In the United States songs performed by Johnny Clegg have appeared in three well-known feature films: "Scatterlings of Africa" in Rain Main, "Dela" in George of the Jungle, and "Life Is a Magic Thing" in the animated film Ferngully.
In My African Dream
Johnny Clegg and Savuka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something stole the promise from the light of dawn
People, people were everywhere struggling to get their share
Honest cruelty in the eyes of the innocent
Squeezing one more harvest from this tired earth
They call to you, but the wind just blows away their words
Didn't believe in miracles, didn't believe you'd come
Didn't see any reason to carry on
Chorus:
But in my african dream, you touched my face
Raised up my children and gave them grace
In my african dream you wiped away my tears
And whispered the promise of a thousand years
Children with eyes like souls ready to fly
Looking at me -- for some kind of sacred sign
Who will teach the young, the names of the ancient ones
Who will tell them from whence they come
I have no answer, don't even have a prayer
All I can do is close my eyes and hope that you will be thre
In my african dream you blessed the rain
Let me stand proud, eased the pain,
You raised me up,
Gave me love, filled my cup.
Old man sits in the shade of the thorn treee
He says "these thorns are all that are true
Life is suffering, suffering is life,
Be happy with the small things that come to you
They will come to you, come to you."
Chorus
The lyrics of Johnny Clegg and Savuka's song "In My African Dream" is a powerful portrayal of the condition of the African people. The opening lines, "Something broke the place where the rain is born, Something stole the promise from the light of dawn," sets a somber tone for the remainder of the song. The next lines speak of the struggles faced by these people, "People, people were everywhere, struggling to get their share, Honest cruelty in the eyes of the innocent." The song gives a commentary on the harsh realities of African life, the exploitation of its people, and the never-ending struggle to survive.
However, amidst all the turmoil and despair, there is a hopeful message in the song. The lyrics are an expression of faith in the future and hope for a better tomorrow. The chorus speaks of a dream where the African people's suffering is eased through an act of divine intervention. It talks about the unfailing love and grace of a higher power that wipes away the tears and promises a brighter future. The song speaks of the African people's resilience and their ability to find hope in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Something broke the place where the rain is born
Something disrupted the natural order of things where rain is formed
Something stole the promise from the light of dawn
Something robbed the hope and potential of a new day
People, people were everywhere struggling to get their share
The masses were present and fighting for what they believed was rightfully theirs
Honest cruelty in the eyes of the innocent
Even the pure and innocent could see the harsh reality of their circumstances
Squeezing one more harvest from this tired earth
Pushing the land beyond its limits to extract one more yield
They call to you, but the wind just blows away their words
Their cries for help are ignored and unheard
Didn't believe in miracles, didn't believe you'd come
There was little faith in the possibility of positive change
Didn't see any reason to carry on
There was no motivation or purpose to continue striving
Chorus: But in my african dream, you touched my face
Despite the bleakness of reality, there was hope and the possibility of divine intervention
Raised up my children and gave them grace
Through this intervention, there was the ability to positively impact future generations
In my african dream you wiped away my tears
There was healing and the easing of burdensome emotions
And whispered the promise of a thousand years
There was the assurance of a brighter future
Children with eyes like souls ready to fly
The youth were full of potential and longing for growth
Looking at me -- for some kind of sacred sign
Asking for guidance and direction toward a higher purpose
Who will teach the young, the names of the ancient ones
Wondering who will pass down important cultural knowledge
Who will tell them from whence they come
Wondering who will teach them about their history and origins
I have no answer, don't even have a prayer
Feeling helpless and uncertain about the future
All I can do is close my eyes and hope that you will be there
The only option is to have faith and trust in a higher power
In my african dream you blessed the rain
In this idealized reality, blessings are bestowed through natural means
Let me stand proud, eased the pain,
Empowering and uplifting, with a focus on healing
You raised me up, gave me love, filled my cup.
Providing nourishment and encouragement to move forward
Old man sits in the shade of the thorn tree
A wise elder observing the world
He says "these thorns are all that are true
Commenting on the harsh realities of life
Life is suffering, suffering is life,
Acknowledging the pain that comes with existence
Be happy with the small things that come to you
Encouraging gratitude for the little things in life
They will come to you, come to you."
Assuring that these small joys will eventually arrive
Lyrics © RHYTHM SAFARI PTY LTD, Downtown Music Publishing, O/B/O CAPASSO
Written by: Jonathan Paul Clegg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jenniferarmstrong4006
Love this song so much. R.I.P. Johnny, may your music fill the souls and give flight to the dreams of many generations to come. 😢❤🙏🏻
@isaackalfon444
I love this song
I shared it on Facebook
@juanantonioginzolopez-barc981
Rest un peace Johnny
@mzgizz
Rest now Johnny....................
@leroimorvan2845
Génialissime !
@Braktooth
LOVE this song.
@plasqar
masterclass
@ockieungerer6972
best song ever to come from sa
@rz4109
Great.
@rosebug5503
WHY IT SO FIRE?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?1?1?!/?!