He is known for his distinctive style of guitarplaying, above all his percussive right-hand technique which is similar to bass player's slapping technique. He's also famous for playing most of his live shows with a bare torso.
Son of a chief Osodolamu Sanyaolu in a Yoruba tribe and successful industrialist, Keziah (Olufemi) spent his early childhood in a large family in the semi-Muslim part of Nigeria, close to the city of Lagos. From a young age he was being prepared to follow his father's footsteps and was expected to have an academic career. Therefore his father enrolled him in a Public School in London and Keziah left Nigeria at 8 years old to be educated in England.
"I had to find a way out of all that bullshit, and music was it!" By the age of 13 he discovered the old school piano and taught himself how to play and write songs. Three years later he switched to the guitar, neglecting his studies more and more. After scraping through exams he went against his father's wishes and family tradition even more by skipping school and trying out his songs in the streets, clubs and London Underground, constantly avoiding the police, the Immigration Department - and his own relatives.
Keziah played mostly improvised sets with tenor Saxophone player Kevin Wood at the Red Eye club in Lewisham, south London at least three times during 1988/9.
Keziah led a bohemian life for several years instead of the one envisaged for him. "Lose all time, love your mind, free your soul!" (from his song Free Your Soul). Moving from London to Paris, accompanied by his guitar, he acquired an excellent reputation as a musician and performer with a unique style. In 1991, while playing in the Paris Metro, Keziah is discovered by the French music label "Delabel" manager. In 1992, Delabel signed Keziah for his first album to record it in Paris, "Blufunk is a fact," including the worldwide success of Keziah's first single "Rhythm is Love." Obviously, Keziah' Parisian subway experience was instrumental to his skyrocketing career, as clearly stated in his official biography.
Keziah often cites Fela Kuti and Jimi Hendrix as important influences. Also Keziahs major influences were Michael Jackson[citation needed] Keziah is not in support of Drm ,he thinks music should be shared no matter the cost.and people in third world countries should listen to music to help them,he alos works with these people to and play music while doing it.
Keziah Jones also paints and writes poetry. He’s a talented[citation needed]photographer and he produces short films, one among them entitled "BLACKSPEEDTEXT." This film, his music and the other facets of his artistic life reflect his experiences on the streets.
Keziah was married to Anglo-Nigerian singer Akure Wall in 1994. they separated in 1996.
Million Miles From Home
Keziah Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could shoot myself today
Set my soul free to roam
Upon this beach I lie today
Speeking to the sea
Dancing with the waves
Slipping throught your net
And there's nothing you can say
Yesterdays frowns were just a phase
When my sadness starts to show
Yesterdays nouns are verbs today
Kissing with the moon
Dancing with the sun
Blessed is the one
Who knows where we'are all from
A million miles, a million miles, a million miles
A million miles from home, from home
A million miles to go
In the trees I hear the breeze
And when my madness starts to show
Try the truth you will succeed
If you're fishing out for me
We'll see what's cool today
'cause if you're afro's obsolete
Then your skin is turning grey
A million miles from home
A million miles, yeah
I hope you find your way, or the way will find you
Hope you find your way, your way.
The opening lyrics of Keziah Jones's song 'Million Miles from Home' express the sense of isolation and disconnection experienced by the singer. The line "a million miles from home" indicates the singer's physical distance from their home, but also the emotional and mental distance they feel. They express a desire to "shoot" themselves and be "set free" as a way of escaping their feelings of disconnection.
The singer finds solace in nature, speaking to the sea and dancing with the waves. These actions could be interpreted as a form of catharsis or release, a way of processing and moving through their emotions. They also reference the idea of slipping through someone's "net", which could be interpreted as escaping from someone's grasp or influence.
The second verse speaks to the idea of change and transformation. The singer suggests that their previous negative emotions were simply a phase and that they have now moved on. They reference the idea of nouns becoming verbs, indicating a shift from a static to a more active state. The singer also references the idea of being "blessed" and alludes to the idea of reincarnation, suggesting that we all come from somewhere beyond our current life.
Overall, the song speaks to the human experience of feeling lost and disconnected, and finding solace in nature and transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
A million miles from home
I feel distant and disconnected from everything familiar to me.
I could shoot myself today
I could take drastic measures to escape this feeling of loneliness and despair.
Set my soul free to roam
I desire to leave behind the constraints of my current life and explore freely.
Upon this beach I lie today
I am currently in a place of relaxation and contemplation.
Speeking to the sea
I am pouring my heart out to the endless expanse of the ocean.
Dancing with the waves
I am embracing the rhythm and flow of life.
Slipping throught your net
I am evading the traps and expectations set for me by others.
And there's nothing you can say
I am beyond the influence of external opinions or comments.
A million miles I know
I am keenly aware of the distance that separates me from where I feel I should be.
Yesterdays frowns were just a phase
The negative emotions of the past were temporary, and I have moved on from them.
When my sadness starts to show
I am vulnerable to feelings of sadness and melancholy.
Yesterdays nouns are verbs today
I am interpreting the world and my experiences in a different way than before.
Kissing with the moon
I am in tune with the mysterious and ethereal aspects of life.
Dancing with the sun
I am feeling a sense of vitality and energy.
Blessed is the one
I am appreciative of those who have found their place in the world.
Who knows where we'are all from
I am curious about the origins and ultimate purpose of humanity.
A million miles, a million miles, a million miles
The vastness of the world and the distance I feel from home are weighing on me.
A million miles from home, from home
I am physically far from my place of origin, but this statement also reflects my emotional state.
A million miles to go
I have much to experience and explore before I find my true sense of belonging.
In the trees I hear the breeze
I am attuned to the small details and serene beauty of nature.
And when my madness starts to show
I am aware of the moments when my thoughts and actions may seem erratic or unpredictable.
Try the truth you will succeed
I believe that honesty and authenticity are the keys to achieving success and happiness.
If you're fishing out for me
I am putting myself out there, inviting others to reach out and connect with me.
We'll see what's cool today
I have an open-minded and adaptable approach to life.
'cause if you're afro's obsolete
If you are clinging to outdated or irrelevant ideas, you will struggle to keep up.
Then your skin is turning grey
Your spirit and energy are fading away, leaving you stagnant and lifeless.
I hope you find your way, or the way will find you
I wish others well on their own journeys of self-discovery and fulfillment.
Hope you find your way, your way.
I hope that everyone can find their unique path towards happiness and fulfillment.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KEZIAH JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ana Émmie Désirée
A million miles from home
I could shoot myself today
Set my soul free to roam
Upon this beach I lie today
Speeking to the sea
Dancing with the waves
Slipping throught your net
And there's nothing you can say
A million miles I know
Yesterdays frowns were just a phase
When my sadness starts to show
Yesterdays nouns are verbs today
Kissing with the moon
Dancing with the sun
Blessed is the one
Who knows where we'are all from
A million miles, a million miles, a million miles
A million miles from home, from home
A million miles to go
In the trees I hear the breeze
And when my madness starts to show
Try the truth you will succeed
If you're fishing out for me
We'll see what's cool today
'cause if you're afro's obsolete
Then your skin is turning grey
A million miles from home
A million miles, yeah
I hope you find your way, or the way will find you
Hope you find your way, your way.
Irfayas Seyf
Amazing rhythm and soul...
mafbaby
Sheer passion, musical & lyrical brilliance
Ana Émmie Désirée
A million miles from home
I could shoot myself today
Set my soul free to roam
Upon this beach I lie today
Speeking to the sea
Dancing with the waves
Slipping throught your net
And there's nothing you can say
A million miles I know
Yesterdays frowns were just a phase
When my sadness starts to show
Yesterdays nouns are verbs today
Kissing with the moon
Dancing with the sun
Blessed is the one
Who knows where we'are all from
A million miles, a million miles, a million miles
A million miles from home, from home
A million miles to go
In the trees I hear the breeze
And when my madness starts to show
Try the truth you will succeed
If you're fishing out for me
We'll see what's cool today
'cause if you're afro's obsolete
Then your skin is turning grey
A million miles from home
A million miles, yeah
I hope you find your way, or the way will find you
Hope you find your way, your way.
Melvin Kamil
Thanks Keziah Jones. Fantastic song.
Glen Edwards
Oh the joy on his face as he plays, so happy I found his music again!!!
Kancho Komancho
Pure feeling of rhythm
Ron B
So awesome! Beyond words!
DonErikos
amazing sound!
Lady Sasmira
J'ai eu l'immense chance de le voir en concert. Excellent compositeur, chanteur et super guitariste.
Parmi les plus beaux concerts que j'ai fait.
Yukari Okoh
Awesome groove‼︎