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Look And Laugh
Fela Kuti Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
Ohhh

Since long time I never write new tune
Long time I never sing new song
Long time I never write new tune
Long time I never sing new song
Many of you go dey wonder why, your man never sing new song
Many of you go dey wonder why, your man never write new tune
My brother no be so, tabi, no be say I wan keep quiet
My brother no be say I no wan write new
Song for you to make you think and happy
Wetin I dey do be say

Wetin I dey do be say (dey look and laffu)
I say wetin I dey do (dey look and laffu)
I dey look and laffu (dey look and laffu)
I say wetin I dey do say? (dey look and laffu)
I dey look and laffu (dey look and laffu)

Shey the things we me and you (dey look and laffu)

Don see for this country (dey look and laffu)

No reach for me (dey look and laffu)

To dey looku and laffu (dey look and laffu)

Wetin I no sing (dey look and laffu)

About, in this country (dey look and laffu)

Sing Sing Sing (dey look and laffu)

Till dem come (dey look and laffu)

Come charge me (dey look and laffu)

For armed robbery (dey look and laffu)

Sey, I must looku and laffu (dey look and laffu)

I must looku and laffu (dey look and laffu)

I dey say make you bring your ears nearer to me

And hear the experience I go sing about (dey look and laffu)

I say wetin I dey do be say (dey look and laffu)

Dey look and laugh (dey look and laffu)

I say wetin I dey do say (dey look and laffu)

I dey look and laugh (dey look and laffu)

I dey say make you bring your ears nearer to me

And hear the experience I go sing about (dey look and laffu)

Wetin I dey do be say (dey look and laffu)

I say wetin I dey do say (dey look and laffu)

I dey look and laughf (dey look and laffu)

I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
Ohhh!

Watin man go dey do when na for e eye
Obasanjo pass government to shagari ooo

Shagari rule e government regime for four years no head no tale

Inside this no head no tale

Same water no light still dey

Shagari himself say

The economy of the coun-tu-ry is collapsing

Then those old people

With 'da [?] in one eye

Carry walking stick come on too

With ah PP 'ay, no PPP

Hey, hey

Who say PPP? Nah PP 'ay

Oooh!

All for 1983 (look and laugh)

I must look and laugh (look and laugh)

All for 1983 (look and laugh)

I must look and laugh (look and laugh)

Watin I no sing (look and laugh)

About, this country (look and laugh)

Sing sing sing (look and laugh)

Till dem come (look and laugh)

Come charge me (look and laugh)

For armed robbery (look and laugh)

Say, I must look and laugh (look and laugh)

I must look and laugh (look and laugh)

I must look and laugh (look and laugh)

I must look and laugh (look and laugh)

I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey

Ohhh

Contractor and minister or commissioner make agreement to make road

All of us know how long government dey take to make road for here

Then the road start as dem don put machine, sands and stones

Shagari make announcement contractor sef make e own

Contractor say as the economy don go things don cost so road must stop

Government say no more money contractor say no more road

Contractor go government stay

Ohhh

Shey that one no reach make dey look and laugh (look and laugh)

Shey that one no reach make dey look and laugh (look and laugh)

I must look and laugh (look and laugh)

Which kind wayo be that

Ojukwu stealing original stealing (look and laugh)

I must look and laugh (look and laugh)

Wetin I no sing (look and laugh)

About, in this country (look and laugh)

Sing Sing Sing (look and laugh)

When them come (look and laugh)

Come burn my house (look and laugh)

All my property (look and laffu)

Burn burn dem o(look and laffu)

Beat beat me(look and laffu)

Kill my mama(look and laffu)

I must to look and laffu(look and laffu)

I must to look and laffu(look and laffu)

Watin I no sing(look and laffu)

About this country (look and laffu)

Watin I no sing(look and laffu)

About this country (look and laffu)

Sing sing sing(look and laffu)

Four years later (look and laffu)
Till dem come(look and laffu)
Break break the house (look and laffu)
The house wey I dey stay (look and laffu)
Dem come beat beat me(look and laffu)
Till dem think say I don die(look and laffu)
When I get up(look and laffu)
Dem tie my hands dem tie my legs(look and laffu)
Dem throw me inside police van(look and laffu)
I must to look and and laffu(look and laffu)
I must to look and laffu(look and laffu)
Dem come carry me go(look and laffu)
Dem charge me go court(look and laffu)
Charge me for
Charge me for armed robbery (look and laffu)
I must look and laffu(look and laffu)
I must to look and laffu(look and laffu)
I must to ook and laffu(look and laffu)
I must to look and laffu (look and laffu)
I must to
Hah hah hah
Hey hey hey
Hah hah hah
Hey hey hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey

Ohhh

Look at our television and listen to our radio in Nigeria

When dem don do their nonsense finish newspaper sef go join

My own be say too many overseas things and our own too small

When dem do our own wey small sef dem go be yeye things

No plan no set no ideas inside dem
Dem go dey copy oyinbo for overseas dey go

Government this government that in their tiles lace and dongaris

Aaah

Hey

Lookuu looku looku

Laffuu laffu laffu

Lookuu looku looku

Laffuu laffu laffu

Shey I no no watin dem do inside television

Lookuu looku looku (I dey laffu)

Laffuu laffu laffu (I dey looku)

Police uniform come important pass food for this country

Looku looku looku (I dey laffuu)

Laffuu laffu laffu (I dey looku)

Go to court na big-big English and still dem dey do their nonsense

Lookuu looku looku

Laffuu laffu laffu

1809 book dem go bring to judge case of 1980

Lookuu looku looku

Laffuu laffu laffuu ooo

Hey

Lookuu looku looku

Ya

Laffuu laffu laffu

Hey

Lookuu looku looku

Ya

Laffuu laffu laffu

Government people still dey enjoy go with police support o

Lookuu looku looku

Laffuu laffu laffu

Nigeria still dey where e dey

Poor man still dey plenty more

Lookuu looku looku

Laffuu laffu laffu

Government people still dey enjoy go with police support o

Lookuu looku looku

Laffuu laffu laffu

Nigeria still dey where e dey

Poor man still dey plenty more

Lookuu looku looku

Laffuu laffu laffu

Hey

Lookuu looku looku

Ya

Laffuu laffu laffu

Hey

Lookuu looku looku

Ya

Laffuu laffu laffu
Ya
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh

I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh

Heey

(I dey looku)

(I dey laffu)

(I dey looku)

(I dey laffu)

(I dey looku)

Overall Meaning

Fela Kuti's song "Look and Laugh" is a satirical commentary on the political situation in Nigeria at the time. Throughout the song, Fela sings about how he hasn't written or sung any new songs, while people wonder why. He explains that he is too busy "looking and laughing" at the state of affairs in Nigeria. He mocks the government officials who make empty promises and steal from the people, while the masses struggle with poverty and unemployment. Fela's use of repetition throughout the song, especially in the chorus, reinforces his message of the absurdity of the situation.


Line by Line Meaning

I chuckle too
I am also laughing


Since long time I never write new tune
It's been a while since I wrote a new song


Long time I never sing new song
I haven't sung a new song in a long time


Many of you go dey wonder why, your man never write new tune
Many of you might be wondering why I haven't written a new song


Many of you go dey wonder why, your man never sing new song
Many of you might be wondering why I haven't sung a new song


My brother no be so, tabi, no be say I wan keep quiet
I'm not keeping quiet intentionally, my friend


My brother no be say I no wan write new
I do want to write new songs


Song for you to make you think and happy
Songs that will make you think and happy


Wetin I dey do be say
What I'm doing is


Wetin I dey do be say (dey look and laffu)
What I'm doing is looking and laughing


Shey the things we me and you (dey look and laffu)
Do you also see the things happening in this country and laugh?


Don see for this country (dey look and laffu)
Have you seen what is happening in this country and laughed?


No reach for me (dey look and laffu)
It's not enough for me to just look and laugh


To dey looku and laffu (dey look and laffu)
Just looking and laughing is not enough


Wetin I no sing (dey look and laffu)
What I haven't sung about yet


About, in this country (dey look and laffu)
The things happening in this country that I haven't sung about yet


Sing Sing Sing (dey look and laffu)
I will keep singing and laughing


Till dem come (dey look and laffu)
Until they come for me


Come charge me (dey look and laffu)
When they charge me


For armed robbery (dey look and laffu)
With false accusations of armed robbery


Sey, I must looku and laffu (dey look and laffu)
I have to keep looking and laughing


I must looku and laffu (dey look and laffu)
I must keep looking and laughing


I dey say make you bring your ears nearer to me And hear the experience I go sing about (dey look and laffu)
Listen closely to the experiences I will sing about


Dey look and laugh (dey look and laffu)
They are looking and laughing


I dey look and laugh (dey look and laffu)
I am looking and laughing too


I dey look and laughf (dey look and laffu)
I am looking and laughing too


Watin man go dey do when na for e eye
What can a man do when he sees injustice


Obasanjo pass government to shagari ooo
Obasanjo handed over the government to Shagari


Shagari rule e government regime for four years no head no tale
Shagari's government had no direction for four years


Inside this no head no tale
There was no clear direction


Same water no light still dey
The same problems remain


Shagari himself say The economy of the coun-tu-ry is collapsing
Shagari admitted that the economy was collapsing


Then those old people With 'da [?] in one eye Carry walking stick come on too With ah PP 'ay, no PPP Hey, hey Who say PPP? Nah PP 'ay Oooh!
Those elderly people with the cataract eyes holding walking sticks come along too, no party works but PPA


All for 1983 (look and laugh)
All that happened in 1983 is worth laughing at


Contractor and minister or commissioner make agreement to make road All of us know how long government dey take to make road for here Then the road start as dem don put machine, sands and stones
The contractor and government officials make agreements to build roads, but it takes a long time for the government to act. When construction starts, it's only at the preliminary stage


Shagari make announcement contractor sef make e own
Shagari announced that the contractor can do as he pleases


Contractor say as the economy don go things don cost so road must stop Government say no more money contractor say no more road Contractor go government stay
The contractor argues that costs have increased due to the poor economy, so the road construction must stop. The government says they have no more money, so the contractor says there will be no more roads, but the contractor remains in power


Shey that one no reach make dey look and laugh (look and laugh)
Isn't that enough to make people laugh and ridicule them?


Which kind wayo be that Ojukwu stealing original stealing (look and laugh)
What kind of fraud is that? Ojukwu steals the original, then steals the copy


Four years later (look and laffu) Till dem come (look and laffu) Break break the house (look and laffu) The house wey I dey stay (look and laffu) Dem come beat beat me(look and laffu) Till dem think say I don die(look and laffu)
Four years later, until they come and break into the house where I stay, beating me until they think I'm dead


When I get up(look and laffu) Dem tie my hands dem tie my legs(look and laffu) Dem throw me inside police van(look and laffu)
When I get up, they tie my hands and legs and throw me in a police van


Police uniform come important pass food for this country
Police uniforms are more important than food in this country


Go to court na big-big English and still dem dey do their nonsense 1809 book dem go bring to judge case of 1980
In court, they speak big English, but still do nonsense. They bring a book from 1809 to judge a case from 1980


Government people still dey enjoy go with police support o
Government officials still enjoy going around with police support


Poor man still dey plenty more I must look and laugh
There are still many poor people, and I have to keep looking and laughing




Writer(s): Fela Anikulapo Kuti

Contributed by Charlie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@kingglmaoofn1808

I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
Ohhh
Since long time I never write new tune
Long time I never sing new song
Long time I never write new tune
Long time I never sing new song
Many of you go dey wonder why, your man never sing new song
Many of you go dey wonder why, your man never write new tune
My brother no be so, tabi, no be say I wan keep quiet
My brother no be say I no wan write new
Song for you to make you think and happy
Wetin I dey do be say
Wetin I dey do be say (dey look and laffu)
I say wetin I dey do (dey look and laffu)
I dey look and laffu (dey look and laffu)
I say wetin I dey do say? (dey look and laffu)
I dey look and laffu (dey look and laffu)
Shey the things we me and you (dey look and laffu)
Don see for this country (dey look and laffu)
No reach for me (dey look and laffu)
To dey looku and laffu (dey look and laffu)
Wetin I no sing (dey look and laffu)
About, in this country (dey look and laffu)
Sing Sing Sing (dey look and laffu)
Till dem come (dey look and laffu)
Come charge me (dey look and laffu)
For armed robbery (dey look and laffu)
Sey, I must looku and laffu (dey look and laffu)
I must looku and laffu (dey look and laffu)
I dey say make you bring your ears nearer to me
And hear the experience I go sing about (dey look and laffu)
I say wetin I dey do be say (dey look and laffu)
Dey look and laugh (dey look and laffu)
I say wetin I dey do say (dey look and laffu)
I dey look and laugh (dey look and laffu)
I dey say make you bring your ears nearer to me
And hear the experience I go sing about (dey look and laffu)
Wetin I dey do be say (dey look and laffu)
I say wetin I dey do say (dey look and laffu)
I dey look and laughf (dey look and laffu)
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
Ohhh!
Watin man go dey do when na for e eye
Obasanjo pass government to shagari ooo
Shagari rule e government regime for four years no head no tale
Inside this no head no tale
Same water no light still dey
Shagari himself say
The economy of the coun-tu-ry is collapsing
Then those old people
With 'da [?] in one eye
Carry walking stick come on too
With ah PP 'ay, no PPP
Hey, hey
Who say PPP? Nah PP 'ay
Oooh!
All for 1983 (look and laugh)
I must look and laugh (look and laugh)
All for 1983 (look and laugh)
I must look and laugh (look and laugh)
Watin I no sing (look and laugh)
About, this country (look and laugh)
Sing sing sing (look and laugh)
Till dem come (look and laugh)
Come charge me (look and laugh)
For armed robbery (look and laugh)
Say, I must look and laugh (look and laugh)
I must look and laugh (look and laugh)
I must look and laugh (look and laugh)
I must look and laugh (look and laugh)
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
Ohhh
Contractor and minister or commissioner make agreement to make road
All of us know how long government dey take to make road for here
Then the road start as dem don put machine, sands and stones
Shagari make announcement contractor sef make e own
Contractor say as the economy don go things don cost so road must stop
Government say no more money contractor say no more road
Contractor go government stay
Ohhh
Shey that one no reach make dey look and laugh (look and laugh)
Shey that one no reach make dey look and laugh (look and laugh)
I must look and laugh (look and laugh)
Which kind wayo be that
Ojukwu stealing original stealing (look and laugh)
I must look and laugh (look and laugh)
Wetin I no sing (look and laugh)
About, in this country (look and laugh)
Sing Sing Sing (look and laugh)
When them come (look and laugh)
Come burn my house (look and laugh)
All my property (look and laffu)
Burn burn dem o(look and laffu)
Beat beat me(look and laffu)
Kill my mama(look and laffu)
I must to look and laffu(look and laffu)
I must to look and laffu(look and laffu)
Watin I no sing(look and laffu)
About this country (look and laffu)
Watin I no sing(look and laffu)
About this country (look and laffu)
Sing sing sing(look and laffu)
Four years later (look and laffu)
Till dem come(look and laffu)
Break break the house (look and laffu)
The house wey I dey stay (look and laffu)
Dem come beat beat me(look and laffu)
Till dem think say I don die(look and laffu)
When I get up(look and laffu)
Dem tie my hands dem tie my legs(look and laffu)
Dem throw me inside police van(look and laffu)
I must to look and and laffu(look and laffu)
I must to look and laffu(look and laffu)
Dem come carry me go(look and laffu)
Dem charge me go court(look and laffu)
Charge me for
Charge me for armed robbery (look and laffu)
I must look and laffu(look and laffu)
I must to look and laffu(look and laffu)
I must to ook and laffu(look and laffu)
I must to look and laffu (look and laffu)
I must to
Hah hah hah
Hey hey hey
Hah hah hah
Hey hey hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
I chuckle too
Hey
I chuckle too
Hey Hey
Ohhh
Look at our television and listen to our radio in Nigeria
When dem don do their nonsense finish newspaper sef go join
My own be say too many overseas things and our own too small
When dem do our own wey small sef dem go be yeye things
No plan no set no ideas inside dem
Dem go dey copy oyinbo for overseas dey go
Government this government that in their tiles lace and dongaris
Aaah
Hey
Lookuu looku looku
Laffuu laffu laffu
Lookuu looku looku
Laffuu laffu laffu
Shey I no no watin dem do inside television
Lookuu looku looku (I dey laffu)
Laffuu laffu laffu (I dey looku)
Police uniform come important pass food for this country
Looku looku looku (I dey laffuu)
Laffuu laffu laffu (I dey looku)
Go to court na big-big English and still dem dey do their nonsense
Lookuu looku looku
Laffuu laffu laffu
1809 book dem go bring to judge case of 1980
Lookuu looku looku
Laffuu laffu laffuu ooo
Hey
Lookuu looku looku
Ya
Laffuu laffu laffu
Hey
Lookuu looku looku
Ya
Laffuu laffu laffu
Government people still dey enjoy go with police support o
Lookuu looku looku
Laffuu laffu laffu
Nigeria still dey where e dey
Poor man still dey plenty more
Lookuu looku looku
Laffuu laffu laffu
Government people still dey enjoy go with police support o
Lookuu looku looku
Laffuu laffu laffu
Nigeria still dey where e dey
Poor man still dey plenty more
Lookuu looku looku
Laffuu laffu laffu
Hey
Lookuu looku looku
Ya
Laffuu laffu laffu
Hey
Lookuu looku looku
Ya
Laffuu laffu laffu
Ya
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
I must look and laugh
Heey



All comments from YouTube:

@oliverolaofe

I was very fortunate to have lived in Nigeria at the time when Fela was recording this tune at the Shrine in Ikeja Lagos. Needless to say that I was there at the Shrine to hear this music played live time and time again as a teenager. It was a great stroke of good fortune that my house was less than 20 minutes away from the Shrine. Let's just say I really miss this guy and I remain humbled and very grateful to have seen Fela and hear him play the best music in the world live.

@woleabu378

This resonates with me. My sentiments exactly

@TheClaffo

You were so lucky to have seen him .

@oliverolaofe

@TheClaffo yeah I feel very lucky as every Wednesday and Friday evenings of my teenage years till age 21, I never missed Fela's shrine. Happy days!!

@malikcorozo1156

Dude, reading your words make me cried, life is curious, i found fela in a unique way that i cant describe it, but since then i listen all of his music and get loved by the rythm, i cant believe he is not with us anymore, every time i hear his music its like having him alive again, my platonic wish is to meet him, go to one of his concert and scream out loud my lungs, me someone from the other side of the world (Ecuador), i envy you bro in the good way, and indeed... everyone who known fela, we miss him :')

@mrminecraft6247

​@@oliverolaofeI feel the same way but can't remember he played on Wednesdays, it was Tuesday - ladies nite, Fridays- yabis nite, Saturdays -comprehensive show, sundays-sunday jump, at pepple street though,but correct me if I am wrong, those were the days!!! Miss Fela so much😢

2 More Replies...

@manuelnhanala5947

I am from Mozambique and it is very far from Nigeria, but when I listening to this tune it seems like I am in Shrine by night in Lagos...Viva Fela!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@nosa9994

.

@irewunmiakintan415

It's true you're right

@chiefkolass8226

I’m from what they callAmerica 👀….one love ❤️ nobody taught me that this music was ok …. I made it mine👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾🤦🏾🤗❤️❤️

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