Already in his youth, Johnny Clegg, a white, English-speaking person with what he called a "secular Jewish" upbringing in the UK, Israel, Rhodesia, Zambia, and South Africa, became interested in Zulu street music and took part in traditional Zulu dance competitions.
As a young man, in the early stages of his musical career, he combined his music with the study of anthropology, a subject which he also taught for a while at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, where he was influenced, among others, by the work of David Webster, a social anthropologist who was assassinated in 1989.
Clegg formed the first inter-racial South African band, Juluka, with gardener and Zulu street musician Sipho Mchunu. Because it was illegal for inter-racial bands to perform in South Africa during apartheid, their first album Universal Men received no air play, but it became a word-of-mouth hit.
Juluka's / Clegg's music was both implicitly and explicitly political: not only was the fact of the success of the band (which openly celebrated African culture in a non-racial band) a thorn in the flesh of a political system based on racial separation; the band also produced some explicitly political songs. For example, the album "Work for all" (which includes a song with the same title) picked up on South African trade union slogans in the mid-80's. Even more explicit was the (later) Savuka album "Third World Child" in 1987, with songs like "Asimbonanga", which called for the release of Nelson Mandela, and which called out the names of three representative martyrs of the South African liberation struggle: Steve Biko, Victoria Mxenge, and Neil Aggett.
The following albums "Shadow Man" (which sold 250 000 copies within a week after it's release went on to sell more than 1 000 000 copies in France alone)[1], and "Cruel Crazy, Beautiful World" were dealing with more romantic topics, including "Cruel Crazy Beautiful World", where a father gives a message to his son, "Dela" where the very essence of love is explored, and more politically focused songs, such as "Warsaw 1943" and "One (Hu)'man one vote" which go back to political messages. The blend of topics is somehow confusing at first but gives an idea of the creative process underlying it, while the music and lyrics retain all the talent of the singer and his band. "Third World Child" and "Shadow Man" occupied 1st and 2nd position respectively in France and became the most successful foreign band in France and "Shadow Man" topped the charts in Montreaux, Canada.[2] During the prime of the band in 1988 Michael Jackson had to cancel his show as he attracted fewer audience as compared to Johnny Clegg and Savuka.[3] Their last album "Heat Dust and Dream" was nominated for a Grammy Award for best album in the category of World Music.[4]
Juluka were able to tour in Europe, and had two platinum and five gold albums, becoming an international success. Juluka was disbanded in 1986, when Mchunu was asked by his father to return home and herd the family goats, although Mchunu made some solo recordings afterwards. Clegg went on to form his second inter-racial band, Savuka, continuing to blend African music with European, especially Celtic, influences.
Briefly reunited with Mchunu in the mid-90's, Clegg reformed Juluka and toured throughout the world as the opening act for King Sunny Ade, as well as headliner performances.
The name Juluka is based on the Zulu word for "sweat", and Savuka is based on the Zulu word for "we have risen" or "we have awakened".
Clegg and his band often make an international tour during May-August (South African winter). However, the tours are usually limited to France and surrounding countries. In June 2004, the Johnny Clegg Band toured North America for the first time in over eight years, doing 22 concerts in one month. Even though they had no albums for sale in North America during those eight years, and no significant media coverage, they filled most of their venues. At the close of the final concert at the Keswick Theater in Philadelphia, Clegg stated that he was amazed at the reception they had gotten, and promised to return the following year with a full band. He then thanked his Internet fans for their support.
The band returned to North America in July 2005, with dates booked throughout the U.S. and Canada. Clegg's new album One Life was remixed at Real World Studios in Bath, England, and released on October 30th, 2006 in the UK.
In 2004 he was voted 23rd in the SABC3's Great South Africans.
Digging For Some Words
Johnny Clegg & Juluka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will this be the end of the rain and the birds?
Who can send an emissary to speak to the seasons?
For the ravens and the crows already soak up the skies
I'm digging for some words beneath the stones in Zimbabwe
I'm searching for a drum song in the jungles of Zaire
I'm groping for the blood-moon in the mountains of Malawi
The settling dusk is darkened by the bark of the baboon
The frogs and the owls no longer call to the moon
The warlords have gathered, blue smoke hiss from teeth of chrome
And the baobab trembles in the boiling blood-loam
The fireplace is broken and the grinding stone too
It's million pieces flung across the plains of Africa
It's dusty fragments, a seed from which grows
The memory of a debt that only you and I will know
Wanderers and nomads have gone to see their chieftains
Will this be the end of the rain and the birds?
Who can send an emissary to speak to the seasons?
For the ravens and the crows already soak up the skies
Seven seasoned soldiers have been summoned from Saigon
A craven walkie talkie puts their bloodshot armor on
Some drink beer, milk, some drink kinky-kola
Sheep dogs live in Outeniqua
Gun dogs in Angola
Flames lick the corners of each hungry horseman's smile
They have locusts in their scabbards and deserts in their eyes
Passing through the air they leave a sea of fetid rumors
As they ride across the skyline on a secret trail of lies
Wanderers and nomads have gone to see their chieftains
Will this be the end of the rain and the birds?
Who can send an emissary to speak to the seasons?
For the ravens and the crows already soak up the skies
I found some words beneath stones in Zimbabwe
I heard a distant drum song in the jungles of Zaire
The blood-moon spoke of war in the mountains of Malawi
But I never found the Lion of Ethiopia
Wanderers and nomads have gone to see their chieftains
Will this be the end of the rain and the birds?
Who can send an emissary to speak to the seasons?
For the ravens and the crows already soak up the skies
The lyrics of Johnny Clegg & Juluka's "Digging For Some Words" paint a picture of a world in turmoil, where ancient customs clash with modernization and war is ever-looming. The first two stanzas describe a situation where people seem to be at the mercy of nature, wondering if the rain and the birds will ever return. The singer searches for meaning and guidance in ancient cultures and symbols, such as drum songs, blood-moons, and lions, hoping to find a path through the chaos of the modern world.
The next stanzas describe a violent world where warlords and soldiers roam, carrying both physical and psychological scars. The image of the fireplace and the grinding stone, both broken and scattered, represents the loss of traditional values and ways of life. Yet even amidst the destruction and despair, the singer finds a glimmer of hope, returning to the imagery of the wanderers and nomads seeking their chieftains, and asking who can send an emissary to speak to the seasons.
Line by Line Meaning
Wanderers and nomads have gone to see their chieftains
Travelers and people who don't have a permanent home have gone to seek guidance from their leaders.
Will this be the end of the rain and the birds?
Is this the beginning of bad times where nature will suffer?
Who can send an emissary to speak to the seasons?
Who has the power to communicate with nature about what should happen next?
For the ravens and the crows already soak up the skies
The signs of a bad season are already appearing.
I'm digging for some words beneath the stones in Zimbabwe
I am actively searching for something meaningful in a place where it is difficult to find.
I'm searching for a drum song in the jungles of Zaire
I'm on the lookout for something special, something that will fill my soul.
I'm groping for the blood-moon in the mountains of Malawi
I want to uncover the secrets of the mysterious and ominous blood-moon.
Looking for the Lion of Ethiopia
I'm searching for a symbol of strength and courage to guide me.
The settling dusk is darkened by the bark of the baboon
The nightly calmness is spoiled by the baboon's call, signaling possible danger.
The frogs and the owls no longer call to the moon
The animals are not behaving normally, which is a sign of trouble.
The warlords have gathered, blue smoke hiss from teeth of chrome
The powerful people who can affect the situation are now together, and there's a lot of tension and danger in the air.
And the baobab trembles in the boiling blood-loam
Even the strong and sturdy baobab tree, a symbol of resilience, can't withstand the pressure of the situation.
The fireplace is broken and the grinding stone too
The normally comforting things are also broken, adding to the sense of despair.
It's million pieces flung across the plains of Africa
The broken pieces are scattered far and wide, making them hard to gather and repair.
It's dusty fragments, a seed from which grows
From the scattered and broken pieces, something new and possibly hopeful can grow.
The memory of a debt that only you and I will know
There's a shared burden that only a few people know about and must work together to address.
Seven seasoned soldiers have been summoned from Saigon
Experienced warriors have been brought in to help fight the danger.
A craven walkie talkie puts their bloodshot armor on
A cowardly device is what helps protect the warriors in this battle.
Some drink beer, milk, some drink kinky-kola
Everyone's using their preferred method for strength and comfort during the difficult time.
Sheep dogs live in Outeniqua
Life continues on, even with the danger and uncertainty of the situation.
Gun dogs in Angola
People are prepared for battle and conflict, despite the risk to their lives.
Flames lick the corners of each hungry horseman's smile
The situation is so dire that the people fighting become obsessed with danger and death.
They have locusts in their scabbards and deserts in their eyes
The soldiers are prepared to face immense challenges and danger.
Passing through the air they leave a sea of fetid rumors
The fear and anxiety they bring with them is spreading like a plague.
As they ride across the skyline on a secret trail of lies
They're deceiving the people and keeping their true intentions hidden.
I found some words beneath stones in Zimbabwe
I was able to uncover something meaningful in a difficult place.
I heard a distant drum song in the jungles of Zaire
I was able to find something special that lifted my spirits.
The blood-moon spoke of war in the mountains of Malawi
The ominous blood-moon is warning of impending danger.
But I never found the Lion of Ethiopia
Despite my search, I couldn't find the symbol of strength and courage I was looking for.
Lyrics © RHYTHM SAFARI PTY LTD, Downtown Music Publishing, O/B/O CAPASSO
Written by: JONATHAN PAUL CLEGG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ivanstrydom9949
Luv this song!
@restioson6787
Really one of his best. Great harmony in the singing.
@skinnynoris353
Moves me