NO FINE AT ALL AT ALL, NA LIE

My sister, who say you fine

[CHORUS] NA LIE, YOU NO FINE AT ALL AT ALL, NA LIE

Yellow fever



You dey bleach, o you dey bleach
[CHORUS]YOU DEY BLEACH, O YOU DEY BLEACH *(after each)
African mother
You dey bleach, o you dey bleach
Sissy wey dey go
Yellow fever
Stupid thing
Yeye thing
Fucking thing
Ugly thing
Yellow fever
You dey bleach, o you dey bleach
African mother
You dey bleach, o you dey bleach
Sissy wey dey go
Yellow fever

Now to the underground spiritual game
Underground where dey down for school
Over there for school, yes
Where dey go say, teacher
Oya!

Who steal my bleaching
*[CHORUS] TEACHER *(AFTER EACH)
My precious bleaching
I buy am for shopping
For forty naira
How I go yellow
How I go find out
I go die o
I go die o
I go die o

According to complaint
Complaint must get answer
I beg please, help me help teacher
Oya, foolish
Oya!



Who steal your bleaching
[CHORUS] FOOLISH *(AFTER EACH)
Your precious bleaching
You buy am for shopping
For forty naira
You self all yellow
How you go find out?
Your face go yellow
Your yansh go black
Your moustache go show
Your skin go scatter
You go die o
You go die o
You go die o
You go die o



You dey bleach, o you dey bleach
[CHORUS]YOU DEY BLEACH, O YOU DEY BLEACH *(after each)
African mother
You dey bleach, o you dey bleach
Sissy wey dey go
Yellow fever
Stupid thing
Yeye thing
Fucking thing
Ugly thing
Yellow fever
You dey bleach, o you dey bleach
African mother
You dey bleach, o you dey bleach
Sissy wey dey go
Yellow fever

-----------------------------
YELLOW FEVER Explanation
*Makes fun of popular fad ("sickness") of Africans bleaching their skin to look white- turning themselves yellow

***********************************************************************

ZOMBIE


Zombie-o, zombie** **(police/army-unthinking followers)
*[CHORUS] ZOMBIE-O, ZOMBIE (2X)

Zombie no go go, unless you tell am to go
*[CHORUS] ZOMBIE *(after each line)
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell am to stop
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell am to turn
Zombie no go think, unless you tell am to think

Zombie-o, zombie
*[CHORUS] ZOMBIE-O, ZOMBIE (2X) *(repeat last 2 stanzas)

Tell am to go straight-- Joro, Jara, Joro
No brain, no job, no sense-- Joro, Jara, Joro
Tell am to go kill-- Joro, Jara, Joro
No brain, no job, no sense-- Joro, Jara, Joro
Tell am to go quench-- Joro, Jara, Joro
No brain, no job, no sense-- Joro, Jara, Joro

Go and kill
*[CHORUS] JORO, JARA, JORO *(after each line)
Go and die
Go and quench** **(destroy)
Put am for reverse
Go and kill
Go and die
Go and quench *(3x)


Joro, Jara, Joro- O Zombie way na one way (3x)
Joro, Jara, Joro- Ooooh


Attention
*[CHORUS] ZOMBIE *(in time- average every 2-3 words)
Quick march
Slow march
Left turn
Right turn
About turn
Double time
Sa-lute
Open your hat
Stand at ease
Fall in
Fall out
Fall down
Get ready *(2x)

Ha-lt
Or-der *(Repeat 3x from "Attention")

*[CHORUS] ZOMBIE (repeat on ‘1’ of each measure as desired)
Dis-miss