Hugh Masekela was an old collaborator of Abdullah Ibrahim. He is reported to have been initially inspired in his musical growth by Trevor Huddleston, a British priest working in the South African townships who financed Masekela's first trumpet. Masekela played his way through the vibrant Sophiatown scene with The Jazz Epistles and to Britain with King Kong, to find himself in New York in the early 1960s. He had hits in the United States with the pop jazz tunes "Up, Up and Away" and the number one smash "Grazin' in the Grass".
A renewed interest in his African roots led him to collaborate with West and Central African musicians, and finally to reconnect with South African players when he set up a mobile studio in Botswana, just over the South African border, in the 1980s. Here he re-absorbed and re-used mbaqanga strains, a style he has continued to use since his return to South Africa in the early 1990s.
In the 1980s, he toured with Paul Simon in support of Simon's then controversial, but highly critically acclaimed, album Graceland, which featured other South African artists such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Miriam Makeba, Ray Phiri, and other elements of the band Kalahari, which Masekela recorded with in the 1980s. He also collaborated in the musical development for the Broadway play, Sarafina! He previously recorded with the band Kalahari.
In 2003, he was featured in the documentary film Amandla!, about how the music of South Africa aided in the struggle against apartheid. In 2004, he released his autobiography, Grazin' in The Grass: The Musical Journey of Hugh Masekela, which thoughtfully details his struggles against apartheid in his homeland, as well as his personal struggles against alcohol addiction from the late 1970s through to the 1990s, a period when he migrated, in his personal recording career, to mbaqanga, jazz/funk, and the blending of South African sounds to an adult contemporary sound through two albums he recorded with Herb Alpert, and notable solo recordings, Techno-Bush (recorded in his studio in Botswana), Tomorrow (featuring the anthem "Bring Him Back Home"), Uptownship (a lush-sounding ode to American R and B), Beatin' Aroun' de Bush, Sixty, Time, and most recently, "Revival".
Essential recordings include:
* "Bring Him Back Home"
* "Coal Train (Stimela)"
* "Ziph'nkomo"
* "Don't Go Lose It Baby"
* "Ha Le Se Li De Khanna (The Dowry Song)"
* "Bajabule Bonka"
* "Grazing in the Grass"
* "U-Dwi"
* "The Joke of Life"
* "The Boy's Doin' It"
His song, "Soweto Blues", sung by his former wife, Miriam Makeba, mourns the carnage of the Soweto riots in 1976.
Hugh Masekela is the father of Sal Masekela, host of American channel E!'s Daily 10 show, along with Debbie Matenopoulos.
Market Place
Hugh Masekela Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the market like a butterfly
I won't forget the day the sun came shining in
Just like the dawn, in the rain that sprays all that sunshine on Congo
A flaming torch she lit up the marketplace so brightly
Colors as in a flower garden
And all the shades sparkling in the skies in the rainbows of the Congo
Corn row hair in a million braids
Eyes lit up like the northern star
A smile that leaves a spell when she goes to look into my eyes
She turning me on with fever
As she passes me by
Suddenly I'm walking right beside her, really turning her on
When I tell her I'm going wherever
she'll be going when she leaves the market
Right away I go to carry her bag of vegetables
We walk towards the road that goes down to her village
She locks the door that leads into her hut
The talking drums and the xylophones
All the tom toms and the tumbas they were wailing
We had a night time of ecstasy
And we woke up to the roar of the lion
She had to rise to the market place
To her vegetable stall at the market place
That's where the sun rises
Oooh
I won't forget the day the sun came shining in
I won't forget the day the sun came shining in
I won't forget the day the sun came shining in
I won't forget the day the sun came shining in
The song "Market Place" by Hugh Masekela tells the story of a man who sees a woman at the market and is instantly captivated by her beauty. As she walks through the marketplace, he describes her as floating lazily like a butterfly. The way she lights up the marketplace with her vibrant colors and smile leaves the singer feeling feverish and turned on.
The lyrics describe the woman's appearance in great detail, from her cornrow hair in a million braids to the gracing lappa shimmering in purples and yellows. The singer is willing to carry her bag of vegetables and follow her to her village, where they spend a night of ecstasy. The song ends with the woman waking up to go to her vegetable stall at the market, and the singer reflecting on the day the sun came shining in.
The song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of the vibrant colors and sounds of a bustling market in Congo. The talking drums and xylophones, tom toms, and tumbas all add to the ambiance. The song is a celebration of life, love, and the joys of experiencing something new and exciting. The melody of the song is upbeat and catchy, encouraging listeners to dance along.
Line by Line Meaning
I see her floating lazily
I see her walking casually through the market.
Through the market like a butterfly
She moves through the market gracefully and freely just like a butterfly.
I won't forget the day the sun came shining in
There was a time when everything changed and became sunny and positive.
Just like the dawn, in the rain that sprays all that sunshine on Congo
Like a sunrise that shines through the rain in Congo, there was a moment of hope and positivity.
A flaming torch she lit up the marketplace so brightly
Her presence made the market feel alive and exciting, just like a torch that shines brightly.
Colors as in a flower garden
Her clothing was colorful and resembled that of a garden blooming with flowers.
Gracing her lappa shimmering in purples and yellows
The cloth she wore was patterned with purples and yellows, making her look even more radiant.
And all the shades sparkling in the skies in the rainbows of the Congo
Her clothing was as colorful as the sky after a rainstorm in Congo, full of rainbows and brightness.
Corn row hair in a million braids
Her hair was styled in many tiny braids, similar to cornrows.
Eyes lit up like the northern star
Her eyes shone brightly like the North Star, giving off an intense and mesmerizing gaze.
A smile that leaves a spell when she goes to look into my eyes
When she smiles and looks into your eyes, it's magical and hypnotizing.
She turning me on with fever
Her presence and energy is so exciting and passionate, it's almost like a fever.
As she passes me by
As she walks past me, her energy is infectious.
Suddenly I'm walking right beside her, really turning her on
Now, he is walking next to her, and his presence excites her.
When I tell her I'm going wherever she'll be going when she leaves the market
He lets her know that he will follow her wherever she goes after leaving the market.
Right away I go to carry her bag of vegetables
He immediately offers to carry her bags of vegetables, showing his care and attentiveness.
We walk towards the road that goes down to her village
They walk together on a path towards the village where she lives.
She locks the door that leads into her hut
She locks the door to her home to keep it safe while she is away.
The talking drums and the xylophones
The sounds of talking drums and xylophones, often heard in African music, filled the air.
All the tom toms and the tumbas they were wailing
In addition, tom toms and tumbas drums were also playing, creating a lively and rhythmic atmosphere.
We had a night time of ecstasy
They spent the night together in a state of blissful happiness and fulfillment.
And we woke up to the roar of the lion
They woke up to the sounds of a lion roaring in the distance, reminding them of the wild and beautiful nature surrounding them.
She had to rise to the market place
She had to wake up early to go back to the market.
To her vegetable stall at the market place
She had a specific location where she sold her vegetables within the market.
That's where the sun rises
The market is where the day begins, where people go to start their day and purchase goods for their families.
Oooh
A vocalization of enjoyment or appreciation.
I won't forget the day the sun came shining in
A repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the importance and impact of that moment in time.
I won't forget the day the sun came shining in
A repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the importance and impact of that moment in time.
I won't forget the day the sun came shining in
A repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the importance and impact of that moment in time.
I won't forget the day the sun came shining in
A repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the importance and impact of that moment in time.
Contributed by Molly S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.