It has been years since Paul Simon made his initial trip to South Africa and met Joseph Shabalala, and the other members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, in a recording studio in Johannesburg. Having listened to a cassette of their music sent by a DJ based in Los Angeles, Simon was captivated by the stirring sound of bass, alto and tenor harmonies. Simon incorporated the traditional sounds of black South Africa into the Graceland album, a project regarded by many as seminal to today's explosive interest in World music
'60s Africa found the Zulu and Sotho beginning to incorporate the influences of African American R&B, jazz, and blues into their traditional, indigenous music. New styles such as township jazz, pennywhistle street music, Kwela, and marabi were formed. Eventually, these myriad styles coalesced to create a new hybrid pop music that came to be known as mbaqanga. Though mbaqanga employs the traditional instrumentation of Western pop (guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals), the approach to song structure and rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic phrasing is uniquely African.
Recorded between 1981 and 1984, THE INDESTRUCTIBLE BEAT OF SOWETO is the first (and arguably the best) of a slew of South African pop recordings that soon followed. Characterized by insistent, rhythmically complex beats, elastic, burbling basslines, tight, ska-sounding guitar accompaniment, and thick, multi-part vocals, this music is as intriguing as it is appealing. Groups with such names as Udokotela Shange Namajaha and Amaswazi Emvelo serve up bright, infectious melodies and percussively insistent tracks that are clearly intended for dancing.
How Long
Ladysmith Black Mambazo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How long should I wait for you
How long baby say
How long baby
How long baby
How long baby
How long should I wait for you
How long baby sing
How long baby
How long baby
How long should I wait for you
Oh number one is really good
Number two is really good
Number three is really calling
How long should I wait for you
Oh number one is really good
Number two is really good
Number three is really calling
How long should I wait for you
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Oh blues
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
You stay away from me
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
and I don't know why
I don't know why you stay away from me
You stay away from me
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Oh blues
You stay away from me
You stay away from me
I don't know why
I don't know why you stay away from me
You stay away from me
Oh honey honey
You keep on worrying me
You keep on worrying me
and I don't know why
I don't know why you keep on worrying me
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
You keep on worrying me
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Oh honey honey
You keep on worrying me
You keep on worrying me
I don't know why
I don't know why why you keep on worrying me
Rhumba rhumba rhumba rhumba rhumba rhumba
Oh blues you stay away from me
And I don't know why why you stay away from me
You stay away from me
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Oh honey
You stay away from me
You stay away from me
I don't know why why
I don't know why you stay away from me
You stay away from me
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Oh honey honey
You keep on worrying me me
And I don't know why why why
You keep on worrying me rhumba rhumba rhumba
You keep on worrying me rhumba rhumba rhumba
Oh blues
You stay away from me me and I don't
know why why why
You stay away from me
You stay away from me
The song "How Long" by Ladysmith Black Mambazo features simple yet soulful lyrics about waiting for someone. The repeated question of "How long should I wait for you" expresses the patience and longing of the singer. The imagery of numbers "one," "two," and "three" suggest that the person the singer is waiting for may be involved in some sort of decision-making process, whether it's choosing between different options or trying to decide when to act. The repetition of the Rhumba rhythm and the mention of the blues throughout the song add an emotional depth to the lyrics, underscoring the singer's heartache and frustration.
Overall, the song seems to capture the feeling of being stuck in limbo, unsure of when or if the waiting will come to an end. It's a simple but powerful sentiment that many can relate to, and the way Ladysmith Black Mambazo delivers it with their signature harmonies makes it all the more poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
How long baby
Asking how long the person must wait
How long should I wait for you
Repeating the question of how long to wait for the person
How long baby say
Asking again how long to wait
How long baby sing
Asking again how long to wait
How long baby
Asking again how long to wait
How long baby
Asking again how long to wait
How long should I wait for you
Asking once more how long to wait for the person
How long baby sing
Asking again how long to wait
How long baby
Asking again how long to wait
How long baby
Asking again how long to wait
How long should I wait for you
Asking again how long to wait for the person
Oh number one is really good
Someone thinks that the first option is great
Number two is really good
The second option is also great
Number three is really calling
The third option seems to be appealing
How long should I wait for you
Asking how long to wait for the person after considering the options
Oh number one is really good
Reiterating that the first option is great
Number two is really good
Reiterating that the second option is also great
Number three is really calling
Reiterating that the third option is appealing
How long should I wait for you
Asking how long to wait for the person after considering the options again
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Singing a rhythmic melody
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Continuing the rhythmic melody
Oh blues
Referring to a feeling of sadness
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Continuing the rhythmic melody
You stay away from me
Expressing a feeling of someone being distant
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Continuing the rhythmic melody
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Continuing the rhythmic melody
and I don't know why
Expressing confusion about the reason for the person's distance
I don't know why you stay away from me
Reiterating the confusion about the person's distance
You stay away from me
Repeating the feeling of someone being distant
Oh blues
Referring to a feeling of sadness
You stay away from me
Repeating the feeling of someone being distant
You keep on worrying me
Expressing a feeling of stress or anxiety caused by the person's actions
You keep on worrying me
Repeating the feeling of stress or anxiety caused by the person's actions
I don't know why
Expressing confusion about the reason for the person's actions
I don't know why you keep on worrying me
Reiterating the confusion about the reason for the person's actions
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Continuing the rhythmic melody
You keep on worrying me
Repeating the feeling of stress or anxiety caused by the person's actions
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Continuing the rhythmic melody
Oh honey honey
Addressing the person in a term of endearment
You keep on worrying me
Repeating the feeling of stress or anxiety caused by the person's actions
You keep on worrying me
Repeating the feeling of stress or anxiety caused by the person's actions
I don't know why
Expressing confusion about the reason for the person's actions
I don't know why why you keep on worrying me
Reiterating the confusion about the reason for the person's actions
Rhumba rhumba rhumba rhumba rhumba rhumba
Continuing the rhythmic melody
You stay away from me
Repeating the feeling of someone being distant
Oh blues
Referring to a feeling of sadness
I don't know why why why
Reiterating the confusion about the reason for the person's actions
You keep on worrying me
Repeating the feeling of stress or anxiety caused by the person's actions
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Continuing the rhythmic melody
You keep on worrying me
Repeating the feeling of stress or anxiety caused by the person's actions
Rhumba rhumba rhumba
Continuing the rhythmic melody
Oh blues
Referring to a feeling of sadness
You stay away from me
Repeating the feeling of someone being distant
You stay away from me
Repeating the feeling of someone being distant
I don't know why why
Reiterating the confusion about the reason for the person's distance
I don't know why you stay away from me
Reiterating the confusion about the reason for the person's distance
You stay away from me
Repeating the feeling of someone being distant
Writer(s): Joseph Shabalala
Contributed by Alyssa Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
William Achu
I can't seem to get enough of these guys.They're just too good. How long baby?????
bigkevfromno
Wow. I haven't heard these guys since the late 80's when my parents were on it. The name just popped into my head today. I forgot how beautiful this sounds.
Nicci Manthe Landman
So special to be able to listen to such amazing harmonies.
Sbu Ndaba
This is just written apartheid all over it. It brings pain to blacks like me. The way you all are surrounding these weed high gentlemen who are trying to feed their families.
Patricia Holman
Listening to this group a couple of days ago, a recording done originally at a radio station. This is second generation, group was founded in 1960 by parents of at least one of the current ensemble. Love the longevity, shows how great they are to last this long. Don't see them disappearing any time soon. Love the vocal harmonies, the dancing--all of it.
Mnanzelele Sibanda
nice song
JoshDone
The best art unites people and makes you feel something significant, even if you can't put your finger on what it is. Black Mambazo does both. They are a beautiful gift.
Nicolo Di Wumio
Gives me chills...Good feeling altogether. Love it!
Son ofJoel
It's as if I was dreaming...happens whenever i hear their mystic voices in unison....definitely happy music for my ears and soul...aaahhhhh.....
Tim McDougall
Truly beautiful, as it goes I speak a bit of Dutch , I can pick up a bit of the Afrikaans subtitles, makes no odds anyway, Joseph Shambala was an angel, there has never been a better singer ,what a voice. Like Piaf, he makes us weep and rejoice at the same time.