RHYTHM SAFARI

TALK TO THE PEOPLE

 

There’s a brawl in a lonely white’s only bar

A lekker groove in a classy shebeen

Someone betrayed in a government car

A silent movement on the stock market screen

A watchman playing on a zulu guitar

A white soldier’s blues in a camouflage green

A migrant worker who came too far

A sailor aground in a submarine

Phendula Wendoda

(Answer, Mister)

Lendlela sizofika kanjani

(This way, how will we arrive)

 

Chorus

 

Talk to the people

Walk through the country

Listen to the children

Do you know the dreams they dream at night

Only you, only you can free me

Only you, only you can see me

Only you, only you breath life into the land

Touch me with your healing hand

 

There’s a township mongrel on the scrounge 

A tribal feud in a municipal ‘pound

A squatter with an ox but no land to plough

A shipment of A.K.’s on the underground

A throw of the dice on a Soweto train

A waiting knife if you should win the game

A human rights lawyer with a torture claim

A union activist never ever seen again

 

Chorus

 

Phendula wemadoda

(Give the answer…)