Take My Heart Away
Johnny Clegg Savuka Lyrics

Take my heart away
The singer is asking for their heart to be taken away, likely because they are overwhelmed and seeking a release.

To be the sound of wild geese calling
The singer wishes to be a natural force, like the sound of wild geese, which evokes feelings of freedom and unity.

To be ten seasons in a night
The singer wishes to experience an abundance of life and emotion in a single moment, symbolized by ten seasons condensed into one night.

To dance the sun beyond the tides of war and peace
The artist wishes to transcend the conflicts and struggles of humanity, and move towards a brighter future symbolized by 'dancing the sun beyond' them.

To put silence stained by crimes to flight
The artist wishes to end the cycle of violence and injustice that has been perpetrated in the silence of secrecy, and bring it to the light.

I need to heart-break-loose-the wind
The singer needs to experience a cathartic release of emotion, symbolized by breaking loose the wind, a powerful natural force.

Dedela umoya wami, baba
This phrase is a Zulu expression for 'break my heart', with 'umoya wami' meaning 'my spirit' or 'my breath'.

To see your eyes shine like two desert stars
The artist wishes to witness the shining eyes of another person, symbolized by the distant light of two desert stars.

To see life burning with a mission
The artist wishes to see passionate purpose in life, leading to a figurative 'burning' of motivation and inspiration.

To break the empty circle of living and dying
The artist wishes to break free from the cyclical nature of mundane existence and seek something more meaningful.

To leave a child with a vision
The singer wishes to impart a sense of hope and purpose to future generations, symbolized by leaving a child with a vision for the future.

Sing me the songs that won the battle
The artist wants to hear about stories of triumph against adversity, represented by songs that won battles.

Sing me the first and the last man's glory
The singer wishes to hear tales of great human achievement, from the beginning of human existence to the present day.

Sing me the songs that taste of freedom
The singer wants to hear songs that embody the feeling of freedom and liberation from whatever trials they may be facing.

Thread me through with your sacred needle
The singer wishes to be imbued with the spiritual essence and energy of another person, represented by sewing them together with a 'sacred needle'.

Liyeza, liyeza (take my heart away)
Repetition of the phrase 'liyeza', a Zulu expression for 'come quickly', reinforces the artist's desire for action and release.

Liyeza ilanga lami seliyeza
This phrase translates to 'The sun is setting, my sun is setting', representing the fleeting nature of time and the artist's sense of urgency.

Take my heart away (heart-break-loose-the wind)
Repetition of the chorus ties back to the singer's need for catharsis and release, expressed earlier in the song through the phrase 'heart-break-loose-the wind'

Take my heart away
The song ends with a final plea to take the singer's heart away, indicating a desire to shed their burdens and find peace.