Are You Ready
Johnny Clegg Savuka Lyrics


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I feel a river in flood in my veins
I can feel your love in my brain
It wants to dance my life
Through a hurricane (Dance the mamba)
Dance the mamba
Across the Oshakati plain

Are you ready
Are you ready
Are you ready
Are you ready
Are you ready
Are you ready (Dance the mamba)
Are you ready
Are you ready (Dance the mamba)

I need to sail away, escape my cage
I can see the sky and the Milky Way
Come be my lover tonight, show me the wisdom of life
Dance the mamba
Across the Oshakati night

Are you ready
Are you ready
Are you ready
Are you ready
Are you ready
Are you ready (Dance the mamba)
Are you ready
Are you ready (Dance the mamba)

Are you ready
Are you ready (Holding the mamba)
Are you ready
Are you ready (Holding the mamba)

Are you ready
Are you ready (Dance the mamba)
Are you ready
Are you ready (Dance the mamba)
Are you ready
Are you ready




Are you ready
Are you ready (Dance the mamba)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Johnny Clegg and Savuka's song "Are You Ready?" evoke a sense of escape and a desire to dance through life's challenges. The opening line, "I feel a river in flood in my veins," suggests a sense of vitality and energy, while the line "It wants to dance my life through a hurricane" speaks to the idea of dancing through difficult times. The repetition of the question "Are you ready?" suggests a call to action for the listener to join in and embrace life fully.


The chorus, which encourages the listener to "dance the mamba," is a reference to a fast-paced dance originating from the Congo region. The mamba was known for its energetic movements and was popularized in the 1980s. The reference to dancing across the Oshakati plain and night suggests a connection to the landscape and culture of southern Africa.


The second verse speaks to the idea of seeking freedom and escaping one's current circumstances. The line "I need to sail away, escape my cage" suggests a desire for change and growth, while the idea of seeking wisdom from a lover speaks to the power of connection and love in personal growth.


Line by Line Meaning

I feel a river in flood in my veins
I experience intense emotions that run through my veins.


I can feel your love in my brain
The love I receive affects me deeply and is constantly on my mind.


It wants to dance my life
My love wants me to live my life as joyfully and exuberantly as possible.


Through a hurricane (Dance the mamba)
Even during difficult times, my love encourages me to keep dancing—the mamba, a celebratory dance, in this case.


Dance the mamba
Be joyful and celebrate life with the mamba dance.


Across the Oshakati plain
In the region of Oshakati, Namibia, where Johnny Clegg spent several years, people dance this lively dance to celebrate life and connect with one another.


Are you ready
Are you willing and prepared to step into this joyful, celebratory mindset and embrace life with enthusiasm?


I need to sail away, escape my cage
I desire to break free from confinement or restrictions and explore new horizons.


I can see the sky and the Milky Way
My desire to escape and explore is driven by a longing to experience the vastness and beauty of the world beyond what I currently know.


Come be my lover tonight, show me the wisdom of life
Join me on this journey of exploration and learning about the world and ourselves.


Are you ready (Holding the mamba)
Are you prepared to immerse yourself in the magic of the mamba dance and connect with others through celebration and joy?


Are you ready (Dance the mamba)
Are you ready to let go of your inhibitions and celebrate life to the fullest with the mamba dance?




Lyrics © RHYTHM SAFARI PTY LTD, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JONATHAN PAUL CLEGG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@juansalesdura9589

Lyrics

Hawu! bheka mama! oye!
Hamb’ugadile! (be alert and be on guard)
Hawu! bheka mama! oye!
Hamb’ugadile!
I feel a river in flood in my veins
I can feel your love in my brain
It wants to dance my life
Through a hurricane
Dance the mamba across
The Oshakati plain

Hamb’ugadile mntanami! (be alert and be on guard my child)
The world has crocodile eyes
And if you dance
The Oshakati mamba
Remember to cross yourself twice

Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?

Hawu! bheka mama! oye!
Hamb’ugadile! (be alert and be on guard)
Hawu! bheka mama! oye!
Hamb’ugadile!
I need to sail away, escape this cage
I can see the sky and the milky way
Be my lover tonight, show me the wisdom of life
Dance the mamba, across the Oshakati night

Hamb’ugadile mntanami! (be alert and be on guard my child)
The world has crocodile eyes
And if you dance
The Oshakati mamba
Remember to cross yourself twice

Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
And if you dance
The Oshakati mamba
You’ll be dancing on desert air
Like a seagull searching for the ocean
Like a lover playing solitaire

Hamb’ugadile mntanami! (be alert and be on guard my child)
The world has crocodile eyes
And if you dance
The Oshakati mamba
Remember to cross yourself twice

Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Hamb’ugadile mntanami! (be alert and be on guard my child)
The world has crocodile eyes
And if you dance the
Oshakati mamba
Remember to cross yourself twice

Are you ready?
Are you ready?
...



All comments from YouTube:

@mrgakozak

A man of impeccable character, a talent for all ages, an immortal soul. Imagine the music he's making now. God must be smiling from ear to ear.

@tablarasa3862

Johnny was a genius !...No one has succeeded like him, in marrying the Anglo-saxon pop style with African melodies.

@claudedubois7011

Quel bonheur de rendre hommage à ce magnifique titre et à Johnny Clegg et Savuka ! Amina et sa cassette l'été 1987 en Colo, tout ça en boucle évidemment ! Retrouvé en CD quelques années plus tard, c'est je crois, l'album de ma vie.
Hommage à vous, Johnny Clegg, et à chacun des membres de Savuka.
🏆💐🍀💐🏆💐🍀💐🏆

@krzysztofwasilewski2266

Johnny will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace the Great Heart of Africa.

@seawhy9787

Nostalgia. RIP Johnny. I was a lil kid when I heard your songs and loved them. RIP

@ddgratobancodamien2252

J'aimais bien Johnny Clegg. En plus d'avoir du talent il a eu le courage de se porter défenseur de la contre-arpatheid. Tel John Steinbeck aux Etats-Unis qui fut le défenseur de l'amérique profonde du début du 20ème siècle.

@shayfarley7253

We had this on vinyl when I was a kid. Used to crank it and dance round on the deck all weekend :)

@arcajazz

Can't stop listening. R.i.p. JC.

Used to have this on tape. Good times.

@yekullukey

The Great Heart...RIP Mr Clegg.

@judicaelstreeter7713

RIP Mr Clegg🤲

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