It all began as a series of jams at Southern Cross Studios in Observatory,… Read Full Bio ↴It all began as a series of jams at Southern Cross Studios in Observatory, Jo'burg. The first was with the late Gito Baloi (bass/vocals), Dave Reynolds (steelpan/additional instruments) and Chris Tokalon (flute/saxophone). From the jams, three tunes emerged - "Shimishweni", "Mpumalanga" and "Spirit's Dance" and a whole new sound.

Enter some of the finest talents on the contemporary African scene: world-class guitarist/vocalist Louis Mhlanga, bassman/vocalist Concord and vocalist/trombonist Siya Makuzeni. A few jams later and the project GRASSROOTS is born. The first album, "African Moods" continues in the spirit of those first few jams - a collaboration of highly skilled artists exploring new landscapes and textures, embracing everything from ancestral roots elements to the present and looking deep into the future.

Gained three South African Music Award nominations including best duo/group and best adult contemporary African, sold out premier shows at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, the ground-breaking video "Emakhaya", a hit single on "the African Top Ten" on South African radio Kaya FM, a Xitsonga Music Award nomination on Munghana Lonene radio in South Africa, and a documentary entitled "Fresh Sounds from Southern Africa".

Personnel:

Louis Mhlanga (guitar & vocals) Dave Reynolds (steelpans & additional instruments) Concord (Bass & vocals) Jeff Maluleke (vocals & chants) Siya Makuzeni (vocals & trombone) Gito Baloi (Bass, vocals & chants) Sello Montwedi (drums) Kathy Van Rensburg (vocals) Sam Mataure (drums) Chris Tokalon (flute, sax, vocal effects, chants) Koffi (Bass & vocals) William Mudau (Kalimba) Ronan Skillen (digeridoo)

Midnight Confession
Grassroots Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The sound of your footsteps
Telling me that you're near
Your soft gentle motion, baby
Brings out the need in me that no one can hear, except

In my midnight confessions
When I tell all the world that I love you
In my midnight confessions

When I say all the things that I want to
I love you

But a little gold ring you wear on your hand makes me understand
There's another before me, you'll never be mine
I'm wasting my time

Staggering through the daytime
Your image on my mind
Passing so close beside you, baby
Sometimes the feelings are so hard to hide, but

In my midnight confessions
When I tell all the world that I love you
In my midnight confessions
When I say all the things that I want to
I love you

That's a little gold ring you wear on your hand that makes me understand
There's another before me, you'll never be mine
I'm wasting my time

In my midnight confessions
When I'm telling the world that I love you
In my midnight confessions
When I say all the things that I want to
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na

Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na

Overall Meaning

The Grass Roots’ “Midnight Confession” is a song about unrequited love and the internal struggle that comes with it. The lyrics describe the sound of the person's footsteps nearing, creating a feeling of need that is not shared with anyone else but the listener. However, there is a realization that the person is not available, and a little gold ring they wear on their hand reminds the singer that someone else already has their heart. The chorus repeats the phrase “In my midnight confessions”, which serves as a metaphor for the moments when the singer allows themselves to be vulnerable and confess their love for this person. Despite this, the person will never belong to the singer, and they are wasting their time with their unrequited love.

Line by Line Meaning

The sound of your footsteps
The noise created by your feet hitting the ground

Telling me that you're near
Informing me that you are in close proximity

Your soft gentle motion, baby
The smooth and delicate way you move, my dear

Brings out the need in me that no one can hear, except
Stimulating an urge in me that is only known to myself

In my midnight confessions
During my private moments of vulnerability

When I tell all the world that I love you
When I openly express to everyone how much you mean to me

When I say all the things that I want to
When I articulate all the words I've been holding back

I love you
I have deep feelings of affection and care for you

But a little gold ring you wear on your hand makes me understand
However, the small piece of jewelry on your finger signifies to me

There's another before me, you'll never be mine
That someone else has claimed your heart, and I cannot have you

I'm wasting my time
My efforts to pursue you are futile and pointless