Third World Child
Johnny Clegg / Savuka Lyrics
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Are all he could recall
So he spoke to me
In a bastard tongue
Carried on the silence of the guns
"it's been a long long time
Since they first came
They taught us to forget our past
And live the future in their image"
Chorus
They said
'you should learn to speak a little bit of english
Don't be scared of a suit and tie.
Learn to walk in the dreams of the foreigner
-- I am a third world child
The outworld's dreams are the currency
That grip the city streets
I live them out
But I have my own
Hidden somewhere deep inside of me
In between my father's fields
And the citadels of the rule
Lies a no-man's land which I must cross
To find my stolen jewel.
They said
'you should learn to speak a little bit of english
Maybe practise birth control
Keep away from controversial politics
So to save my third world soul
Chorus
They said
'you should learn to speak a little bit of english
Don't be scared of a suit and tie.
Learn to walk in the dreams of the foreigner
-- I am a third world child
Wo! ilanga lobunzima
Nalo liyashona
Ukuthini asazi
Mus' ukukhala
Mntanami
(oh! we don't know when this sun of hardship will set.
Don't cry, my child.)
Bits of songs and broken drums
Are all he could recall
But the future calls his name
Out loud
Carried on the violence of the guns
The lyrics of Johnny Clegg & Savuka's song "Third World Child" convey the sense of loss and confusion experienced by individuals living in the Third World who have been influenced by Western imperialism. The song starts with the image of bits of songs and broken drums as all the main character can remember, which represents the loss of tradition and culture. He speaks with the singer but in a “bastard tongue,” an English that has been influenced by his native language, emphasizing how the colonial experience has left them without access to their own language.
The chorus emphasizes the Western world’s influence on Third World cultures, advising them to learn English for communication, wear Western business attire, and walk in the dreams of foreigners. The singer reveals the harsh reality that the currency of the city streets is not the culture of his people's land but of the foreigners, though he has his own culture that he keeps hidden deep down within him. He speaks of the divide he must cross between his father's fields and the citadels of the rule to reach his "stolen jewel."
The verse's final three lines convey the ideas of hope and resilience, as the future calls his name out loud through all the violence wrought by guns. In general, the song emphasizes the ongoing struggle for independence and identity, affirming that Third World citizens are separate and distinct individuals who should not forget their own past to accommodate a foreign future.
Line by Line Meaning
Bits of songs and broken drums
All that's left in his mind are remnants of his lost culture - bits of songs and broken drums.
Are all he could recall
He barely remembers anything of his heritage, only bits of songs and broken drums.
So he spoke to me
Unable to fully express himself, he spoke in a sort of a 'bastard tongue' that wasn't really his own.
In a bastard tongue
A language hasn't felt like his own forever, he communicates in a shaky rendition composed of words he barely remembers.
Carried on the silence of the guns
Speaking softly, his words were barely audible over the sound of the silent guns.
It's been a long long time Since they first came And marched through our village
It's been many years since the foreign colonizers first showed up and took over his community.
They taught us to forget our past And live the future in their image
Now, his people are told to forget their history and to emulate the colonizers' way of life.
They said 'you should learn to speak a little bit of English
The message was clear - to advance, he must learn to speak the language of the people who took over their land.
Don't be scared of a suit and tie.
He must also adopt the mannerisms of his oppressors and assimilate to their social norms.
Learn to walk in the dreams of the foreigner
To succeed in this world, he must embrace the foreigner's hopes and aspirations as his own.
-- I am a third world child
However, no matter how much he assimilates, he'll always be a 'third world' child in the eyes of others.
The outworld's dreams are the currency That grip the city streets
The dreams of the outside world are what drive the economy, and they hold sway over the entire community.
I live them out But I have my own Hidden somewhere deep inside of me
Even though he tries to live out these dreams and adapt to this new world, he still has a sense of his inner self, buried deeply within him.
In between my father's fields And the citadels of the rule Lies a no-man's land which I must cross To find my stolen jewel.
Between his traditional way of life and the cities ruled by the people who stole his land, there's a space that he must traverse to reclaim what was taken from him.
Maybe practise birth control Keep away from controversial politics So to save my third world soul
To protect himself and his people in a world where their lives are not valued, he must control his body and stay away from anything too politically charged.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS, RHYTHM SAFARI PTY LTD
Written by: JONATHAN PAUL CLEGG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@herethereandelsewhere1941
One of the most powerful lyrics I ever heard. Lived in Reunion Island, South Africa for some time in my life...
Can't forget these years. Johnny Clegg was and still is a legend!!! RIP
@eddiegrondin4034
Phi Dep It has been very important in Réunion, to flight against Apartheid, there is a Stadium in Le Port whose Name is Nelson Mandela.
@eddiegrondin4034
I lived in Réunion too
@herethereandelsewhere1941
Oté! Coman il é? :D
@eddiegrondin4034
Phi Dep lé là où même quel côté où sorte?
@herethereandelsewhere1941
J'ai habité au Tampon de 90 à 96!
Pas retourné depuis, mais ça me manque;..
Je vis en Roumanie maintenant!
@esgood2020
They said I should:
‘Learn to speak, a little bit of English.
Don’t be scared of a suit and tie.
Learn to walk, in the dreams of the foreigner.’
I am a third world child.
@ThePeponie
Premier album que je me suis acheté à l'époque en cassette... Merci Mr Clegg reposez en paix
@duducheization
Même chose, Johnny Clegg passait en boucle dans ma famille, c'était en 88, j'avais 6 ans et je me chopais la K7 pour l'écouter. C'est le premier album que j'écoutais de moi-même.
@emilelilli817
1987 exactement.ma mère m avait offert l album