Siffre released his first six albums of songs between 1970 and 1975, and a further three albums between 1988 and 1998. During this period he had several solo hits, including "It Must Be Love" (No. 14, 1971) (later covered by and a No. 4 hit for Madness, for which Siffre himself appeared in the video); "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" (No. 11, 1972); and "Watch Me" (No. 29, 1972). In 1978 two of his songs, "Solid Love" (performed by Siffre) and "We Got It Bad" (co-written and performed by Bob James) reached the UK finals of the BBC's A Song for Europe. His 1987 hit "(Something Inside) So Strong", which reached No. 4, was an anti-Apartheid anthem that won the Ivor Novello Award for "Best Song Musically and Lyrically", and has since been used in Amnesty International campaigns, a television advertisement and Alice Walker's film against female genital mutilation: Warrior Marks.
In 1997, Siffre's play "DeathWrite" was staged at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff and later televised. His song "I Got The..." was sampled in rapper Eminem's hit single "My Name Is," though Siffre objected to what he described as "lazy writing" and it had to be edited to get the sample cleared.
In 1984 Siffre began writing poetry and has since released three books of poetry: "Blood on the Page" 1995 and "Monument" 1997. His poetry addresses a variety of themes, from theology and childhood to sociology, love, hate, language, critical thinking, and communication. In 2006, he released a new album, The Last Songs.
Listen to the Voices
Labi Siffre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your race is run
You think it's over
It's only begun
Child is born
Who has to face
The world you're leaving
A dangerous place
Listen To The Voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Love and understanding
Are better than a war
People just laughing 'cause they've heard it before
Night chills
In Plenty town
Cardboard hotels
They sleep on the ground
Hard choices
How to respond
Red or rosé
With the Duck à l'orange
Listen To The Voices
So easy to ignore
Choruses of old folk scared to open the door
Living in the shadows
And dying in the cold
Inner city jungle ain't no place to grow old
Helpless
We'll never be
Though justice
Is so hard to see
Kindness, yes
That same old song
But don't stop singing
There's so much strength in kindness
Listen To The Voices - Crying to be free
Crying to be free - Can we be the promise
Can we be the promise - That we promised to be
Love and understanding - Better than a war
Are better than a war - People just laughing
People just laughing 'cause they've heard it before
Listen To The Voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Listen To The Voices - Listen To The Voices
Crying to be free - Crying to be free
Can we be the promise - Can we be the promise
That we promised to be
Love and understanding - Love and understanding
Are better than a war - Better than a war
People just laughing
People just laughing 'cause they've heard it before
The first stanza of Labi Siffre's song "Listen to the Voices" addresses an old man, telling him that he may think his race is over, but in fact, it's just beginning. It speaks of a child who has to face the dangerous world the older generation is leaving behind. In the second stanza, Siffre talks of the night chills in a town called Plenty and describes the cardboard hotels where people sleep on the ground. He speaks of the hard choices of whether to have red or rosé wine with Duck à l'Orange.
The chorus of the song, "Listen to the Voices" speaks of crying out to be free and asking if we can still be the promise we promised to be. It talks of how love and understanding are better than war, and people just laugh because they've heard it all before. The final stanza speaks of how we can never be helpless, although justice can be hard to see. It says that kindness is the same old song, but we shouldn't stop singing it, as there is so much strength in kindness.
Overall, the lyrics of "Listen to the Voices" addresses the common theme of the cyclical nature of life, from the old to the young. It is also a plea for kindness and understanding as opposed to war and conflict.
Line by Line Meaning
Old man
An elder person who has lived through many experiences
Your race is run
Your time on Earth is coming to an end
You think it's over
You believe that your experiences are complete
It's only begun
But in reality, there is much more to come
Child is born
A new life beginning
Who has to face
That life, which is challenging and difficult
The world you're leaving
The world that the elder generation is passing down
A dangerous place
A place where there are many threats to safety and well-being
Listen To The Voices
Pay attention to the cries and calls for justice in the world
Crying to be free
The voices are pleading to be liberated from oppression
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Can we live up to the ideals and values that we have set for ourselves
Love and understanding
Compassion and empathy for others
Are better than a war
Coexistence and peaceful solutions are more desirable than violent conflict
People just laughing 'cause they've heard it before
People are dismissing the calls for justice because they have become desensitized to the issue
Night chills
The cold, harsh reality of life at night
In Plenty town
A place where there is wealth and abundance
Cardboard hotels
Makeshift shelters for the homeless
They sleep on the ground
The homeless do not have comfortable or safe accommodations
Hard choices
Difficult decisions that must be made
How to respond
What action to take in a given situation
Red or rosé
A decision between two choices that may seem frivolous, but carries greater significance
With the Duck à l'orange
The trivial aspects of life that are divisive and distracting from larger issues
So easy to ignore
It is tempting to overlook the cries for justice and equality
Choruses of old folk scared to open the door
The older generation who have lived through past injustices and are afraid of what may come from current struggles
Living in the shadows
Mentally or physically concealed from society
And dying in the cold
Vulnerable populations, such as the homeless or elderly, are at a higher risk of suffering and death
Inner city jungle ain't no place to grow old
The urban environment is harsh and difficult for those who are aged or vulnerable
Helpless
Feeling powerless or unable to contribute to change
We'll never be
However, everyone has the potential to make a difference
Though justice
Even though it may seem like justice is impossible to achieve
Is so hard to see
It can be obscured by societal norms and prejudices
Kindness, yes
Acts of compassion and empathy are valuable and necessary
That same old song
Although it may seem repetitive, kindness and compassion are timeless values
But don't stop singing
Don't give up on striving for a kinder world
There's so much strength in kindness
The power of empathy and compassion should not be underestimated
Contributed by Dylan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Magier Family Entertainer Pierre Mardue
Listen to the Voices
Labi Siffre
________________________________________________
Old man
Your race is run
You think it's over
It's only begun
Child is born
Who has to face
The world you're leaving a dangerous place
Listen to the voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Love and understanding are better than a war
People just laughing 'cause they've heard it before
Night chills in plenty town
Cardboard hotels
They sleep on the ground
Hard choices how to respond
Red or rosé with the Duck à l'orange
Listen to the voices
So easy to ignore
Choruses of old folk scared to open the door
Living in the shadows
Dying in the cold
Inner city jungle ain't no place to grow old
Helpless, we'll never be? 'though justice is so hard to see
Kindness, yes
That same old song? but
Don't stop singing
There's so much strength in kindness
Listen to the voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Love and understanding are better than a war
People just laughing 'cause they've heard it before
Listen to the voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Listen to the voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Love and understanding are better than a war
People just laughing 'cause they've heard it before...
Magier Family Entertainer Pierre Mardue
Listen to the Voices
Labi Siffre
Old man
Your race is run
You think it's over
It's only begun
Child is born
Who has to face
The world you're leaving a dangerous place
Listen to the voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Love and understanding are better than a war
People just laughing 'cause they've heard it before
Night chills in plenty town
Cardboard hotels
They sleep on the ground
Hard choices how to respond
Red or rosé with the Duck à l'Orange
Listen to the voices
So easy to ignore
Choruses of old folk scared to open the door
Living in the shadows
Dying in the cold
Inner city jungle ain't no place to grow old
Helpless, we'll never be
Though justice is so hard to see
Kindness, yes
That same old song?
But don't stop singing
There's so much strength in kindness
Listen to the voices (Crying to be free)
Crying to be free (Can we be the promise)
Can we be the promise (That we promised to be)
Love and understanding (Are better than a war)
Better than a war (People just laughing)
People just laughing ('Cause they've heard it before)
Listen to the voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Listen to the voices (Listen to the voices)
Crying to be free (Crying to be free)
Can we be the promise (Can we be the promise)
That we promised to be (Promised to be)
Love and understanding (Love and understanding)
Are better than a war (Are better than a war)
People just laughing, laughing, laughing (People just laughing)
'Cause they've heard it before (Heard it before)
Racheda Ben Sellam
31y ago I graduated and sang this song on the free podium that same day. This song has a very powerfull message that can easily be applied in the world today. The lyrics are timeless just as the song is. Will be listening to this song till way beyond 2019.
Sigrid Vienna
One of the greatest songs I've ever heard...for so many years..
Daddoo1123
This man was so underrated!
MattyAnt
During the early 90's I wanted to upgrade from a cassette to cd but it was not available...I saw him live at a venue that held 30 people and his van broke down with all his electrical stuff in it. He came out to the lobby and sang there. He was breath taking, and, he had a cd I could buy!
MrPlantpot20
A true poet...the lyrics to this song are so poignant today.
Michael Zopf
Still listen this song December 2021 from Austria 🇦🇹
Truus1949
Me too, juli 2021 🎶
GoliathAngelus
Such a shame that we don t hear from him anymore. Does any one know if he still is a singer?
Magier Family Entertainer Pierre Mardue
Listen to the Voices
Labi Siffre
________________________________________________
Old man
Your race is run
You think it's over
It's only begun
Child is born
Who has to face
The world you're leaving a dangerous place
Listen to the voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Love and understanding are better than a war
People just laughing 'cause they've heard it before
Night chills in plenty town
Cardboard hotels
They sleep on the ground
Hard choices how to respond
Red or rosé with the Duck à l'orange
Listen to the voices
So easy to ignore
Choruses of old folk scared to open the door
Living in the shadows
Dying in the cold
Inner city jungle ain't no place to grow old
Helpless, we'll never be? 'though justice is so hard to see
Kindness, yes
That same old song? but
Don't stop singing
There's so much strength in kindness
Listen to the voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Love and understanding are better than a war
People just laughing 'cause they've heard it before
Listen to the voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Listen to the voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Love and understanding are better than a war
People just laughing 'cause they've heard it before...
Magier Family Entertainer Pierre Mardue
Listen to the Voices
Labi Siffre
Old man
Your race is run
You think it's over
It's only begun
Child is born
Who has to face
The world you're leaving a dangerous place
Listen to the voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Love and understanding are better than a war
People just laughing 'cause they've heard it before
Night chills in plenty town
Cardboard hotels
They sleep on the ground
Hard choices how to respond
Red or rosé with the Duck à l'Orange
Listen to the voices
So easy to ignore
Choruses of old folk scared to open the door
Living in the shadows
Dying in the cold
Inner city jungle ain't no place to grow old
Helpless, we'll never be
Though justice is so hard to see
Kindness, yes
That same old song?
But don't stop singing
There's so much strength in kindness
Listen to the voices (Crying to be free)
Crying to be free (Can we be the promise)
Can we be the promise (That we promised to be)
Love and understanding (Are better than a war)
Better than a war (People just laughing)
People just laughing ('Cause they've heard it before)
Listen to the voices
Crying to be free
Can we be the promise that we promised to be
Listen to the voices (Listen to the voices)
Crying to be free (Crying to be free)
Can we be the promise (Can we be the promise)
That we promised to be (Promised to be)
Love and understanding (Love and understanding)
Are better than a war (Are better than a war)
People just laughing, laughing, laughing (People just laughing)
'Cause they've heard it before (Heard it before)