In 1981, at the age of 16, she left Cape Town for Soweto, Johannesburg to seek her fortune as a singer. Brenda first joined the group Joy and later became the lead singer for the township pop group Brenda And The Big Dudes. She had a son, Bongani, in 1985 by a fellow Big Dudes musician. Brenda married ex-convict Nhlanhla Mbambo in 1989 but later in 1991 got divorced. It was around this time that she became addicted to cocaine and her career suffered.
With very outspoken views and frequent visits to the poorer townships of Johannesburg, as well as songs about life in the townships, she enjoyed tremendous popularity. Known best for her songs "Weekend Special" and "Too Late for Mama", she was called by Time Magazine in 2001 "The Madonna of the Townships".
In a drug-related incident in 1995 she was discovered unconscious with the body of her lover, Poppie Sihlahla, who had died of an apparent overdose. Fassie survived, underwent rehabilitation, and got her career back on track. However, she still had drug problems and returned to drug rehabilitation clinics about 30 times in her life.
Since 1996 she released several solo albums like "Now Is The Time", "Memeza" (1997, the best selling album in South Africa) or "Nomakanjani?". Most of her albums became multi-platinum sellers in South Africa.
On the morning of 26 April 2004, Brenda collapsed at her home in Buccleuch and was admitted into the Sunninghill hospital in Johannesburg. The press were told that she had suffered cardiac arrest but later reported that she had slipped into a coma brought on by an asthma attack. The post-mortem report revealed that she had taken an overdose of cocaine in the night of her collapse, and this was the cause of her coma. She stopped breathing and suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen. Brenda died at age 39 on 9 May 2004 in hospital without returning to consciousness after her life support machines were turned off. According to the South African Sunday Times and the managers of her music company, the post-mortem report also showed that she was HIV-positive. Her manager, Peter Snyman, denied this aspect of the report.
She was voted 17th in the Top 100 Great South Africans.
Source: Wikipedia
External link: Brenda Fassie: A very human hero (BBC News)
Stay Away
Brenda Fassie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Warn you about my man
Your eyes are on him all the time
Why, why don't you have your own
'Cause I ain't gonna take any nonsense
Stop looking at my man
Don't, don't, don't push me too far oh
All I know
Stay away, the man is mine
Look away, the man ain't yours
Oh, oh
The man is mine
I've been in love with him for such a long time
He's not a man to be tempted, no
He's not the kind of guy to run after you
So leave him alone
The man, the man is mine
Oh he's mine
The man is mine
The man is mine
Oh woman
I've been watching you
Your big eyes looking at my man
Oh woman
Stop looking at my man
The man is mine, all mine
Mine, mine, mine, mine
Stay away
The man is mine
Stay away
Stay away, stay away
No, woman, don't think about it no
The man is min (Stay) Stay, stay
(Away) Stay away, stay away
Woman (He's mine) the man is mine
He's mine (The man is mine) mine mine
Hey stay away (Stay) stay way
Stay away (Away)
(He's mine) Stay away, the man is mine
I'm telling you (The man is mine) woman, woman Hey, oh!
The man is mine (Stay away)
Stay away (He is mine)
And I love him ( And I love him)
I love him more than anything
In this world
Stay away (Stay away)
The man is mine (The man is mine)
And I love him ( And I love him)
I love him more than anything
In this world
Stay away (Stay away)
The man is mine (The man is mine)
And I love him ( And I love him)
And I want him, I want him for myself
The song Stay Away by Brenda Fassie features a strong message to a woman who is trying to steal her man. The lyrics express Brenda's determination to protect her relationship and to not let anyone come between them. The song starts with Brenda addressing the woman directly, asking her how many times she has to warn her about her man. She criticizes the woman for constantly looking at him and demands that she gets her own man. Brenda then repeats the phrase "the man is mine" multiple times, emphasizing her possessiveness and love for her partner.
Brenda also acknowledges that she has been in love with him for a long time and reminds the woman that he is not the type to be easily swayed. She implores her to leave him alone and stop trying to tempt him. The chorus repeats the message of the song, telling the woman to stay away and that the man is hers. Throughout the song, Brenda's vocals are strong and passionate, reflecting her emotions and determination.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey lady, how many times must I
I am tired of warning you, woman
Warn you about my man
Stop trying to steal my man
Your eyes are on him all the time
You keep staring at him, woman
Why, why don't you have your own
Why don't you find your own man, woman
'Cause I ain't gonna take any nonsense
I won't tolerate your nonsense anymore
Stop looking at my man
Quit checking out my man
Don't, don't, don't push me too far oh
Don't exceed my limit, woman
All I know
I just know
Stay away, the man is mine
Stay off, he is my man
Look away, the man ain't yours
Stop gazing, he doesn't belong to you
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
The man is mine
He is mine, woman
I've been in love with him for such a long time
I have been loving him for a long time
He's not a man to be tempted, no
He is not the kind to be lured, no
He's not the kind of guy to run after you
He won't chase after you
So leave him alone
Just leave him be
Oh he's mine
Oh, he is mine
Oh woman
Oh, woman
I've been watching you
I have been keeping an eye on you
Your big eyes looking at my man
Your wide eyes staring at my man
Stop looking at my man
Stop checking out my man
No, woman, don't think about it no
No, woman, don't even think about it
Stay away
Stay off
Woman (He's mine) the man is mine
Woman (He belongs to me) he is mine
(Stay) Stay, stay
(Stay) Remain there
(Away) Stay away, stay away
(Away) Keep away, stay away
He's mine (The man is mine) mine mine
He is mine (The man belongs to me) mine, mine
And I love him ( And I love him)
And I love him ( And I love him)
I love him more than anything
I love him more than anything else in this world
In this world
In this world
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRENDA FASSIE, SELLO 'CHICCO' TWALA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bruhraizo8087
Her versatility was out of this world โค
@nyembezilabase8597
I fell in love with her voice
@mihlalirennie9485
this song is just out of this world.๐ฅ
@sthe_zar6341
Takes you back in time for real ๐๐พโค๐ฅ.
@jimmatsobane2906
My queen
@veliswandidi1717
U remain a queen Mabrrrโค
@thaboson4098
Legendโคโคโคโคโค
@danilocamargo2530
๐ผ๐ต๐ถ๐BEAUTIFUL๐๐ถ๐ต๐ผ
@williamwilberforce6807
We will never forget you
@dithomomatsekoleng4576
Rest in peace Mamma