He sang in the languages of his youth, Swahili and Acholi, the languages of the lost country, the 'clear green land' of Uganda, and he also sang in English and French.
Oryema earned his international reputation on the release of his second album, Beat the Border. He had collaborated with Peter Gabriel and others, and was backed by French musicians including Jean-Pierre Alarcen (guitar) and Patrick Buchmann (drums, percussion, backing vocals), touring with WOMAD in Australia, the USA, Japan, Brasil and Europe. In 1994 the band performed at Woodstock 94 celebrating the 25th anniversary of the legendary festival.
Gabriel's record label, Real World, helped with the first three of Oryema's albums, before his move to Sony International, a label established in France, where Oryema had lived since his exile.
In July 2005, he performed at the LIVE 8: Africa Calling concert in Cornwall, and with 1 Giant Leap at the Live 8 Edinburgh concert.
Discography
Exile (1990)
Beat the Border (1993)
Night to Night (1996)
Spirit (2000)
The Odysseus/Best Of (2002)
Words (2004)
From The Heart (Released on Long Tale Recordings) (2010)
Nomad
Geoffrey Oryema Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I looked at myself
In the mirror
Do not hide your face
Do not hide your face
From me
When I feel sad
On the day
When I call you
Answer me
Please answer me
And turn your shy
Ears towards me
No cows and no grass
To graze on
Makes me feel
I'm a nomad
I'm lost and silent
In the wilderness
Like an owl among the ruins
My wings lined with ashes
Alone on the roof
I feel I'm a nomad
I feel I'm a nomad
I feel I'm a nomad
My days go up in smoke
My bones are aching
My days go up in smoke
My heart is breaking
Good walking leaves
No track behind it
Do not hide your face
Do not hide your face
From me
When I feel sad...
The lyrics of Geoffrey Oryema's "Nomad" convey the sentiment of feeling lost and alone in a barren landscape. The singer looks at himself in the mirror and asks himself not to hide his face from himself when he feels sad. He then addresses someone else and asks them not to hide their face from him, and to answer him when he calls out to them. The lack of resources to support life, such as cows and grass, make the singer feel like a nomad.
The singer compares himself to an owl among the ruins, with wings lined with ashes, alone on a rooftop. He feels lost and silent in the wilderness, and his days go up in smoke. The weight of his sadness is physically felt in his bones, and his heart is breaking. However, the singer suggests that "good walking leaves no track behind it", indicating the idea that sometimes it is necessary to let go of the past and move forward.
Overall, the lyrics of "Nomad" express feelings of loneliness, sadness, and displacement. The singer seems to be searching for a sense of belonging and connection with others, but is struggling to find it.
Line by Line Meaning
The other day
Recently, not so long ago
I looked at myself
I examined my physical appearance
In the mirror
Using a glass item that reflects images
Do not hide your face
Please do not conceal your facial features
Do not hide your face
Please do not conceal your facial features
From me
I implore you not to hide from me
When I feel sad
Particularly, when I experience unhappiness
On the day
At a point in time
When I call you
When I summon you
Answer me
Please respond to me
Please answer me
I humbly request a response from you
And turn your shy
Swivel your hesistant
Ears towards me
In my direction, so that you can hear me better
No cows and no grass
There are neither cattle nor vegetation
To graze on
For animals to feed on
Makes me feel
Gives me the impression or sensation
I'm a nomad
I am a wanderer with no permanent home
I'm lost and silent
I am confused and incapable of producing sound
In the wilderness
In a desolate or uninhabited region
Like an owl among the ruins
Similar to a bird of prey amidst destroyed buildings
My wings lined with ashes
My feathers covered in burnt remains
Alone on the roof
Secluded on top of a structure
I feel I'm a nomad
I sense that I do not belong and lack a permanent location
I feel I'm a nomad
I sense that I do not belong and lack a permanent location
I feel I'm a nomad
I sense that I do not belong and lack a permanent location
My days go up in smoke
My time disappears quickly
My bones are aching
My body is experiencing physical pain
My days go up in smoke
My time disappears quickly
My heart is breaking
My emotions are in agony
Good walking leaves
Individual who navigates well does not leave footprints
No track behind it
There is no trace or evidence of the person's movements
Do not hide your face
Please do not conceal your facial features
Do not hide your face
Please do not conceal your facial features
From me
I implore you not to hide from me
When I feel sad
Particularly, when I experience unhappiness
Contributed by Elizabeth J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Acholi Princess
on Land Of Anaka
The Lyrics are Real !
Art is spiritual insight from the spiritual realm by those who are Talented!
The land of Anaka was a place of Darkness! Death! Despair! Even the Dead did not die! They wandered spiritually within the land!
He is asking Obiga to show him the way in this Darkness!
Rest In peace Ladin!
Acholi Princess
on Kel Kweyo
Great Great Master of the Spiritual Music of Acholi
Acholi Princess
on See Me Lakayana
Spiritual Sounds!
Spiritual Art!
Spiritual feels!
Rest in Peace!