Afro Lover
James (1) Lyrics

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Everybody wants to be happy
Everybody wants more money
Everybody wants more loving
Everybody wants the same things

I came across the border
Through the east and the west divide
The land between the trenches

Was patrolled by the deaf and the blind

The blind were shouting, ?Listen?
While the deaf said, ?Can't you see??
Somewhere deep in no man's land
The man has lost a key

I open up into this mystery
I have seen
I have seen
I have seen

There's centuries of fighting
So I brought myself a gun
The salesman called it freedom
So my enemy bought a bigger one

I'm saving up for a missile
That will shoot him up with love
Now his finger's on my button
And my hand is in his glove

I opened up into this mystery
Every key can lock you up or set you free
I believe that there is magic
In this mystery

I have seen
I have seen
I have seen

Everybody wants to be happy
Everybody wants more money
Everybody wants the same things

I have seen
I have seen
I have seen

I have seen
I have seen
I have seen

I have seen
I have seen
I have seen

I have seen

I have seen
I have seen

Overall Meaning

The song "Afro Lover" by James (1) is a meaningful commentary on the human condition, our inherent desires and the complexities of the world we live in. The opening lines, "Everybody wants to be happy, Everybody wants more money, Everybody wants more loving, Everybody wants the same things" serves as a reminder that despite our differences, we all desire similar things in life. The song also touches on the physical and metaphorical borders that divide us, and how these can be overcome.

The lines "I came across the border, Through the east and the west divide, The land between the trenches" suggest a journey, both physical and metaphorical. This journey takes the singer through a no man's land, where the blind and deaf patrol. The blind and deaf represent those who cannot see or hear each other's perspectives, leading to conflict and misunderstandings.

The song then takes on a more political message, as the singer buys a gun in response to centuries of fighting. The salesman calls it freedom, but the enemy buys a bigger one, leading to an arms race. The singer's response is to save up for a missile that will shoot the enemy with love, but their hand is in the enemy's glove, showing the cyclical nature of violence.

Overall, "Afro Lover" is a song about hope and the power of seeing beyond borders and barriers, both physical and ideological. It asks us to open up to the mystery of life and see the magic within it.

Line by Line Meaning

Everybody wants to be happy
The desire for happiness is universal

Everybody wants more money
The desire for financial stability is universal

Everybody wants more loving
The desire for love and affection is universal

Everybody wants the same things
Despite our differences, we all share common desires

I came across the border
The artist has immigrated to a new place

Through the east and the west divide
The singer has traveled across different cultures

The land between the trenches
The space between opposing forces

Was patrolled by the deaf and the blind
People were not able to see or hear past their own viewpoints

The blind were shouting, ?Listen?
Those who cannot see the other side are begging for understanding

While the deaf said, ?Can't you see??
Those who cannot hear the other side are frustrated with a lack of communication

Somewhere deep in no man's land
In a space where neither side can win

The man has lost a key
A crucial element has been lost or forgotten

I open up into this mystery
The singer is exploring something unknown

There's centuries of fighting
Conflict has existed for a long time

So I brought myself a gun
The singer has turned to violence

The salesman called it freedom
The artist was sold the idea that violence is liberation

So my enemy bought a bigger one
The cycle of violence escalates

I'm saving up for a missile
The singer is still seeking a violent solution

That will shoot him up with love
The singer's plan is to use force to impose their idea of love

Now his finger's on my button
The artist is at the mercy of their enemy

And my hand is in his glove
The artist is being controlled by their enemy

Every key can lock you up or set you free
Choices have consequences, positive or negative

I believe that there is magic
The singer sees hope beyond conflict

I have seen
The artist has witnessed the effects of violence

I have seen
The singer has experienced the universality of desire

I have seen
The singer has been exposed to different cultures and viewpoints

I have seen
The singer has hope for common ground and understanding

I have seen
The artist understands the weight of choices and their consequences

I have seen
The artist sees beyond the surface of conflict, looking for a way to move forward

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID JOHN BAYNTON-POWER, JAMES GLENNIE, MARK HUNTER, SAUL DAVIES, TIMOTHY BOOTH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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