7 Seconds
Youssou N'Dour Lyrics
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Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
Mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale
Roughneck and rudeness
We should be using on the ones who practice wicked charms
For the sword and the stone
Bad to the bone
Battle is not over
Even when it's won
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone of skin it's living in
It's not a second
We're seven seconds away
Or just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
We're seven seconds away
Or just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer
We're seven seconds away
Or just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
We're seven seconds away
Or just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone of skin it's living in
And there's a million voices
And there's a million voices
To tell you what you should be thinking
So you better sober up for just a second
We're seven seconds away
Or just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
We're seven seconds away
Or just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
We're seven seconds away
Or just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
We're seven seconds away
Or just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
We're seven seconds away
Or just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
We're seven seconds away
Or just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
"Youssou N'Dour's "7 Seconds" is a beautiful song that speaks to the importance of accepting and embracing diversity. The song's opening lines translate to "I'm writing this song to reach all the people of the world, regardless of their skin color," which sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The verses are sung in different languages: Wolof, English, and French. The song was a collaboration between N'Dour and Neneh Cherry, who was popular at the time for her hit song "Buffalo Stance."
At its core, "7 Seconds" is a song about tolerance and understanding. The lyrics touch on the concept of race and how it influences our perceptions and interactions with others. The chorus repeats the phrase "7 seconds away, just as long as I stay, I'll be waiting," which can be interpreted as a message of hope and unity.
The line "And when a child is born into this world, it has no concept of the tone the skin it's living in" is particularly powerful. It speaks to the idea that racism and prejudice are concepts that are learned and taught, rather than innate. The song suggests that changing the way we think about and treat each other begins with seeing beyond our differences and recognizing our shared humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
Roughneck and rudeness, we should be using on the ones who practice wicked charms
Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
For the sword and the stone, bad to the bone
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
Battle is not over, even when it's won
Mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale
And when a child is born into this world, it has no concept of the tone of the skin it's living in
7 seconds away, just as long as I stay, I'll be waiting
No matter how far away you are, I'll always be here waiting for you
J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout
I understand the reasons that push us to change everything
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
I wish we could forget their color so they can hope
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
There are too many feelings of race that make them despair
Je veux les portes grandement ouvertes
I want the doors to be wide open
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Friends to talk about their pain and their joy
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
To give them information that doesn't divide
And there's a million voices to tell you what she should be thinking, so you better sober up for just a second
There are countless voices telling you what you should be thinking, so you need to clear your head for a moment
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Cameron Mcvey, Jonathan Sharp, Neneh Cherry, Youssou N'Dour
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zamshire
Thank you Modou,
He used also French in this song between 1.44 and 2.08 :
J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer
Very beautiful song, very difficult to translate in English
... And in Wollof, I heard about it today
Thanks one more time Modou, and happy to speak with all the world so easily
The peace could arrive by this way only !!!
@andrewherman2370
Beautiful song I used to listen to this in Africa when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Gabon.
J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer
I assume why we push to change everything
I want to forget skin color for hope's sake
But too many strong feelings about race crush hope
I want to see the doors flung wide open
between friends to talk openly about all of their pains and joys
to let flow all information that (unites) won't divide us
The last line is very interesting. "let flow info that doesn't divide us" meaning "if we care enough to talk about our problems they won't be problems". The more we discourse the more we realize we are the same "au coeur". This is so true. The story of humanity is so sad, but it doesn't have to be this bad.
I feel my country is no longer deserving to lead the world as Trump supporters in America want to stop all serious discussions of race and actually strongly encourage anti-PC culture in order to "let flow the info that (divides us) won't unite us" .
@GreenredProductions
Classic composition!
@lrc9304
Nigga say wha'?
@bricomecanique5724
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu97drfgz_72F2imhy-ux0A
@mariaaparecidadeoliveirada6192
Que clássico !Amo.
@MrAzamatbogotov
Its classic how much of a walmart employee you are ....
@chinomirabueno8483
Set me free
@GrandHotel.SeagullMagique
If you are listening to this song right now, your brain is functioning well and you have great taste in music. Congratulations! Kisses from Italy.
@MrsSlocombesPuddyCat
🙂 Nah. Not really. I am however rather drunk.....
@tamaraaranguiz6143
😂😂😂
@omario4823
Aawww thank you