SEVEN LIFES

Words and Music composed, written and arranged by Olusegun Akinlolu. No part of these lyrics should be shared in any form or any public space without giving credit to the writer. All rights reserved. © & ℗ 1997 EniObanke


 

1. SEVEN LIFES

In my journey through the world, over land and over sea 

I see different cultures and different people's ways 

I was born where the sun never sets and never rises 

I was born where the heat is like a second skin 
 

Children crying on the streets, automobiles making noise 

The land is growing dry and weak, spirits dying low 

The forefathers calling me: never tire, never weaken 

The pride in me is bursting loose I'm an African boy. 
 

On the farm my father called me down behind a tree 

He said, “Prostrate at my feet and say a few prayers” 

Then he told me all the stories of my brave ancestors, 

"Look into my eyes son, you were born to be great" 
 

So, in the twilight I went home, behind my father with a hoe 

Listening to the songs of birds, whispers of the night 

Singing: seven goats, seven beads, 

Seven cowries, seven nuts, 

Seven lives that's what I've got, I'm an African boy 

Over sea, over land, over mountains and in the wild 

I'll be brave and I'll be strong, I'm an African boy. 
 

In the evening, mother called me down into her hut 

She said,` "Lay upon my bosom and say a few prayers" 

Then she told me to go forward never looking back 

"The spirits are with you and you will never fail" 
 

So I go into the world, into the deeps, into the wild 

In the market place I danced the sound of bata 

Dancing: seven jumps, seven wriggles, 

Seven cowries, seven nuts 

Seven lives, that's what I've got 

I'm an African boy 
 

2. WHAT CAN MAN DO? 

What can man do when Jahjah’s your guide? 

What can man do when you’ve seen the light? 

What can hate do when love’s in your heart? 

You’ll be standing tall, you’ll be clean and proud 

Tomorrow’s in your eyes, you will never fail 
 

What can man do when Jahjah says no? 

What can man do when his time is up? 

You know today’s kings are tomorrow’s bones 

So look up history, the wicked must fall, their children will pay 

The oppressed will always laugh last y’know 
 

It’s just a season it will pass away 

Darkness will give way to light one day 

You know it’s easy but they cannot see 

How we can all live in peace as one 
 

So, what can man do when Jahjah’s your guide? 

What can darkness do when you’re in the light? 

What can hate do when love’s in your heart? 

You’ll be standing tall, you’ll be clean and proud 

Tomorrow’s in your eyes, you will never fail 

It’s just a season it will pass away… 


3. CHASING THE WIND 

Yes, you may live long like Methuselah, I tell you 

You may rule the world, 

You may be powerful like the gods 

Look into the skies, the truths of the universe 

A lie may reign today 

One day the truth will come out shining bright 
 

It’s like chasing the wind, you can’t catch it 

Chasing the wind, you won’t catch it, no 

So, let there be truth in the land 

Let there be justice in the land 

Let there be love 

Then there will be peace like you want 
 

People may be still, taking all your bullshit 

They may be like fools to be driven like the cows 

If you look deep in their eyes, you’ll see the burning fire 

The day is coming soon, this fire will explode, I know 

It’s like chasing the wind, you can’t catch it… 


Everybody’s got a right you know 

To be free and live free 

To be happy in the life that he chooses to live 

Everybody’s got a brain you know 

They can see beyond the lies 

The day is coming soon this fire will explode, I know 
 

4. RHYTHMS 

Say you want to ask me where I get my rhythms from 

And you want to know now, why the people love me so 

You want to know where I get my songs from, 

You want to know why I dance so good 

You want to get some inspiration, 

You want to feel the beat in you 

Do you want to go there where I get my rhythms from? 

Down in Africa where the music never stops 

Hear the clarion call, it’s another rhythm 

It’s a natural rhythm, it’s a reggae rhythm 

It’s a funky rhythm 


Say you’re having problems, can’t really find your feet 

The world is against you and you can’t find no rest 

You want to know where you can be happy 

You want to know where you can find peace 

You want to get some inspiration 

You want a place where you can be free 

Do you want to go there where I get my rhythms from? 

Down in Africa where the music never stops 

Hear the clarion call, it’s another rhythm 

It’s a natural rhythm, it’s a reggae rhythm 

It’s a funky rhythm 


My rhythm, it’s from Africa 

It’s from the Father I tell you 

It’s from Jah Almighty 

You all go dance, dance, dance 

Now feel me flow 

Do you want to go there where I get my rhythms from? 

Down in Africa where the music never stops 

Hear the clarion call, it’s another rhythm… 


5. FAT GIRL 

Fat girl, I know the way you’re feeling 

You need a man beside you 

I’m going to be there 
 

Cos everyman wants a loving girl 

And every girl wants a loving man 

I-man need a fat-fat girl 

Someone soft and succulent 

So in the night we can frolick and rumble 

And in the day we will rollick and bubble 

And our love will never tumble 

The day you slim down I will cry 

Cos the bigger the better, the fatter the softer 

That’s all I want from you girl 

Yes, the bigger the better, the fatter the softer 

That’s all I want from you girl 
 

Cos everyman has a desire 

They want a girl with a figure eight 

I need a girl a fatty rump 

I need a girl with thick fat lips 

So in the night we can frolick and rumble… 

Yes, our love going to burn like fire 

And we will take it higher and higher 

We will swim a river of desire 

Everything you want I’m going to buy you. 
 

Fat girl, I know the way you’re feeling 

You need a man beside you 

I’m going to be there 
 

6. THIS IS LOVE 

We’re coming nice and easy, smooth and tender… 


You woke this morning with my face in your eyes 

My voice in your ears and you think it must be craziness 

You made up your face to face up today 

But your mind is still in yesterday and the words I said 
 

I tell you baby, this is love 

You ain’t got it till you’ve got it 

And when you’ve got it you’ve got to know it 

Or it’s going to burn you down 

I tell you honey, this is the time 

To come running into my arms 

I’ll give you like you’ve never had 

I tell you now, this is what they call real love 
 

The last time was so bad you promised yourself ‘not again’ 

Said no more pain, no more tears, all will be well 

But when we met, it welled up in you this curdling stream 

Feelings you can’t help, you keep seeing me in your dreams
 

What we’ve found is rare like gold, 

Everlasting like a diamond 

What we’ve got is from heaven, 

Only once in a while given 

So go on forget your doubts 
 

7. THE HEAT IS ON 

The heat is on in a village girl 

At 18 years she’s never known a man 

Her mummy wouldn’t let her go outdoors 

She says the men will spoil her little child 

But the nights are cold and lonely 

This village girl’s got to get a man 

Pisha ohoh, you need a lover, ohoh 

Can’t tell your mummy nooh 

She won’t approve it, nooh 

Pisha ohoh, the feelings are surging ohoh 

The heat is on now ohoh, she can’t deny it 
 

The heat is on in a village girl 

At 18 years she’s never known a man 

She can’t ignore the growing need in her 

She thinks of him every night and day 

And when the men pay her compliments 

She feels so hot, don’t know what to do 
 

Burning (3ce), burning like fine 

Shivering (3ce) with hot desire 

She needs a man to take her higher 

But she can’t get no one 

To quell the fire burning inside her 

Pisha ohoh, you need a lover, ohoh… 
 

8. SILENCE 

We may be right, we may be wrong 

We take our chances by and by 

We let our minds do the talking 

Silence is golden 
 

We saw the light going down, 

The moon is gone; the night is dead 

Our hopes and dreams are like a beach 

Without the ocean 
 

I can’t just understand how we got it this bad 

Oh, I played you silly games and you played me by your rules 

Love is on the run and I don’t know what to do 

You’re building up the walls now 

I’m on the outside alone
 

Time is slowly passing by 

The air is still, your eyes are cold 

I wish that I could cross this space 

The silence is killing
 

I slip away into the night 

I take the dog along with me 

He doesn’t understand my pride, 

I don’t like to beg 
 

I can’t just understand how we got it this bad 

Oh, I played you silly games and you played me by your rules 

Love is on the run and I don’t know what to do 

You’re building up the walls now 

I’m on the outside alone 
 

Give me a chance to prove myself 

Give me some room and I’ll move this world 

Give me some space and I’ll build mansions 

Teach me your song and I’ll sing it loud

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