BLO was a three-man Nigerian group which derived its name from Berkeley, La… Read Full Bio ↴BLO was a three-man Nigerian group which derived its name from Berkeley, Laolu, and Odumosu, its three members. The group fused the Afrobeat rhythms of its native Nigeria with the mind-expanding psychedelia and funk of late-1960s Western rock to forge a wholly original sound embracing the full spectrum of black music. The roots of the group lay in the Clusters, already one of the most popular Nigerian highlife acts of the mid-1960s even prior to a stint as the support band for the Sierra Leonean pop superstar Geraldo Pino. In 1970, guitarist Berkely "Ike" Jones, bassist Mike "Gbenga" Odumosu, and drummer Laolu "Akins" Akintobi left the Clusters to join Afrocollection with twin sisters Kehinde and Taiwo Lijadu (featured a decade later on the British television show The Tube), moving away from their highlife roots to explore a more pronounced Afro-Rock approach. While performing at the Lagos club Batakuto, Afrocollection jammed with Ginger Baker, the renowned drummer from the British blues-rock supergroup Cream; in late 1971, the members of Afrocollection joined Baker in forming the jazz-rock ensemble Salt, making their live debut the following year alongside the legendary Fela Kuti.

Despite a series of well-received live appearances throughout Western Europe and North America, the Salt project proved short-lived, and in late 1972, Jones, Odumosu, and Akintobi formed Blo, touring relentlessly in the months to come, prior to recording their EMI Nigeria label debut Blo: Chapter One. Drawing equally on the pioneering Afrobeat of Fela and Tony Allen as well as the American psych-rock of bands like the Grateful Dead and the Byrds, the record failed to live up to EMI's commercial expectations, and after signing to Afrodisia, Blo resurfaced in 1975 with Phase 2, pushing further into funk and R&B territory. Grand Funk Railroad and the Isley Brothers were the primary influences on the trio's third LP, Phase 3, but as lacklustre sales continued to dog the group, Blo faced greater corporate pressure to reflect contemporary musical trends -- specifically, disco, a shift culminating with 1980's Bulky Backside, recorded in London. Blo dissolved following the 1982 release of Back in Time; the retrospective Phases 1972-1982 appeared on the Afro Strut label in 2001.

Chant to Mother Earth
BLO Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You, you have entered this world with a virus
Tortured man, broken man, just a piece of filth
Devoured by your thirst and conquered by your lust
Taken by force, the victims left
Send the letter to mother
Tell how your devoured daughter
Dismembered little girl
So the sadomasochist

Ci, devouring the flesh
Oh, you push the needles in
Path to set this stage again
His skin upon him will bare eternal pain
Sickened man, withered man, he feels no shame
Inside his soul he mourns, the pain he has endured
Indulged in blood, they are now one
Send the letter to mother
Tell how your devoured daughter
Dismembered little girl
So the sadomasochist
Ci, devouring the flesh
Oh, you push the needles in
Path to set this stage again
In his sin he found salvation
In his sin he found salvation
Innocence means mutilation
In his sin he found salvation
Little sins, decapitation
Salvation, mutilation
Salvation, decapitation
So the sadomasochist
Ci, devouring the flesh
Oh, you push the needles in

Path to set this stage again
Sociopath, sociopath

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to BLO's song Chant to Mother Earth speak of a dark, disturbing subject matter. The lyrics describe the effects of a virus that has entered the world, leading to the torture and brokenness of man, who is described as a piece of filth. The song speaks of the thirst and lust that consumes man, leading to the devouring of victims and their dismemberment. The chorus of the song advises to send a letter to mother to tell how the devoured daughter was killed and how the dismembered little girl was consumed. The song also describes the actions of a sadomasochist, indulging in blood and pushing needles into the skin. The lyrics describe the path to setting this stage once again and speak of a sociopath who finds salvation in his sin, which includes mutilation and decapitation.

Through the lyrics, the song seems to be speaking of the destructive nature of humanity and how it can often lead to a dark path of violence and self-destruction. The image of sending a letter to mother seems to be a reference to the idea of confessing one's sins, though in this case, it is done in a macabre and disturbing manner. The song is a stark reminder of the darker aspects of the human psyche and how they can lead to terrible consequences.

Line by Line Meaning

You, you have entered this world with a virus
You were born with a sickness, a harmful influence that infiltrates everything you do and everything you are.

Tortured man, broken man, just a piece of filth
You, as a product of your environment or your own actions, are damaged and worthless in the eyes of society and perhaps even in your own eyes.

Devoured by your thirst and conquered by your lust
You are consumed and controlled by your insatiable desires, which drive you to do terrible things.

Taken by force, the victims left
You use your power or physical strength to take what you want from others, leaving them hurt and helpless.

Send the letter to mother Tell how your devoured daughter Dismembered little girl So the sadomasochist Ci, devouring the flesh Oh, you push the needles in Path to set this stage again
Your twisted obsessions and violent tendencies have led you to commit heinous acts of brutality, and you revel in the power and pleasure it gives you. You want to share this experience with others and relive it again and again.

His skin upon him will bare eternal pain
Your actions have irreversible consequences, causing endless suffering to those you harm.

Sickened man, withered man, he feels no shame Inside his soul he mourns, the pain he has endured
Despite your outward lack of remorse or empathy, there is a part of you that is deeply wounded and saddened by the pain you have caused.

Indulged in blood, they are now one
Your acts of violence and brutality have forged a bond between you and your victims, in death if not in life.

In his sin he found salvation Innocence means mutilation Little sins, decapitation Salvation, mutilation Salvation, decapitation
You believe that your sins and your violence are your only means of redemption or salvation, and that innocence and goodness are weaknesses to be exploited and destroyed. You see violence and mutilation as holy acts of salvation.

So the sadomasochist Ci, devouring the flesh Oh, you push the needles in Path to set this stage again Sociopath, sociopath
You are a sadomasochistic and sociopathic individual, driven by perverse desires for control, domination, and violence.

Contributed by Zoe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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