The Promise
Johnny Clegg & Savuka Lyrics

Electric chair didn't burn a hair
The execution process of the convict did not burn any part of his body in the electric chair.

And the newspaperman asked why
Curiosity prompted the journalist to question why the prisoner did not suffer burns from the electric chair.

And while the warden explain in great detail
The prison official elaborated on how the execution process works to the journalist.

The newsman looked in the sky
The journalist gazed upward while the warden explained the situation.

"i'm sure!", he said, "if you look a little deeper
The journalist suggested that if one looked further into the prisoner's life, one might understand why he chose to commit his crime.

For something in his life
There may have been a significant event or factor in the criminal's life that led up to his actions.

We could understand the reason why
A deeper understanding of his motivations would clarify why he committed his crime.

He reached out for a knife."
Perhaps due to circumstances or experiences in his life, he resorted to using a knife as a weapon.

Oooh! what happened to the promise?
The song questions what happened to a promised concept or idea.

Oooh! what happened to the one we knew?
The song asks what happened to a familiar person or group that was once known well.

So, onto a train the newspaperman rode
The curious journalist boarded a train to investigate further.

Down to the southern lands
The journalist traveled to the southern regions to uncover more information.

To find out about a child long gone
The journalist sought to learn about a missing child.

Turned into a lightning man."
The missing child had transformed or become a mysterious figure known as the 'lightning man'.

some of them make it through", she said
According to someone the journalist spoke to, some individuals overcome challenges and succeed.

"some of them never do, and one of them
In contrast, some people do not overcome their obstacles.

Got lost in time -- that child of mine
The person being referred to is their own child who is now lost or missing with the passage of time.

Oh, I loved that child of mine!"
The singer is expressing the feeling of deep affection and caring they had for their lost child.

Arriving in a country town
The journalist arrived in a small, rural area.

With a notepad in his hand
The journalist was prepared to take notes while conducting interviews.

He spoke to the mother and the father
The journalist interviewed the parents of the missing child.

And a friend and a teacher and a preacher man
The journalist also spoke with close associates of the family, such as friends, teachers, and religious leaders.

They all recalled a regular boy chewing gum
The people the journalist spoke to knew the missing child as an ordinary, typical boy who often chewed gum.

And playing in the sand
The missing child also enjoyed playing in the sand or dirt.

Nothing could explain how he became
Despite knowing him as a usual child, nobody could explain how he became the mysterious figure known as the 'lightning man'.

A lonely lightning man
The 'lightning man' was described as being isolated and alone.

And when the coffin came
When the funeral procession began.

On the southbound train
The procession moved via train somewhere to the south.

And the old folks shuffled by
The elderly people slowly walked past the coffin.

The one they came to bury
The person whose funeral was taking place.

Was not very heavy, just a child lost in time
The body in the coffin was light because it belonged to a lost child who passed away.

What happens to the clear blue eye
The song poses a philosophical question, wondering about the fate of a clear blue eye (symbolizing innocence) when it enters a dangerous place such as a forest.

When it enters the forest?
The 'clear blue eye' (innocent person) enters a dangerous place (the forest) and may come to harm.

Does anybody know where the little one goes?
The song asks if anyone knows where babies or innocent individuals end up after facing danger or struggling in life.

What happens to the child in time?
The song continues its philosophical questioning regarding the fate of children over time.

-- some of them make it through
Like with the earlier lyric, some individuals overcome challenges and succeed.

-- some of them never do
On the other hand, some people do not overcome their obstacles, and may be lost or fall apart over time.

-- some of them are lost and saved
Lastly, some individuals may be lost or struggle for a time, only to later regain direction and be saved.

-- some of them find their way
Similarly, some people may become lost or directionless, but may eventually find a path for themselves.

Oooh -- hold on to the promise
The song encourages holding onto hope and faith in a promised future.

We're going to make it through my baby
The singer reassures a loved one (potentially a child) that they will make it through any difficulties together.

We're going to make it through my little darling
The singer repeats the same message to their loved one using a term of endearment.