Semenya's Los Angeles stay also yielded an ongoing collaboration with Quincy Jones, resulting in Semenya providing African compositions for the scores to Roots (both parts) and Steven Spielberg's adaptation of The Color Purple. He later worked on the score to Disney's The Lion King. After his return to South Africa in 1990, he composed scores for Molo Fish, Vicious Circle and Gaba Mootho, three series broadcast by the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation. He continues to work in America, Europe and Africa in a variety of capacities, including with Letta Mbulu as Caiphus & Letta. He is an executive producer for Quincy Jones' Qradio website, for which he also writes a regular column.
Play With Fire
Caiphus Semenya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
they believe its water ×2
oooooh yes
don't they know fire will burn you ×2
they like to play with fire
They believe its water
some people run away from reality
somepeople they run away from reality
they living a dream world full of fantasy
they believe in yesterday
(they -believe)
cause today is forever(then yesterday)
ooh yeah crime will pay
yeah they even stick together
ooooooh ooooh oooooh oooh
They like to play with fire
They believe its water
The song "Play With Fire" by Caiphus Semenya portrays the dangers of living in a world of fantasy away from the harsh realities of life. The lyrics describe individuals who choose to live in a dream world and avoid confronting their problems head-on. These people are represented in the song as individuals who play with fire and believe it is water. The repetition of this line emphasizes the danger these individuals are putting themselves in by ignoring the reality of the situation.
The lyrics also describe how these individuals believe in the past and do not embrace the present or the future. Semenya highlights how they are willing to commit crimes to avoid facing their problems and that they stick together. The repetition of the "oooooh ooooh" in the song creates a haunting yet captivating melody that draws the listener into the message being conveyed.
Overall, the song "Play With Fire" encourages individuals to confront problems and face reality rather than escaping to a world of fantasy. It teaches us that ignoring the truth can only lead to pain and destruction in the long run.
Line by Line Meaning
they like to play with fire
These individuals have a tendency to take unnecessary risks, often with dangerous consequences.
they believe its water
Despite the obvious danger, these individuals mistakenly believe that their actions will have no negative repercussions.
oooooh yes
The singer expresses a sense of concern or disbelief in response to these individuals' actions.
don't they know fire will burn you
The singer questions whether these individuals understand the potential harm of their actions.
some people run away from reality
Some people avoid the difficulties and challenges of real life by escaping into a world of their own making.
somepeople they run away from reality
There are others who also flee from reality, but their reasons may differ from those of the previous group.
living a dream world full of fantasy
These individuals create their own alternate reality, a perfect world free of the hardships of the real world.
they believe in yesterday
These individuals cling to the past, often viewing it through rose-tinted glasses and disregarding the need to adapt to the present.
(they -believe)
Once again, the singer emphasizes the misguided beliefs of these individuals.
cause today is forever(then yesterday)
These individuals fail to recognize the fleeting nature of time; they prioritize the past and ignore the possibilities of the present and future.
ooh yeah crime will pay
The singer suggests that these individuals engage in illegal or immoral behavior, believing that it will ultimately benefit them.
yeah they even stick together
Despite the potential harm caused by their actions, these individuals remain united in their belief that they are doing no wrong.
ooooooh ooooh oooooh oooh
The singer expresses a sense of exasperation or despair in response to the recurring theme of misplaced belief among these individuals.
They like to play with fire
The repetition of this line serves as a reminder of the reckless nature of these individuals.
They believe its water
Similarly, the repetition of this line highlights the contrast between these individuals' dangerous behavior and their misguided beliefs about its safety.
Writer(s): Caiphus Katse Semenya
Contributed by Abigail V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.