Song Lyrics

People Power!

The artists sang in their native languages, using words and expressions unique to their cultures as well as their own personal worldviews. Please note that the original meaning of their lyrics might be lost a bit in translation.

Angelique Kidjo
(Benin, language – Fon)

INTRODUCTION
Let’s get together
Let’s all get involved
In changing the world

Talib Kweli
(United States, language – English)

Everybody wanna be a gangster
Wavin their flag for the set they claim
democrat, republican, crip or blood you can switch it up, really it’s all the same
Just corrupted agendas, public offenders, they ain’t come to defend us
Government is against us, workin’ for corporate interests, we’ve been hoodwinked.
They walkin’ all over you with carbon footprints

But look man we gotta find common ground, a common theme on which we gotta agree
We need the sea, we need the trees, we need the air, we got to breathe
fossil fuels got us livin like dinosaurs, eatin up the resources like carnivores
What we need is a new energy solution for mother nature is not the enemy

CHORUS
Turn it around
Drilling for energy, like you cannot see the Sun
Iphendule [isiZulu for ‘turn it around’]
This earth belongs to everyone
Turn it around
Mining for energy, like you’ve never felt the wind
Iphendule [isiZulu for ‘turn it around’]
Time to change so we can live

CHORUS Post Hook

isiZulu                        English translation
Jika                              Turn
Umhlabawethu         This world is our world
Jika                              Turn
Masihlangane           Let’s get together
Jika                             Turn
Umoya wethu           This is our spirit
Jika                            Turn
Simuntumunye        We are one or none

 

Marie Daulne of Zap Mama
(Belgium/Democratic Republic of Congo, language – French)

My freedom like colours
that I harmonise
like a rainbow, my ritual
on my path
mastered by me
beautiful new horizon
that we all plan on earth our home

CHORUS

Angelique Kidjo
(Benin, language – Fon)

Let’s come together and work together to face the challenges of the future [repeated]

Jabulani Tsambo of Hip Hop Pantsula
(South Africa, languages – Setswana, English)

To increase the pain of people who are dying anyway
is so embarrassing.
Get the digits
and call them. Tell them we’re coming there
you should look for a loop hole if
we catch them out stuttering and talking trash
they’ll find themselves in the jail of
the people of this world
We even tried to topple you
To live for yourself is a lie
To live for others is king
sing by yourselves
(HE E HEEE EH)

Wake up. Get up.
Shake up. Face up.
It’s either you make or break up. Khona [Look].
(HE E HEEE EH)
The people are dying. We’re fed up.
This coal mining stuff is a set up.
This whole buying time is a Shut up! Shut up?
(HE E HEEE EH)
The weather is crazy
Our leaders are lazy
Their attitude doesn’t amaze me
(HE E HEEE EH)
At the end of the world
Comes the birth of a pearl
Sing all my guys and my girls…

Zolani Mahola of Freshly Ground
(South Africa, languages – isiXhosa and isiZulu)

The sun was at its brightest
the seasons coming in their own time
flowers blossoming
the rain bringing freshness to mother earth
the rain releasing a smell of wonder
the birds with their singing
every season came in its right time

Fix this mess you have created/this mess before us

The sun was shining
the earth in its time
flowers blossoming
the rain bringing freshness to the mother earth,
every season came in its right time

All of the dreams in the whole of this world can only be made true by a healthy planet – society – ground – people.

All of the dreams in the whole of this world can only be made true by a healthy planet – society – ground – people.

All of the dreams in the whole of this world can only be made true by a healthy planet – society – ground – people.

* * * * * *

EXTENDED VERSION
Ahmed Soultan
(Morocco, languages – Berber & Arabic)

 

A tarwa n’tafoukt (sons of the sun)
Gat afouss gh’oufouss (put your hands together)

Akkal ad i ga wineun (this land is yours)
A fellas or tssofoussm (stop spoiling it)

Haji n’ta chouff achnou kay goulou (listen to what they say)
Had el halla dernaha bidina (we’ve done this situation with our own hands)

O baki el aman ila tahdna lid f’el yed (but hope is still here if we walk hand in hand)
O baki el aman ya khouya , baki baki el aman (but hope is still here my brother hope is still here)

Obaki el aman ila tahdna koulna ifriquiyen (hope is still here if we come together as African)
Obaki el aman ila tahdna koulna, koulna ifriquiyen (hope is still here if we come together as African)