The first single from B.o.B's second album is Strange Clouds. It features Lil Wayne and according to the Strange Clouds Songfacts, it "is 3 minutes 47 seconds of bass heavy bragging.". The song was released on October 3, 2011.
Don't Be Afraid
B.o.B Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sou deuk deh doh didem gnikoy hame ci diefin euh
Denou gor dafa ara yatu dafa wara wara yatu
Ndah ki djohe dafa tabe dafa mandu motah gniou wara mandou
Non non ndeysan enh ndeysan
Man nanoy togano yalla def niou bagnia bokk guis guis
Man nanoy bok yoon yalla def niou bagnia book yeene
Man nanou bok khet yalla deff niou bagnia bok wawa
Denou gor dafa ara yatu dafa ara ara yatu
Ndah ki djohe dafa tabe dafa mandu motah gniou ara mandou
Adouna xel la yaye, now be yourself, now be yourself
Guemeul sa bop xam ki gua doon ndeysan
I know it's strong, Africa is strong
Don't be afraid, never be afraid, that's what I say
Imanake donomaye obe kontere lela
Imanake famamaye obe kontere lela
Imanake donimaye obe kontere lela
Ajabalo ajabalo
Guemeul sa bop
Ikabido simasindole, I know it's strong
Ikabido simasindole, don't be afraid
Ikabido simasindole, I'm from Senegal West Africa
Terangua ligueye niakh djarigniou rek lagniou xam
Sama askan ligueye askan rek guem
Sama yaya ak baye dagn tete ci yoon bou bakh
Sama askan ligueye lagniou xam
Lalali lalee, now be yourself
Lalali lalee, guemeul sa bop
Lalali lalee, I know it's strong
Lalali lalee, don't be afraid
Lalali lalee
Def you melni def you mel ni lila wah
That's what I see
Def you melni def you mel ni lila wah
That's what I see
Guemeul sa bop ham kigua don ndeysan
Don't be afraid
Don't be afraid, that's what I say
The lyrics to B.o.B, Mick Boogie, and Terry Urban's song "Don't Be Afraid" carry a message of embracing one’s true self and culture. The verses, delivered mostly in Wolof (a West African language), speak of not being ashamed of one's roots and to take pride in one's identity. The repeated phrase "guemeul sa bop" means "believe in yourself" in Wolof, emphasizing the importance of self-confidence.
The song also alludes to the struggles of being an immigrant or person of African descent in a foreign land. The lines "Africa is strong" and "Ikabido simasindole" ("I won't surrender" in Lingala, another African language) serve as a reminder of the resilience and strength of African people.
With its mix of African languages and Western hip hop beats, the song represents a blending and celebration of different cultures. Through its inclusive message, "Don't Be Afraid" encourages listeners to embrace their heritage and be confident in who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
Sou leer deh dokh dem ngikoy hame ci bidew
I see the people shouting in fear and uncertainty
Sou deuk deh doh didem gnikoy hame ci diefin euh
I hear the people screaming, looking for help
Denou gor dafa ara yatu dafa wara wara yatu
We continue to struggle and fight to survive
Ndah ki djohe dafa tabe dafa mandu motah gniou wara mandou
We sometimes find ourselves lost and confused, searching for direction
Non non ndeysan enh ndeysan
We must stay true to ourselves and not lose hope
Man nanoy togano yalla def niou bagnia bokk guis guis
We all come from the same God and deserve to live in peace
Man nanoy andano yalla def niou bagnia bokk meun meun
We may have different paths, but we are all equal
Man nanoy bok yoon yalla def niou bagnia book yeene
We should all have the opportunity to achieve our dreams
Man nanou bok khet yalla deff niou bagnia bok wawa
We must work together to create a better future for all
Adouna xel la yaye, now be yourself, now be yourself
In this world, be true to who you are and always stay that way
Guemeul sa bop xam ki gua doon ndeysan
Find your own way and stay true to yourself
I know it's strong, Africa is strong
We are strong and capable, regardless of where we come from
Don't be afraid, never be afraid, that's what I say
We should never let fear hold us back from our potential
Imanake donomaye obe kontere lela
In this life, we must find our own path
Imanake famamaye obe kontere lela
We should not be afraid to take risks and try new things
Imanake donimaye obe kontere lela
We must stay true to ourselves, no matter what
Ajabalo ajabalo
We must be fearless and bold in pursuing our dreams
Ikabido simasindole, I know it's strong
We are powerful and resilient, even in the face of adversity
Ikabido simasindole, don't be afraid
We can overcome any obstacle, as long as we believe in ourselves
Ikabido simasindole, I'm from Senegal West Africa
I am proud of my heritage and where I come from
Terangua ligueye niakh djarigniou rek lagniou xam
We must work hard and never give up on our goals
Sama askan ligueye askan rek guem
We must have faith in ourselves and our abilities
Sama yaya ak baye dagn tete ci yoon bou bakh
Our past experiences shape who we are, but do not define us
Sama askan ligueye lagniou xam
Our determination and perseverance will help us succeed
Lalali lalee, now be yourself
Do not try to be anyone else but who you truly are
Lalali lalee, guemeul sa bop
Find your own way and stay true to yourself
Lalali lalee, I know it's strong
We are capable and powerful beyond measure
Lalali lalee, don't be afraid
Do not let fear prevent you from reaching your full potential
Def you melni def you mel ni lila wah
What we see may not be what it seems
Guemeul sa bop ham kigua don ndeysan
We must find our own way and trust ourselves
Don't be afraid
Do not let fear hold you back
That's what I say
These are the words to live by
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Wally Balango Seck
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind