There are three artists known under the name of Abdullah.

First, fol… Read Full Bio ↴There are three artists known under the name of Abdullah.

First, following in the influences of Black Sabbath and Sisters of Mercy, the Richfield, OH-based Abdullah got together in 1998 through drummer and vocalist Jeff Shirilla. Accompanied by guitarist Al Seibert, the duo brought on their hybrid of doom metal from their own Rage of Achilles Records and released their debut EP "Snake Lore" in 1999.

There is also second artist using this name, who released the single "I Comma Zimba Zio (Here I Stand The Mighty One)/"Why Them, Why Me" on Motown Records in 1968.
How the man Joseph McLean recording under his Muslim name Abdullah came to be signed by Motown isn't made clear in the notes, but this was his only record, 'cause he was dropped after charging into a white Motown employees office, calling him a blue-eyed devil and pushing a letter opener up under his chin.

And third is Ahmed Abdullah, real name - Leroy Bland
Jazz trumpet player, born on May 10, 1947, in Harlem, New York, USA.
Played with the Sun Ra Arkestra between 1975 and 1997.

Leroy Bland began performing at age 13 in his native New York City. By the 1970s he was performing in New York's loft scene, and joined the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1976, working there on and off until 1993, when Sun Ra died. During that time Abdullah participated in more than 25 recordings and traveled extensively with Sun Ra. He has performed with Chico Freeman, Charles Brackeen, Steve Reid, John Hicks and Marion Brown, among others. He led his own "Solomonic Quintet" and recorded for Silkheart and Cadence Jazz.

Conundrum
Abdullah Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I confide
Drowning in this suicide
I can be free
My world won't cease to be

Hold out your hand
I'm half of who I am
The sky won't follow me

My heart is crying
The earth won't swallow me
I sit in silence

All its splendor
Hear it crying

All its longing
Will be absolved

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Abdullah's song Conundrum speak of feelings of being trapped and drowning in a personal struggle, possibly a struggle with mental health or addiction. The singer is reaching out for help, asking for someone to hold out their hand, to help them become whole again. The imagery of the sky and the earth not following or swallowing the singer emphasizes the feeling of being alone and disconnected from the world.

The line "All its splendor, hear it crying, all its longing will be absolved" suggests that the singer is not alone in their struggle and that the world itself is crying out for healing. The idea that the weight of the world's troubles can be lifted by facing personal struggles is a common theme in many artistic expressions. The word "conundrum" in the title of the song suggests the complexity of the situation at hand and the difficulty in finding a solution.

Line by Line Meaning

I confide
I reveal my innermost thoughts and feelings

Drowning in this suicide
I am overwhelmed and consumed by my struggles and pain

I can be free
I have the potential to break free from my struggles and pain

My world won't cease to be
Despite my struggles and pain, the world around me will continue to exist

Hold out your hand
I am reaching out for help and support

I'm half of who I am
I am incomplete without the help and support of others

The sky won't follow me
My problems and pain will not define or control me

My heart is crying
I am deeply emotional and affected by my struggles and pain

The earth won't swallow me
My problems and pain will not consume me completely

I sit in silence
I am alone with my thoughts and feelings

All its splendor
The world around me is beautiful and magnificent