Leena Conquest was born in Dallas, Texas.
Global-bred, this singer-songw… Read Full Bio ↴Leena Conquest was born in Dallas, Texas.
Global-bred, this singer-songwriter is a clever standout who manages to bridge the gap between old and new with her timeless singing style.
Leena grew up honing her musical chops on the blues and gospel music. Early exposure to the recordings of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald led her to jazz.
Not only has Leena worked with stellar musicians like the late trumpeter Doc Cheatham and pianist Mal Waldron, but is in the mix with some of the hippest DeeJay's on the planet.
There have been stints with Big Band including the Zagreb Radio Orchestra. The future is a continuing saga of a musical sojourn enriched by the past and fueled by a burning desire to chart new territories.
Leena is a graduate of Stanford University, attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center.
In addition to performing, she is a teaching artist at various schools.

...strikes with the sort of quality that's all too rare.
The Face

...exudes a world-wise quality and a unique phrasing style that instantly place her among the top-shelf singers.

Billboard

Steeped in the jazz tradition and full of all things soulful, Leena is a modern chanteuse with a story to tell and has captivated audiences worldwide. Recent appearances in Europe have garnered rave reviews for her appearances with jazz bassist William Parker and his Raining on the Moon Quintet. Spain's Salvador Catalan says, Leena Conquest is a brilliant singer with the majesty of Mahalia Jackson and timbre of Abbey Lincoln.

Boundaries
Leena Conquest Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Boundaries
Territorial disputes
I'm talking about boundaries
When we deal(?) in absolute

When people lose their faces
Are preoccupied with places
And whether or not the races

That flow through your veins
Are (?)

This land is my land
This land is your land
But it was their land first
Whose world is it anyway?

As the future
(Fatal collisions)
It's easy to handle
(Do not tolerate)
The people die
And babies cry
We find out why or live a lie

Make me wanna holla
Throw up both my hands
Make me wanna holla
Throw up both my hands

Boundaries
Territorial disputes
I'm talking about boundaries
They said he had a job to do

No questions asked, no answers given
Just pull the trigger and get a a blue ribbon
No compromise
(What's the score?)
No compromise
(Let's sugar(?) some more)

When I (?) my hand
The man in the uniform came to me
and insisted I did
I was afraid
We were all afraid

In the name of the earth
(Can I get a witness)
The people die
And babies cry
We find out why or live a lie

Make me wanna holla
Throw up both my hands
Make me wanna holla
Throw up both my hands

Runaway soldier
They say you lost your head
Runaway soldier
They say you better be
(Break it down)

It's is a dealing operation
It's is a dealing operation

Boundaries
Territorial disputes
I'm talking about boundaries
It's such a catch 22

He had to (?)
And pay the price
For a ticket to paradise
Where the unknown soldier rests in peace
Enjoys a luscious feast (?)

Don't call in the (?)
Don't call (?)
Didn't (?)
Didn't wanna be a (?)

(?)
But he ain't no fool
Made a mockery
Of hypocrisy
No pledge of a legion(?) to genocide
No hidden desire for suicide

The people die
And babies cry
We find out why or live a lie

Make me wanna holla
Throw up both my hands
Make me wanna holla
Throw up both my hands

Throw up both my hands

Runaway soldier

They say you lost your head

Overall Meaning

Leena Conquest's song 'Boundaries' is a powerful commentary on the human obsession with boundaries and the territorial disputes that arise from this obsession. The song opens with Conquest stating, "I'm talking about boundaries when we deal in absolute," immediately highlighting how human beings try to control and dominate their surroundings through the imposition of boundaries. With the line "when people lose their faces, are preoccupied with places," Conquest indicates how boundaries lead humans to become dehumanized and obsessed with the physical and material aspects of their environment.

Conquest continues to question the legitimacy of these boundaries by stating, "this land is my land, this land is your land, but it was their land first, whose world is it anyway?" This line is a direct critique of the concept of ownership and how human beings often forget the history and lived experiences of indigenous communities, which causes conflict and territorial disputes.

The second half of the song references the devastating effects of wars, greed, and the exploitation of marginalized communities. Conquest raises her voice and demands answers from those in power, as she sings, "the people die, and babies cry, we find out why or live a lie." The song concludes with Conquest expressing her frustration and anger through the repeated line, "make me wanna holla, throw up both my hands."

Line by Line Meaning

Boundaries
The limits set for different things or people.

Territorial disputes
Conflicts over land or territory.

I'm talking about boundaries
Discussing the concept and importance of boundaries.

When we deal(?) in absolute
When we hold onto rigid beliefs with no compromise or open-mindedness.

When people lose their faces
When people are defined only by their race and ethnicity.

Are preoccupied with places
When people focus on the physical location or geography of a certain area.

And whether or not the races
Issues of race and ethnicity affecting relationships and social status.

That flow through your veins
Referring to biological heritage.

Are (?)
Are they the defining factor in individuality or identity?

This land is my land
A reference to the famous American folk song.

This land is your land
Another reference to the famous American folk song.

But it was their land first
Acknowledging that indigenous people had their land taken from them by colonizers.

Whose world is it anyway?
Rhetorical question about who has the right to claim ownership of the world.

As the future
Referring to the coming days and years.

(Fatal collisions)
Accidents and crashes that lead to death.

It's easy to handle
Addressing the fact that some people find it easier than others to deal with hardship and tragedy.

(Do not tolerate)
Urging people to be less complacent and more activist in their efforts to make the world a better place.

The people die
People face death in various ways.

And babies cry
Children are directly impacted by disasters and social issues.

We find out why or live a lie
People need to uncover the truth behind events or else they will continue to live in ignorance.

Make me wanna holla
Strong emotions of distress and anger.

Throw up both my hands
Expressing exasperation and helplessness.

They said he had a job to do
Justification for violence and murder by authorities.

No questions asked, no answers given
Lack of accountability and transparency in acts of violence.

Just pull the trigger and get a a blue ribbon
Reducing violent acts to a game, using rewards and punishments to incentivize killing.

No compromise
Refusing to consider other perspectives or adapt to different situations.

(What's the score?)
A dismissive attitude towards the lives lost in violent conflicts.

(Let's sugar(?) some more)
Using euphemisms and justifications to make brutal behavior more palatable.

When I (?) my hand
Assuming a position of protest or resistance.

The man in the uniform came to me
An encounter with an authority figure such as a police officer or military personnel.

and insisted I did
Pressuring people to obey without question.

I was afraid
Personal experience with fear and intimidation.

We were all afraid
A shared experience of fear and intimidation.

In the name of the earth
Justification for violence and war using rhetoric about fighting for one's homeland.

(Can I get a witness)
A call for people to join in solidarity and bear witness to these events.

Runaway soldier
Describing a soldier who has defected, fled, or gone AWOL.

They say you lost your head
Celalizing the confusion and mental health issues that can arise from war and violence.

They say you better be
An ominous warning or threat.

(Break it down)
A call for greater awareness and understanding.

It's is a dealing operation
Military operations as a commercial, profit-driven enterprise.

It's such a catch 22
Caught in a dilemma with no clear way out.

He had to (?)
Compelled to make a difficult decision.

And pay the price
Consequences for actions, even ones that are necessary.

For a ticket to paradise
The false promise of a better life or reward for violent actions.

Where the unknown soldier rests in peace
Memorializing soldiers who have died in war, even if their identities are unknown.

Enjoys a luscious feast (?)
An ironic statement that belies the reality of death and destruction brought about by war.

Don't call in the (?)
Being hesitant to call out someone for their bad behavior.

Don't call (?)
Being slow to acknowledge the root causes of societal issues.

Didn't (?)
Waiting too long to address problems leads to further destruction and heartache.

Didn't wanna be a (?)
Refusing to be a part of a toxic, destructive institution.

(?)
Being committed to positive change and accountability.

But he ain't no fool
Even as someone who serves in the military, he is still able to think for himself and make informed decisions.

Made a mockery
Calling attention to the absurdity and inhumanity of war and violence.

Of hypocrisy
The double standards and falsehoods that are perpetuated by people in power.

No pledge of a legion(?) to genocide
Rejecting the idea of blindly following authority and committing acts of violence.

No hidden desire for suicide
Acknowledging that people who commit acts of violence may not be doing so because of a desire to die, but because of desperation, poverty, or a feeling of having no other options.

The people die
Referring to the lives lost in conflicts, whether they are civilians, soldiers, or other combatants.

And babies cry
Emphasizing the innocent lives that are impacted by violence.

We find out why or live a lie
The importance of investigating the reasons behind conflicts and not blindly accepting propaganda or misinformation.

Throw up both my hands
Desperation and helplessness in the face of tragedy and injustice.

Contributed by William J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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