“I’m what I call ‘rock ‘n’ love’”, she tells Reuters Africa Journal when asked how she herself would categorize her music. “It’s not rock ‘n’ roll because I don’t go silly drinking or taking drugs, but I’m really rock, so I’m ‘rock ‘n’ love’.”
Inna Modja released her debut album, “Everyday is a new world” in France in October 2009 and her first video, “Mr. H”, shows all the hallmarks of a pop princess and has enjoyed a lot of play on French TV stations.
Born in Mali, she lived in Nigeria, Togo and the USA with her diplomat parents before making Paris her home when she was 18. “I like my life in Paris,” she says. “I love my friends, people close to me – my daily life is very important to me. But in Bamako I have my family – this big town full of energy. I love the market and I love to walk along the banks of the river Niger.” Legendary world musician Salif Keita is one of her mentors. Inna Modja sang back-up for his band, the “Bamako Rail Band” before she decided to go solo.
In spite of the close ties that she maintains to her home country, Modja’s music is definitely a departure from what we usually think of as World Music or “African sound”. But then, what is African sound? And should upcoming African musicians like Inna Modja embrace influences from all over the world; or should they be ambassadors of their own musical heritage?
Bamako, Mali
Please Dad
Inna Modja Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please dad, don’t walk away from me
I can’t breathe and my soul is dying
Life is so unfair when you’re not by my side
And I feel so cold,
Nothing’s gonna bring you back
Cause you crave this home,
And I feel alone,
Nothing’s gonna bring you back,
Cause you crave this home,
Until you get to paradise, to paradise.
Your body is frozen and my life is falling,
Please dad, promise you be back again,
I can’t sleep and my tears aren’t drying,
I can’t wait to see you on the other side,
And I feel so cold,
Nothing’s gonna bring you back
Cause you crave this home,
Until you get to paradise
And I feel alone,
Nothing’s gonna bring you back,
Cause you crave this home,
Until you get to paradise
Please mama please,
Don’t fall apart,
Please mama please,
He wouldn’t want us to cry,
And I love you,
I love you mama, I love you
I love you, he wouldn’t want us to cry,
And I feel so cold,
Nothing’s gonna bring you back
Cause you crave this home,
Until you get to paradise
And I feel alone,
Nothing’s gonna bring you back,
Cause you crave this home,
Until you get to paradise, to paradise.
To paradise, to paradise…
The song "Please Dad" by Inna Modja is a deeply emotional and heartfelt tribute to a father who has passed away. The lyrics express the singer's profound pain and sense of loss at the death of her father. The opening lines set the tone: "My heart is broken and my eyes are crying, Please dad, don’t walk away from me." The singer is begging her father not to leave her alone in her grief. She feels like her soul is dying and that life is unfair without him. She longs for his presence and support, but knows that he is gone for good. The chorus repeats the refrain, "Nothing’s gonna bring you back, Cause you crave this home, Until you get to paradise." The singer resigns herself to the fact that her father is gone and can never return, but she still feels the ache of his absence.
The second verse continues the theme of loss, with the lines "Your body is frozen and my life is falling, Please dad, promise you be back again." The singer is imagining her father's body in the grave and feeling overwhelmed by the weight of his absence. She can't sleep and her tears won't dry, but she still hopes to see him again on the other side. The chorus repeats the same sentiments as before, underscoring the inevitability of death and the hope that the departed have found peace in the afterlife.
The final verse introduces the singer's mother, who is also grieving. The singer addresses her directly, asking her not to fall apart and reminding her that her father would not want them to cry. The song ends with a final repetition of the chorus, bringing the themes of love, loss, and longing full circle.
Overall, "Please Dad" is a poignant and moving tribute to a loved one who has passed away. The lyrics capture the pain and sorrow of bereavement, as well as the hope and faith that the dead have found a better place. Inna Modja's heartfelt vocals give the song an added layer of emotion, making it a powerful tribute to a father who is dearly missed.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart is broken and my eyes are crying
I am emotionally hurt and feeling immense pain, as reflected through my tears.
Please dad, don’t walk away from me
I'm pleading with my father not to leave me alone in this difficult time.
I can’t breathe and my soul is dying
My grief is affecting me to an extent where the very essence of my being feels crushed.
Life is so unfair when you’re not by my side
I am struggling to navigate through life without the support and comfort of my father.
And I feel so cold,
My emotions are making me feel distant and disconnected from myself and the world around me.
Nothing’s gonna bring you back
I cannot bring my father back to life, no matter how much I wish to do so.
Cause you crave this home,
My father is no longer with us on this earth and is yearning to reach the afterlife.
Until you get to paradise
My father will only find peace and rest once he reaches heaven or the afterlife.
And I feel alone,
Despite having people around me, I feel like I am struggling alone with my grief and pain.
Your body is frozen and my life is falling,
I am mourning my father's physical death, which has left me devastated and lost in my own life.
Please dad, promise you be back again,
I am hoping that my father will come back to us someday, even though I know it's impossible.
I can’t sleep and my tears aren’t drying,
My grief is causing me insomnia and no matter how much I cry, my tears won't stop flowing.
I can’t wait to see you on the other side,
I am eagerly waiting for the time when we will reunite in the afterlife or heaven.
Please mama please,
I am addressing my mother, begging her to stay strong for our family in this hard time.
Don’t fall apart,
I don't want my mother to lose hope or fall apart in her own grief and pain.
He wouldn’t want us to cry,
I believe my father would want us to find strength and comfort, rather than dwell in sadness and despair.
And I love you,
I am expressing my love to my mother, offering her my support and emotional backing.
To paradise, to paradise…
My father's journey to the afterlife has begun and I am acknowledging it through the repetition of the word 'paradise.'
Writer(s): Fanta Bocoum, Loic le Devehat Copyright: Warner Chappell Music France Sa
Contributed by Lila Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.