Badi’s 2020 album "Trouble Fête" produced with instrumentalist Boddhi Satva mixes club Afro-beat, electronic, and Badi's reflections on the current societal landscape. The single "Mauvaise Ambiance" was part of A COLORS SHOW.
Full Circle
Badi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His father left him, he learned later what for
Gone for years, left a wife and two kids
In a war-torn country, all living in fear
They were being persecuted with no where run on an island
His kind was forced into hiding
In the bomb shelters, rubber in his mouth
For the impact to keep his teeth from coming out
Streets and rivers both flooded with casualties
Father finally returned reunited at last
Didn't even recognize him he ran right past
The war had ended but, they were no longer welcome
In their own land, it was under new command
Exiled to a place that never wanted em there
They made it quite clear, and would touch and stare
Cause they had never seen nobody with no brown skin
He had to be careful when he hung around them
But he got by, discovered his love for music
Jazz got him things that he just wasn't used to
Took it with him everywhere, loved it so much
Moved to america, cause he heard there was plenty there
Got an education but still kept playing
Traveled the world, came back and put his faith in
The Glory of God, taught by a bass player
Had sons of his own, and through them he's grown
And now they're the one's looking out for him
They love him and I can tell you that they're proud of him
CHORUS:
He survived the war, his life needed more
And now it's come around full circle
He became his own man, in his homeland
And now it's come around full circle
He loved the music and knew to use it
And now it's come around full circle
And understand he lives for his family
And now it's come around full circle
She came into this world not as a baby girl
But as grown woman cause she was pushed out to pay the bills
And since then she's been on her own
Birth certificate reads father unknown
She had an old picture of a group of men
On a reservation, but didn't even know if he was one of them
Never had the time to give it any thought
The oldest of four and caretaker of them all
Mother unfit so she was forced to live
In foster home after home after orphanage
At sixteen she gave birth to her first kid
Living in the projects she prayed he would outlive
Dropped out of high school, never went to college
When she walked into buildings she was never acknowledged
She knew somehow she had to make an honest living
She used what she had and finally started singing
After she Iearned that God, was watching over her
From a bass player, the answer to her prayers
No formal education but she got into a graduate
Program, she worked hard cause she so was glad to get
Any opportunity, and that mindset is still in her
A teacher now, because that work is real to her
Made a new life for her kids out of nothin
Doctorate in hand cause she knows how to hustle
But her greatest feat is not her PHD
Her biggest accomplishment is of a higher degree
It's the fact that her sons can count on her
It's the fact that her sons can be proud of her
CHORUS:
She knows how to hustle, works on the double
And now it's come around full circle
Love is the reason she could rise above it
And now it's come around full circle
She takes nothing she's handed for granted
And now it's come around full circle
And understand she lives for her family
And now it's come around full circle
I met my brother in the womb
We both had to make the move late june
He was always a few steps ahead of me
But never letting me go never forgetting me
Most of the kids at school never accepted me
So together we formed a team for whenever we
Moved from city to city and it seemed every
Place was diverse reflecting our own heredity
We never had that much
None of the other kids had never seen working class like us
The amount of money they had was transparent
I couldn't relate, we never had grandparents
Moved cause a good education was needed
Ma wanted us to have more choice than she did
And ironically we were all cheated
My brother got wise quick, that's how he succeeded
I remained cause I felt love for a moment
But it was never possible my heart was stolen
I sought something to burn
Ruined all my relationships, got me what I deserved
Lesson learned, a step closer to my destination
Finally left school to start my education
Life abroad saw my pain lifted
I thank God we could afford that plane ticket
And now I realize how all this came to be
Now I see what they were doing when they were naming me
Mother father thank you for allowing me
To become badi, I hope your proud of me
It's full circle
The song Full Circle by Badi tells the stories of three people who have gone through difficult times in their lives but have managed to come full circle and find happiness and fulfillment. The first verse speaks of a man who was born during a time of war, and whose father abandoned him and his family. He grew up in a war-torn country and experienced things no child should ever have to see. When his father returned, they were exiled from their own land and faced discrimination due to their race. Despite all of this, he found solace in music, which eventually allowed him to move to America and find success. The chorus repeats the idea that he has come full circle and found a new home in his homeland, centered around his love for his family and the Glory of God.
The second verse tells the story of a woman who was forced to become an adult at a young age due to difficult circumstances. She was the oldest of four children and had to take care of them when their mother was unfit. She experienced the foster care and orphanage systems and had a child at 16 while living in the projects. Despite all of these challenges, she persevered and eventually pursued her love of singing. She found solace in her faith and was eventually able to continue her education, becoming a teacher and ultimately earning a doctorate. The chorus for her section repeats the idea that she has come full circle, symbolized by her ability to rise above her difficult circumstances and continue to provide for her family.
The final verse tells the story of Badi himself, and how he and his brother were always a team, sticking together as they moved from place to place due to their working-class background. They experienced discrimination and struggled to relate to other kids due to their economic circumstances. Badi struggled with relationships and made mistakes but ultimately found his calling as an artist. He moved abroad and found a sense of clarity and purpose, understanding how he came to be named Badi and feeling grateful for his journey. The chorus for his section repeats the idea that his story has come full circle, with him finding meaning and fulfillment through his art and his family.
Line by Line Meaning
He was born when the world was at the brink of war
He came into this world during a time of great conflict and tension
His father left him, he learned later what for
His father abandoned him, and he only discovered the reason behind it later on
Gone for years, left a wife and two kids
His father was absent for a long time, leaving behind a wife and two children
In a war-torn country, all living in fear
They lived in a country devastated by war, filled with fear and uncertainty
They were being persecuted with no where run on an island
They faced persecution and had no safe place to seek refuge, trapped on an island
His kind was forced into hiding
He, along with others like him, were compelled to hide their identity
In the bomb shelters, rubber in his mouth
He had to put rubber in his mouth to protect his teeth while seeking shelter in bomb shelters
For the impact to keep his teeth from coming out
The rubber in his mouth prevented his teeth from being knocked out due to bomb impacts
He saw things no child should have to see
He witnessed tragic events and horrors that no child should ever have to witness
Streets and rivers both flooded with casualties
Everywhere he looked, he saw streets and rivers filled with the aftermath of casualties
Father finally returned reunited at last
After a long absence, his father finally returned, bringing about a long-awaited reunion
Didn't even recognize him he ran right past
His father had changed so much that he didn't even recognize him and ran right past
The war had ended but, they were no longer welcome
Although the war had ended, they were no longer accepted or welcomed in their own land
In their own land, it was under new command
Their homeland was now governed under a new authority, leaving them marginalized
Exiled to a place that never wanted em there
They were forced into exile and sent to a place that never truly accepted their presence
They made it quite clear, and would touch and stare
People made it evident through their actions and stares that they were different and unwelcome
Cause they had never seen nobody with no brown skin
Their appearance made them stand out because the people there had never encountered someone with brown skin
He had to be careful when he hung around them
He needed to exercise caution when spending time with these unfamiliar people
But he got by, discovered his love for music
Despite the challenges, he managed to survive and found solace in his passion for music
Jazz got him things that he just wasn't used to
Jazz music opened doors and provided him with opportunities he never had before
Took it with him everywhere, loved it so much
He carried his love for jazz with him wherever he went, cherishing it deeply
Moved to america, cause he heard there was plenty there
He decided to move to America, attracted by the promises of abundance and opportunity
Got an education but still kept playing
He pursued his education while continuing to pursue his passion for playing music
Traveled the world, came back and put his faith in
He explored different parts of the world, returned home, and placed his trust in something or someone
The Glory of God, taught by a bass player
A bass player taught him about the greatness and divinity of God
Had sons of his own, and through them he's grown
He became a father and found personal growth and fulfillment through his children
And now they're the one's looking out for him
His children are now the ones who take care of and support him
They love him and I can tell you that they're proud of him
His children love him dearly and it is evident that they are proud of him
She came into this world not as a baby girl
Her entry into the world was not as an innocent baby girl
But as grown woman cause she was pushed out to pay the bills
She had to grow up quickly and take on adult responsibilities to support herself and pay the bills
And since then she's been on her own
Ever since, she has been independent and self-reliant
Birth certificate reads father unknown
Her birth certificate does not contain the name of her father
She had an old picture of a group of men
She possessed an old photograph showing a group of men
On a reservation, but didn't even know if he was one of them
She had no knowledge or certainty about whether her father was one of the men in the picture who belonged to a reservation
Never had the time to give it any thought
She never had the opportunity or mental space to ponder over her father's identity
The oldest of four and caretaker of them all
She was the oldest sibling among four and took on the responsibility of taking care of all of them
Mother unfit so she was forced to live
Her mother was incapable of fulfilling her role, so she had no choice but to live on her own
In foster home after home after orphanage
She moved from one foster home to another and even experienced living in an orphanage
At sixteen she gave birth to her first kid
She became a mother at the age of sixteen and gave birth to her first child
Living in the projects she prayed he would outlive
Residing in a low-income housing area, she fervently prayed that her child would survive and thrive
Dropped out of high school, never went to college
She left high school prematurely and never had the opportunity to attend college
When she walked into buildings she was never acknowledged
Whenever she entered buildings, she was constantly ignored and disregarded
She knew somehow she had to make an honest living
She was aware that she needed to find a way to earn an honest living
She used what she had and finally started singing
She utilized her talents and finally began pursuing her passion for singing
After she learned that God was watching over her
Upon realizing that God was guiding and protecting her, she gained a sense of comfort
From a bass player, the answer to her prayers
A bass player became the answer to her prayers and provided her with guidance and support
No formal education but she got into a graduate
Despite lacking a formal education, she managed to gain admission into a graduate program
Program, she worked hard cause she so was glad to get
She worked diligently because she was grateful for the opportunity she had been given
Any opportunity, and that mindset is still in her
She continues to maintain a mindset of gratitude for any opportunity that comes her way
A teacher now, because that work is real to her
She became a teacher because she deeply values the work and believes in its significance
Made a new life for her kids out of nothin
She created a new, fulfilling life for her children despite starting with very little
Doctorate in hand cause she knows how to hustle
She earned a doctorate degree through her determination and ability to work hard
But her greatest feat is not her PHD
Her greatest accomplishment is not her doctorate degree
Her biggest accomplishment is of a higher degree
Her most significant achievement surpasses the achievements of academia
It's the fact that her sons can count on her
The fact that her sons rely on her and can trust in her is her true accomplishment
It's the fact that her sons can be proud of her
The pride her sons feel towards her is the ultimate testament to her accomplishments
I met my brother in the womb
I encountered my brother even before we were born
We both had to make the move late june
Both of us had to make a significant change or transition in the late month of June
He was always a few steps ahead of me
He was constantly a few steps ahead of me in various aspects of life
But never letting me go never forgetting me
Even though he may have been ahead, he never abandoned me and always remembered me
Most of the kids at school never accepted me
I was largely rejected by most of the children at school
So together we formed a team for whenever we
Therefore, we formed a team to provide support for each other whenever needed
Moved from city to city and it seemed every
We relocated frequently from one city to another, and it felt like every new place had a similar experience
Place was diverse reflecting our own heredity
The places we went to were diverse and reflected our own diverse heritage
We never had that much
We never had a lot in terms of material possessions or wealth
None of the other kids had never seen working class like us
The other children had never encountered a working-class background like ours
The amount of money they had was transparent
The wealth they possessed was obvious and clearly visible
I couldn't relate, we never had grandparents
I couldn't connect with their experiences because we never had grandparents like they did
Moved cause a good education was needed
We moved because it was important for us to have access to a good education
Ma wanted us to have more choice than she did
Our mother desired for us to have more opportunities and options than she had in her own life
And ironically we were all cheated
Paradoxically, despite our motivations, all of us were deceived or let down in some way
My brother got wise quick, that's how he succeeded
My brother became clever and astute at a young age, which contributed to his success
I remained cause I felt love for a moment
I stayed behind because I experienced a fleeting moment of love or affection
But it was never possible my heart was stolen
However, it was never attainable or sustainable, and my heart was ultimately broken
I sought something to burn
I searched for something to ignite or consume me
Ruined all my relationships, got me what I deserved
I destroyed all my connections with others, and as a result, faced the consequences I deserved
Lesson learned, a step closer to my destination
I learned a valuable lesson and moved closer to reaching my ultimate goal or purpose
Finally left school to start my education
I finally realized that true education goes beyond the confines of formal schooling
Life abroad saw my pain lifted
Living in a foreign country alleviated or relieved the pain I had been carrying
I thank God we could afford that plane ticket
I express gratitude to God for providing us with the means to afford a plane ticket
And now I realize how all this came to be
Now, I understand the events and circumstances that led to where I am now
Now I see what they were doing when they were naming me
I now comprehend the intentions and purpose behind the choice of my name
Mother father thank you for allowing me
I express gratitude to my parents for giving me the opportunity to exist
To become badi, I hope your proud of me
To become the person I am today, I hope that my parents are proud of me
It's full circle
Everything has come back around full circle
CHORUS: He survived the war, his life needed more
He managed to survive the war, but he desired and deserved more from life
And now it's come around full circle
Now, everything has come back in full circle
He became his own man, in his homeland
He grew into his own person, establishing his identity in his home country
And now it's come around full circle
Now, everything has come full circle
He loved the music and knew to use it
He had a deep love for music and understood how to harness its power
And now it's come around full circle
Now, everything has come back around in full circle
And understand he lives for his family
He comprehends that his reason for existence is his family
And now it's come around full circle
Now, everything has come back around full circle
She knows how to hustle, works on the double
She understands how to work hard and efficiently, doing double the effort
And now it's come around full circle
Now, everything has come back around in full circle
Love is the reason she could rise above it
Love is the motivating force that enabled her to overcome challenges and hardships
And now it's come around full circle
Now, everything has come full circle
She takes nothing she's handed for granted
She appreciates and values everything she receives, never taking it for granted
And now it's come around full circle
Now, everything has come back around in full circle
And understand she lives for her family
She comprehends that her purpose in life is her family
And now it's come around full circle
Now, everything has come back around full circle
I met my brother in the womb
We crossed paths even before we were born
We both had to make the move late june
The decision to make a significant change or action had to be made in late June
He was always a few steps ahead of me
He consistently outpaced me, staying ahead in various aspects
But never letting me go never forgetting me
Nevertheless, he never let go of me and always remembered my presence
Most of the kids at school never accepted me
The majority of children at school rejected me and did not embrace me
So together we formed a team for whenever we
As a result, we united and formed a team to support each other in times of need
Moved from city to city and it seemed every
We relocated frequently, and it felt like every new place we went to
Place was diverse reflecting our own heredity
Each place we encountered had its own diversity, which resonated with our own heritage
We never had that much
We were never blessed with an abundance of possessions or wealth
None of the other kids had never seen working class like us
The other kids had never encountered individuals from a working-class background like us
The amount of money they had was transparent
The wealth they possessed was overtly visible and obvious
I couldn't relate, we never had grandparents
I couldn't connect with their experiences because we never had grandparents like they did
Moved cause a good education was needed
The reason for our constant moves was the necessity for a good education
Ma wanted us to have more choice than she did
Our mother desired for us to have more opportunities and options than she had in her own life
And ironically we were all cheated
In an ironic twist, we all experienced a sense of being deceived or cheated
My brother got wise quick, that's how he succeeded
My brother became wise and perceptive at a rapid pace, which contributed to his success
I remained cause I felt love for a moment
I stayed behind because I experienced a fleeting moment of love or affection
But it was never possible my heart was stolen
However, it was never attainable or sustainable, and my heart was ultimately taken away
I sought something to burn
I actively searched for something to ignite or consume me
Ruined all my relationships, got me what I deserved
I destroyed all my connections with others, resulting in the consequences I rightfully deserved
Lesson learned, a step closer to my destination
I learned a vital lesson and progressed further towards my ultimate goal or purpose
Finally left school to start my education
I ultimately departed from the confines of formal education to begin my true learning journey
Life abroad saw my pain lifted
Living in a foreign land alleviated or relieved the pain I had been carrying
I thank God we could afford that plane ticket
I express my gratitude to God for making it possible for us to afford a plane ticket
And now I realize how all this came to be
At this moment, I comprehend the sequence of events that led to my current circumstances
Now I see what they were doing when they were naming me
I now understand the intentions and purpose behind the choice of my name
Mother father thank you for allowing me
I extend my gratitude to my parents for granting me the opportunity to exist
To become badi, I hope your proud of me
To become the person I am today, I hope that my parents are proud of me
It's full circle
Everything has come back around full circle
Contributed by Sophie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.