Fatima
K''naan Lyrics

Picture the morning taste and devour
We woke up early to start our day, eagerly anticipating what the day has in store and ready to consume all it has to offer.

We rise early pace up the hour
We start our day early and are determined to use every minute of it wisely.

Streets is bustling hustling their heart out
The streets are busy and everyone is working hard, doing what they can to make a living and provide for themselves and their families.

You can't have the sweet with no sour
Life has its ups and downs, and one cannot fully appreciate the good without experiencing the bad.

Spices herbs the sweet scent of flower
The surroundings are filled with pleasant aromas from a variety of sources - spices, herbs, and flowers.

We came out precisely the hour
We came out at the exact moment when we were meant to be there, no sooner or later.

Clouds disappear the sun shows the power
The clouds parted and the sun came out, reminding us of nature's power and strength.

No chance of a probable shower
There is no chance of rain spoiling our day, as the sky is clear and bright.

I fell in love with my neighbors daughter
I developed strong feelings for the girl next door, wanting to protect and care for her.

I wanted to protect and support her
I had a desire to shield her from harm and provide for her needs, knowing that she deserved the best of everything.

Never mind I'm just 12 and a quarter
Despite being young, naive and inexperienced, I still cared deeply for her.

I had dreams beyond our border.
I had big dreams and aspirations for a future beyond my immediate surroundings, hoping to achieve great things and make a difference in the world.

Is it true when they say all you need is just love,
Is love really all that is required to live a happy and fulfilling life?

What about those who have loved
What about those who have experienced love, only to have it taken away?

Only to find that it's taken away
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, things don't work out the way we'd hoped, leaving us heartbroken and alone.

And why do they say that the children have rights to be free
Why are children singled out as deserving of freedom and protection - don't we all have a right to live without fear and oppression?

What about those who I've known
What about the people who have touched our lives and left an indelible mark, even after they're gone?

Whose memory still lives inside of me.
Even though they may have passed on, their presence is still felt and their impact is still reverberating within us.

Fatima, What did the Young Man say
Fatima, what did the man who took you away say to you before he did so?

Before he stole you away
Before he forcibly took you away from your home and your loved ones.

On that fateful day Fatima
On that tragic day that changed the course of your life forever.

Fatima, Did he know your name
Did the man who took you even know your name or anything about you?

Or the plans we made, To go to New York City, Fatima
Did he know about our dreams and aspirations to travel to New York City together - or did he even care?

And after school we studied the lessons
After finishing our schoolwork, we would dedicate ourselves to learning whatever else we could.

I ask God to slow down the seconds
I pray to God to help me appreciate each moment and to prevent time from passing too quickly.

He does the opposite that's what I'm guessing
Despite my prayers, time seems to fly by at an alarming rate, leaving me little time to accomplish everything I want to do.

I better chill and count my own blessings
I need to relax, take a step back, and be grateful for the many good things that I do have in my life.

Fatima, Fatima what is the matter
Fatima, what is the problem/issue - why haven't you come to meet me as you usually do?

How come you ain't come up the ladder
Why haven't you climbed up here to spend time with me, as you've done before?

So we can be like there's no tomorrow
So that we can enjoy each other's company as if there won't be another chance - living in the present moment, free of worry and regret.

Damn you gonna make me wait until tomorrow
It's frustrating and upsetting to have to wait for you to arrive - it feels like a missed opportunity to enjoy each other's company.

She spoke Arabic and Swahili
Fatima was skilled in both Arabic and Swahili languages.

She'd say Upendo (Swahili for love)
One of the words she would use frequently was 'upendo,' which means love in Swahili.

Anta Habibi (Arabic for, you are my love, dearest friend)
She also used the phrase 'Anta Habibi' in Arabic which translates to 'you are my love, dearest friend.'

You so bright, you shine like my TV
She would compliment me, telling me that I was bright and shone like a light, just like her television.

Then one day she never came to meet me
One day, Fatima simply didn't show up to meet me anymore - I never knew what happened to her or why she was no longer around.

If beauty was in the eyes of beholder
Since beauty is subjective and relative, it's up to each individual to decide who or what they find beautiful.

How come everyone hushed when she walked by
Despite this subjectivity, Fatima's beauty was so universally acknowledged and appreciated that people couldn't help but be silenced by her presence.

How come girls would look just to scold her
Other girls, perhaps feeling insecure or envious, would look at Fatima just to criticize her or put her down.

How come the angel wanted to hold her?
Despite this criticism, there was someone - an angel - who desired to embrace and protect Fatima, recognizing her intrinsic worth and beauty.

Fatima, Fatima I'm in America
Fatima, I'm now in America, far away from everything I knew and loved in Somalia.

I make rhymes and I make them delicate
I have found solace in expressing myself through music and poetry, pouring my heart and soul into each creation with tender care and attention.

You would have liked the parks in Connecticut
I can't help but think of how much you would have enjoyed exploring the parks and natural beauty of Connecticut, where I now reside.

You would have said I'm working too hard again.
I can almost hear your voice teasing me, telling me that I should take more breaks and not work myself so hard.

Damn you shooter, Damn you the building
A sense of anger and frustration wells up inside me, directed towards whoever was responsible for the senseless violence and chaos that took Fatima's life - whether it was the shooter or the building itself.

Whose walls hid the blood she was spilling
The building, which should have been a place of safety and refuge, instead became the site of a horrific tragedy, where Fatima lost her life and her blood stained the walls.

Damn you Country so good at killing
My anger expands to include the country as a whole, which seems to have become all-too proficient at taking lives and perpetuating violence and destruction.

Damn you feeling, for persevering
Even in the face of such pain and heartbreak, I cannot help but feel that life goes on, the world keeps spinning, and emotions cannot be easily overcome or dampened.

Now I just want to make it clear, I don't want you to shed a tear.
Even though this song deals with difficult and emotional topics, my intention is not to make anyone upset or emotional.

Because this here, is a celebration,
Rather, this music is intended to be a celebration of Fatima's life and to honor her memory in a positive and uplifting way.

We're not mourning,
We are not dwelling in sadness or grief - instead, we are choosing to focus on the positive and to celebrate Fatima's life.

Yeah
A simple affirmative, signaling agreement or satisfaction.

So baby don't cry,
I don't want to cause any more pain to anyone, so please don't cry.

Please don't let the tears fall
I am requesting that tears not be shed, so that we can keep this celebration positive and uplifting.