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.
Ooo Baby Baby
Hugh Masekela Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I did you wrong, my heart went out to play
And in the game I lost you, what a price to pay!
I'm cryin', ooh baby baby ooh baby baby
Mistakes I know I've made a few,
But I'm only human; you've made mistakes too!
I'm cryin', ooh baby baby ooh baby baby
Ooh baby baby
Ooh baby baby I'm just about at the end of my rope.
But I can't stop tryin', I can't give up hope
'cause I feel someday I'll hold you near,
Whisper I still love you
Until that day is here ooh I'm cryin'.
Ooh baby baby ooh baby baby
The lyrics to Hugh Masekela's song Ooo Baby Baby depict a heartbroken man pleading with his former lover to forgive him for his mistakes. He admits to having played with her heart and losing her in the game, leaving him with a heavy price to pay. He confesses that he has made mistakes, but reminds her that she too is only human and has made errors. The man expresses his deep sorrow and desperation for reconciliation, declaring that he is at the end of his rope and feels like he is crying out for her. However, despite the pain, he admits he cannot give up hope of holding her near and whispering his enduring love to her again.
The song is a moving ballad that draws on common themes of love, betrayal, and forgiveness. It tells a story of a man's remorseful journey in trying to make things right with his partner after causing her pain. The lyrics are beautifully structured, with a repetitive yet soulful tone that perfectly captures the singer's inner turmoil and longing for forgiveness.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh la, la, la, la.
Expressing a feeling of regret and heartache
I did you wrong, my heart went out to play
Admitting to making a mistake and acting impulsively
And in the game I lost you, what a price to pay!
Realizing that the consequences of the mistake were severe and costly
I'm cryin', ooh baby baby ooh baby baby
Feeling emotional and expressing a desire to regain what was lost
Mistakes I know I've made a few,
Acknowledging personal faults and shortcomings
But I'm only human; you've made mistakes too!
Recognizing that others are also capable of making mistakes
Ooh baby baby
Expressing a strong desire for reconciliation
Ooh baby baby I'm just about at the end of my rope.
Feeling overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted
But I can't stop tryin', I can't give up hope
Persevering despite the difficulties and challenges
'cause I feel someday I'll hold you near,
Holding onto the hope that things will get better and there will be a reunion
Whisper I still love you
Expressing a deep and sincere affection for the other person
Until that day is here ooh I'm cryin'.
Enduring the pain and sadness of the current situation, while hoping for a brighter future
Ooh baby baby ooh baby baby
Repeating the desire for reconciliation and expressing feelings of love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SMOKEY ROBINSON, WARREN MOORE, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Debra Tookes-Smith
Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful!
I can never "EVER" get tired of hearring this song!
I am 62 years old and have been playing this song ever since I was 22 years old..
I play it while jogging, cleaning the house, during my parties or at cookouts while riding on the Amtrack Trains or Airplanes!
Suit every Occasion except Christmas!
Quentin Everett Miles gave me this LP and I have been playing it ever since!
Another great song on this LP was a song called:
"The boy is doing it" Check it out!
Hugh Masekela was a great
Musician!
May he rest in peace!
Tracey Colvin
I absolutely love this rendition. I've heard so many people sing the song, but this is at the top of my list. Glad I came across this song!!
Chef Stephanie
Absolutely love this rendition Smokey did his thang BUT THIS I listen to over and over a FAV
mario perez
Back again this is my favorite rendition. Never get tired of listening to the man.
Butterlv
I haven't heard this in yrs and it still sounds GREAT!!!
Debra Tookes-Smith
Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful!
I can never "EVER" get tired of hearring this song!
I am 62 years old and have been playing this song ever since I was 22 years old..
I play it while jogging, cleaning the house, during my parties or at cookouts while riding on the Amtrack Trains or Airplanes!
Suit every Occasion except Christmas!
Quentin Everett Miles gave me this LP and I have been playing it ever since!
Another great song on this LP was a song called:
"The boy is doing it" Check it out!
Hugh Masekela was a great
Musician!
May he rest in peace!
nancy carey
Open up your soul and listen, what a beautiful rendition
Twilightblue7
This joint came out in the 90's on the UPTOWNSHIP album. For years I've been looking for that LP in CD-format (or get it stream from one of the big online companies) but with no luck so I just have to settle listening to it with all "snap, crackle & pops" from the vinyl version I have. Anyway, yeah, this cut right here is great to add into any slow-jam collection.
chboguechitto
This is hard to fine stuff. Just love this rendition. It's 2 o'clock in the morning and this sounds so good. Makes me want to get a fifth of henessey like I use to years ago. Thanks a lot for posting this. Thought I would never hear it again.
Amber Henson
Ppp
The Pertinent Influence
im proudly South African right now omg Hugh you killed it!!!!!😢😢😢Im crying!!