Rebel Woman
Chiwoniso Lyrics


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Hinde hinde hinde hinde wende
Hinde hinde hinde hinde wende
Hinde hinde hinde hinde wende
Hinde hinde hinde hinde wende
Tired and dusty
She sat by the road
Her green spotted uniform
And her sneakers
Outworn
Rebel woman, yeah
She took off her hat
And she leaned against a tree
Her rifle by her side
Rough, worn hands
Upon her knee
Rebel woman, yeah
Rebel woman, yeah
Hinde hinde hinde hinde wende
Hinde hinde hinde hinde wende
Hinde hinde hinde hinde wende
Hinde hinde hinde hinde wende
There will be no compensation
It was of your free will
Oh, that you stood on the frontline
Rebel woman
These are the rules of war
Remember that you fought for your people
I know the freedom's been hard won
It's been so hard won
But as you weep, rebel woman
Remember you were strong
Her corner pocket
Hid a pack of cigars
She took one out and lit it
Threw the rest into the grass
Rebel woman, yeah
Rebel woman, yeah
Oh oh oh
The bush grew around her
Dense, hot and green
Over the place where once
Her home
Her husband
Her children
Where once they'd been
There will be no compensation
It was of your free will
Oh, that you stood on the frontline
Rebel woman
These are the rules of war
Remember that you fought for your people
I know the freedom's been hard won
It's been so hard won
But as you weep, rebel woman
Remember you were strong




Rebel woman
Rebel woman, yeah

Overall Meaning

The song Rebel Woman by Chiwoniso is a powerful tribute to the struggles of women warriors, particularly those fighting for freedom and independence in Zimbabwe. The lyrics draw a vivid picture of a tired, dusty woman in a green spotted uniform and worn sneakers, resting by the side of the road with her rifle by her side. The chorus proudly proclaims her as a rebel woman, a fierce fighter who has dedicated herself to the cause of liberation. The verses, meanwhile, paint a poignant portrait of her personal sacrifices and losses, including the loss of her home, husband, and children, all of whom were likely casualties of war.


The song is a poignant reminder of the tremendous sacrifices made by countless women who have fought, and continue to fight, for freedom and justice. It is also an acknowledgment of the unique challenges faced by women warriors, who have often been marginalized, ignored, or overlooked in the histories of armed conflict.


Overall, Rebel Woman is a powerful anthem that celebrates the strength, courage, and resilience of women warriors, and reminds us all of the ongoing struggle for freedom and justice around the world.


Line by Line Meaning

Hinde hinde hinde hinde wende
Repetition of a phrase to mimic the sound of someone walking in a tired and exhausted way.


Tired and dusty
The woman is fatigued and covered in dust from being on the front lines of a war.


She sat by the road
The woman is taking a break during her journey.


Her green spotted uniform
The clothes she wears remind us of her affiliation with a group or organization.


And her sneakers
She wears comfortable shoes in order to move quickly and evade danger.


Outworn
Her sneakers are old and need to be replaced, but she cannot afford to buy new ones.


Rebel woman, yeah
She is a fighter, willing to stand up for what she believes in and not give up.


She took off her hat
She needs to cool down and rest her head.


And she leaned against a tree
The tree provides shade and support for her tired body.


Her rifle by her side
She is prepared to defend herself and others with deadly force if necessary.


Rough, worn hands
Her hands are rough and calloused from hard work, possibly from fighting or manual labor.


Upon her knee
She rests her hands on her knees to take a moment to reflect and take a break.


There will be no compensation
The government or those in power will not pay her for her sacrifices.


It was of your free will
She chose to fight for what she believed in and protect her people.


Oh, that you stood on the frontline
She put herself in harm's way to fight for her cause on the front lines of battle.


These are the rules of war
The hardships and suffering she faced were part of the normal course of war.


Remember that you fought for your people
Her cause was greater than herself; she fought for the well-being of her community or country.


I know the freedom's been hard won
She and others have made great sacrifices in order to achieve freedom from oppression.


It's been so hard won
The journey towards freedom was long and difficult.


But as you weep, rebel woman
She is allowed to have moments of sadness and despair, but she must also remember her strength, resilience, and ability to persevere.


Remember you were strong
She is encouraged to recall her inner fortitude when facing tough times.


Her corner pocket
A place where she keeps small and personal items.


Hid a pack of cigars
A small item she can enjoy on a brief respite.


She took one out and lit it
She indulges in a small pleasure, a momentary escape from her harsh reality.


Threw the rest into the grass
She discards what she cannot use or does not need, leaving it behind for others to discover.


The bush grew around her
Nature is an ever-present force in the midst of human conflict and suffering.


Dense, hot and green
Nature is all-encompassing, beautiful, and dangerous.


Over the place where once
The site of where her family and home used to be.


Her home
A place of safety, comfort, and belonging.


Her husband
A partner in life and love whom she has lost due to the war or conflict.


Her children
Her offspring, whom she loves and is fighting to protect.




Writer(s): CHIWONISO MARAIRE

Contributed by Isaiah A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Robby Adams


on Zvichapera

I've seen these lyrics misinterpreted all over the internet and not only that but written into articles. This lonely road song you guys keep quoting as the lyrics to this are from Green Day's boulevard of broken dreams!!! Lol I highly doubt those are the lyrics to this song once translated.

GiGi


on Iwai Nesu


Be with us Father God


Father God, be with us


Some are sleeping on empty stomachs


Some are are dying from feasting


Somewhere some are perishing due to water/rains


Somewhere some are perishing due to the sun/heat


To lead and be led


We are your children


In our speaking and bluffing


We are your children


In what we think and dream

Peejay


on Urombo

Lyrics

They are reat 5 star

LT


on Vanorapa

Does anyone know the meaning of this song?

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