Signed to XL Recordings, they released the Oya EP in June 2014 which also includes the song River. Mama says was released in November, extracted from their eponymous Richard Russell produced album launched in February 16th, 2015. A third song from "Ibeyi", Ghosts, was promoted in January 2015 before they embarked on an extensive European and US Tour.
http://www.ibeyi.fr
Behind the Curtain
Ibeyi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out of my life for good
Have you gone behind the curtain?
Be I so far, or very near, my baby just have no fear
Leaving me uncertain, I am here
Where are you now? My man, my father
Have you gone behind the curtain?
Be I so far, or very near, my baby just have no fear
Leaving me uncertain, I am here
We know to our fright, and delight
That the stars will still shine in the night
That's how you'll last for me all night
Forever in shadows, yet bright
Dear audience, sweet spectator
We're together for good
Or til I lose favour
Have you gone behind the curtain?
Be I so far, or very near, my baby just have no fear
Leaving me uncertain, I am here
Have you gone behind the curtain?
Be I so far, or very near, my baby just have no fear
I am here
Ago Inle ago, ago Inle ago
Ago Inle ago ya, ago Inle ago ya
Ago Moyuba lorisha Moyuba o Moyuba lorisha
Ago Moyuba lorisha Moyuba o Moyuba lorisha
Ago Moyuba lorisha Moyuba o Moyuba lorisha
Ago Moyuba lorisha Moyuba o Moyuba lorisha
Ago Inle ago, ago Inle ago
Ago Inle ago ya, ago Inle ago ya
Ago Inle ago, ago Inle ago
Ago Inle ago ya, ago Inle ago ya
The song "Behind the Curtain" by Ibeyi seems to be a mournful chant for a lover or a father who has left the singer behind. At the beginning of the song, she addresses the person who has left her, asking where they are now and if they have "gone behind the curtain." The phrase "behind the curtain" might represent death or a distance that severs their connection. The singer feels uncertain and abandoned without the person she loved, which reflects in her repeated inquiry about their whereabouts.
As the song progresses, the singer accepts the fact that the other person might not come back, and she must continue with her life alone. She sings to the audience, perhaps as a performer, that the stars still shine in the night, signifying hope and resilience. The song ends with the repeated chorus where she invokes the spirits of her ancestors from the Yoruba religion. She chants "Ago Inle ago" and "Moyuba lorisha," which are some of the verses used in Yoruba spiritual practices to give homage to their gods and ancestors.
Overall, "Behind the Curtain" speaks about love, loss, and acceptance, and the chorus with spiritual incantations adds a touch of mystical and sacredness to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Where are you now? My man, my suitor
The singer is asking the whereabouts of a person who she had a romantic interest in.
Out of my life for good
The person is no longer a part of the singer's life.
Have you gone behind the curtain?
The singer is asking if the person has disappeared from her life and is now out of reach or difficult to find.
Be I so far, or very near, my baby just have no fear
The artist comforts herself by saying that the person she is looking for is still present in some way, even if not physically close to her.
Leaving me uncertain, I am here
The artist is feeling unsure and anxious about the situation, but she is still present and dealing with it.
Where are you now? My man, my father
The singer is asking about the whereabouts of a person who is both her love interest and her father.
Far from my life for good, or in your ivory tower
The person is either gone from the singer's life forever or living a privileged and isolated life.
We know to our fright, and delight
The artist acknowledges that life can be both scary and wonderful.
That the stars will still shine in the night
The natural world and its beauty continue to exist despite human struggles and challenges.
That's how you'll last for me all night
The person the artist is looking for will always exist in her mind and memories, much like the stars in the night sky.
Forever in shadows, yet bright
The person is gone from the singer's life, but their presence is still felt and remembered.
Dear audience, sweet spectator
The artist is addressing the listener or the audience in a theatrical manner.
We're together for good
The singer is assuring the listener that they are in this together for the long haul.
Or til I lose favour
The singer qualifies her previous statement by saying that their time together may be limited, depending on how long the listener remains interested.
Ago Inle ago, ago Inle ago
These lines are likely a chant or a prayer in a language unfamiliar to most English-speakers.
Ago Inle ago ya, ago Inle ago ya
These lines are likely a continuation of the chanting or prayer in the previous line.
Ago Moyuba lorisha Moyuba o Moyuba lorisha
These lines are likely a ritual in honor of a deity, ancestor, or spirit.
Ago Inle ago, ago Inle ago
These lines are likely a continuation of the chanting or prayer in the previous line.
Ago Inle ago ya, ago Inle ago ya
These lines are likely a continuation of the chanting or prayer in the previous line.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ERIC STERLING COLLINS, LISA KAINDE DIAZ, NAOMI DIAZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind