Juluka was a South African music band formed in 1969 by Johnny Clegg and Si… Read Full Bio ↴Juluka was a South African music band formed in 1969 by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. Juluka means "sweat" in Zulu, and was the name of a bull owned by Mchunu. The band was closely associated with the mass movement against apartheid.

At the age of 14, Clegg met Zulu street musician Charlie Mzila, who taught him Zulu music and dancing over the following two years. In 1969 Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu met in Johannesburg when young sipho went there to find work. The 18-year-old Mchunu challenged the 16-year-old Clegg to a guitar contest, and the two became friends. Soon, they were performing together on the streets and in what few other unofficial venues a multi-racial band could safely play in under apartheid. They were forced to keep a low profile and their success came from word of mouth instead of through traditional publicity. Clegg himself was arrested and beaten up by the police on several occasions for his activities and also for the band's lyrics. For some commentators, Juluka was the band that had the greatest success in challenging the racial separateness of Apartheid. When performing, both black and white band members would appear on stage in traditional Zulu dress and perform the traditional Zulu war dance together while singing in Zulu and English.[1]

In 1976, they released their debut single, "Woza Friday", followed three years later by a critically acclaimed album, Universal Men.[2] The album's poetic lyrics were strongly influenced by John Berger's A Seventh Man as well as Pablo Neruda and Jean-Paul Sartre.[citation needed] Expanding to a quintet, they released a second album, African Litany, in late 1981. The album's lead single, "Impi", with its pointedly political lyrics about a defeat of the colonial British army by the Zulus at the Battle of Isandlwana, was banned by South African radio but became an underground hit. In contemporary South Africa it is often associated with national sports teams. The album garnered them their first international attention, and they were able to successfully tour in Europe and North America in 1982 and 1983. However, in June 1983, the British music magazine, NME, reported that they were initially banned by the Musicians Union as, ..."since it would not be possible to approve one of our bands working in South Africa, there is no possibility of an exchange". The ban was eventually lifted, with the group donating their fees to charity.[3]

In South Africa, Juluka was also banned by Radio Bantu, a government approved radio station for the black population, which allegedly refused to play Juluka's music, because Clegg's efforts were seen as "an insult to the Zulu and their culture".[4]

The group disbanded in 1985 when Mchunu moved back to the farm where he was born in Natal to take care of his family. Clegg went on to form a new band, Savuka, with whom he achieved even greater international success. In 1997, however, the two friends came back for a final album together. It did not receive the critical acclaim of early Juluka albums like Universal Men, African Litany, Work for All and Scatterlings.

African Sky Blue
Juluka Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

African sky blue, your children wait for the dawn
African sky blue, soon a new day will be born
African sky blue
African sky blue, will you bless my life?

African sunshine, soon you will warm your children's eyes
The African river water will dance and leap in your morning light
African sunshine

African river water, will you bless my life?

Oh, will you bless my life?
Oh, will you bless my life?
Oh, will you bless my life?

What can I know?
What can I dream?
What can I hope?
What will the future bring?
You shine through me
But will you see me through?
African sky blue

African thunderstorm, your soldiers march through the air
The African rain will fall and wash away all my tears
African falling rain
African falling rain, will you bless my life?

Oh, will you bless my life?
Oh, will you bless my life?
Oh, will you bless my life?

The warrior's now a worker and his war is underground
With cordite in the darkness, he milks the bleeding veins of gold
When the smoking rock-face murmurs, he always thinks of you

African sky blue
Will you see him through?

Overall Meaning

The song "African Sky Blue" by Juluka is a poignant tribute to the beauty and resilience of Africa. The lyrics speak of the African sky, sun, river water, thunderstorms, and falling rain in a manner that exalts the natural elements of Africa. The song entreats these elements to bless the life of the singer and the people of Africa. The refrain "Oh, will you bless my life?" is repeated at the end of every verse to emphasize this plea.

The song's meaning intensifies in the verses that follow, where it shifts from praising the beauty of Africa to depicting the hardships that some Africans face. The lines "The warrior's now a worker and his war is underground / With cordite in the darkness, he milks the bleeding veins of gold / When the smoking rock-face murmurs, he always thinks of you / African sky blue / Will you see him through?" describe the plight of African miners who work in dangerous and exploitative conditions. By invoking the African sky, the song implies that even amid these struggles, Africans can still find solace and hope in their homeland's natural beauty.

Line by Line Meaning

African sky blue, your children wait for the dawn
The African sky has a blue color; it symbolizes a new beginning, bringing hope and opportunities. The people of Africa wait for the sun to rise and start a new day, hoping for a better future.

African sky blue, soon a new day will be born
The African sky will soon welcome the new day, bringing hope and change for the people of Africa. A new beginning is a chance to start afresh with better opportunities.

African sky blue
The African sky has a blue color that fills people with hope, symbolizing a new beginning that brings opportunities and a better future.

African sky blue, will you bless my life?
The African sky is a symbol of hope and optimism. The singer is asking the sky to bless their life, as they seek a better future and brighter opportunities.

African sunshine, soon you will warm your children's eyes
The African sun brings light and warmth, and the children of Africa look forward to feeling its warmth on their skin. It symbolizes a better future, filled with prosperity and success.

The African river water will dance and leap in your morning light
The African river water will sparkle and ripple in the sunlight, symbolizing the hope and joy that comes with the new beginning of a new day. The sun's light fills everything with positive energy.

African sunshine
The African sun is a symbol of hope and success. It brings warmth and light to the people of Africa and represents a new beginning and opportunities.

African river water, will you bless my life?
The African river water symbolizes peace and prosperity, and the singer is asking for its blessing for a better life and future. The water brings renewal and freshness.

Oh, will you bless my life?
The singer is asking the universe for blessings and a better future. They believe that the African sky and river water hold the key to their success and prosperity.

What can I know?
The singer is questioning what they can really know about life and the future, and what knowledge can help them achieve their hopes and dreams.

What can I dream?
The singer is questioning what they can dream of and achieve in life, and what aspirations will help them realize their goals and dreams.

What can I hope?
The singer is questioning what they can hope for and believe in, and what positive outcomes will help them achieve a better future.

What will the future bring?
The singer wonders about the future and what it holds for them. They are uncertain of what to expect but still hold on to hope for a better future.

You shine through me
The African sky and river water shine through the singer, filling them with hope and positive energy for the future. The singer feels connected to the universe and believes in its power and influence.

But will you see me through?
The singer wonders if the universe will help them achieve their goals and dreams, and if the African sky and river water will guide them through tough times.

African thunderstorm, your soldiers march through the air
The African thunderstorm symbolizes the power and strength of nature, and its soldiers (lightning and thunder) march through the air, reminding people of the forces that govern the world. The thunderstorm also brings renewal and freshness to the land.

The African rain will fall and wash away all my tears
The African rain brings renewal and freshness to the land, washing away the singer's tears and symbolizing the hope and positive energy that comes with a new beginning. It is a chance to start afresh with a better future.

African falling rain
The African rain is a symbol of renewal and freshness, washing away the negativity of the past and bringing hope and positive energy for the future.

African falling rain, will you bless my life?
The African rain is a powerful force of nature that symbolizes renewal and freshness. The singer is asking the rain to bless their life, as they seek a new beginning and a better future.

The warrior's now a worker and his war is underground
The African warrior's war is no longer above ground, but in the mines below. They work hard underground, fighting for a better future and opportunities. The singer acknowledges the struggles and hardships of those who work in the mines.

With cordite in the darkness, he milks the bleeding veins of gold
The African miners use dynamite (cordite) to extract gold from the mines. They work in the darkness, risking their lives to extract the precious metal that brings wealth and prosperity to Africa. The miners' hard work and sacrifice are acknowledged here.

When the smoking rock-face murmurs, he always thinks of you
The miners hear the murmurs of the rock-face as they extract the precious metals. They are reminded of the power and influence of the African sky and river water, and the hope and positive energy they hold.

African sky blue
The African sky and its blue color symbolize the hope and positive energy that comes with a new beginning. The singer acknowledges the power and beauty of the African sky and its effect on their life and future.

Will you see him through?
The singer is asking the African sky and river water to support and guide the miners who work hard to extract the precious metals that bring prosperity to Africa. They believe that the sky and water hold the key to their success and well-being.

Lyrics © RHYTHM SAFARI PTY LTD, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Jonathan Clegg, Mvuseni Mchunu

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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