Take a Look
Echoes of Sufferation: Burning Spear's Powerful Message
Lyrics
Way over in Ethiopia, when my little brother wake
Highlighting the geographical context of Ethiopia, expressing concern for a sibling.
He have no food to eat, no clothes to wear, no place to go
Describing the brother's dire situation—lack of food, clothing, and shelter.
What can his mother say, what can his father do?
Emphasizing the helplessness of the parents in the face of their child's adversity.
What can his mother say, what can his father do?
-Take a look at Africa, take a look in a Africa
Calling attention to Africa's struggles, suffering, and the hope for liberation.
(Oh what a struggle)
-Sufferation, starvation, come in liberation
-What can his mother say, what can his father do?
Reiterating the parents' powerless position and the urgency of the situation.
What can his mother say, what can his father do?
-Take a look in a Africa, take a look in a Africa
Encouraging a broader perspective on Africa, urging a collective look at its challenges.
Take a look in a Africa
-Take a look in South Africa, yes America talk to Mandela
Mentioning South Africa, America, England, and expressing solidarity with Nelson Mandela's struggle.
Come in England, come in England
-Say what you can, what you can, say what you can, what you done
-To Nelson Mandela, to Nelson Mandela
-Take a look in a Africa, take a look in a Africa
Re-emphasizing the call to examine Africa and its issues.
Way over in Ethiopia
Revisiting Ethiopia and the brother's plight, emphasizing the recurring theme.
(Take a look in a Africa, take a look in a Africa)
-When my little brother wake
-He have no food to eat, he have no clothes to wear
Restating the brother's lack of essentials and the parents' helplessness.
He have no place to go
-What can his mother say? What can his father do?
-What can his mother say? What can his father do?
Reiterating the desperate situation and the parents' inability to change it.
Take a look in a Africa, take a look in a Africa
Final call to collectively examine Africa, reinforcing the plea for awareness and action.
Take a look in a Africa
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