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Lucky Dube (born August 3, 1964, died October 18, 2007) was a reggae musician from Johannesburg, South Africa. He was named Lucky because when he was born in poor health, and the doctors thought he would die. But he survived, so was named Lucky. In his youth, Lucky lived with many different family members, singing in bars and in church. He eventually formed a band with some friends, but they could not afford to purchase instruments. Eventually, Lucky wrote a play which he and his bandmates performed, earning enough money to buy a guitar. Their band was then called Skyway, and they played in the mbaqanga style.
Two years after Skyway's formation, Lucky joined Richard Siluma's Love Brothers. He stayed with them for several years, before switching to reggae in the early 1980s. His first major success in that field came at the influential Sunsplash festival in Jamaica.
Lucky's "Together as One" was the first song by a black artist to be played on a white radio station in South Africa. His two most popular albums, Prisoner and Slave, are among the most renowned and best-selling in South Africa's history. One of Lucky's favourite singers was the late Peter Tosh.
On the 18th of October 2007, Lucky was shot dead in an attempted car jacking in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Discography
Rastas Never Dies
Think About The Children
(The Above Two available on 2on1 - Lucky Dube Rastas Never Dies/Think About The Children (2000))
Slave (1989)
Prisoner (1990)
Together as one (1992)
House of exile (1992)
Captured Live (1993)
Victims (1993)
Trinity (1995)
Serious reggae business (1996)
Taxman (1997)
The Way It Is (1999)
The Rough Guide To Lucky Dube (2001)
Soul Taker (2001)
The other side (2005)
Respect (2006)
Can't Blame You
Lucky Dube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is something you got to do
You got to go
You got to go
Trying so hard not to cry
Since they say a man ain't supposed to cry
But these tears keep running from my eyes
I remember the day I came to the city
My children were crying
My wife was scared she's gonna lose me
To the girls in the city
To make her feel alright
I said it's impossible
To make her feel alright
I said it's impossible
But I was wrong
Can't blame you when you're going
This is something you've got to do
You've got to go
Can't blame you when you're going
This is something you've got to do
You've got to go
You've got to go
You've been keeping me here
All these years
As your private lover
Letters came from home
But I never answered
Till tonight when I got this letter
From my little daughter saying
Missing you, daddy
It's time to go
Can't blame you when you're going
This is something you've got to do
You've got to go
You've got to go
Can't blame you when you're going
This is something you've got to do
You've got to go
You've got to go
Letters came from home
But I never answered
Till today when I got this letter from my little daughter saying
Missing you daddy
It's time to go
See me now
See me no more
I heard that whistle blow
I knew it's time to go
Sitting here in this train
Going so fast past the trees
I'm thinking of words to apologise
Cause sorry ain't enough
Can't blame you when you're going
This is something you've got to do
You've got to go
You've got to go
In this song, Lucky Dube sings from the perspective of a man who is accepting the fact that his lover is leaving him. He tells her that he doesn't blame her for leaving because "this is something you've got to do" and "you've got to go." Despite his attempts to stay strong and not cry, he acknowledges that he can't hold back his tears which keep streaming from his eyes.
The man reflects on when he first came to the city, leaving behind his family. His children were crying and his wife was worried he would fall for the girls in the city. He remembers trying to convince his wife that nothing would happen, but now he realizes he was wrong. He confesses to his lover that she has been keeping him as her private lover for all these years, even though letters have been coming from home. He ignored them until he received a letter from his daughter telling him she misses him and it's time to go back. The man now finds himself on a train, regretful for not apologizing sooner and realizing that his sorry is not enough.
Overall, the song Can't Blame You is about accepting the consequences of one's own decisions and understanding that sometimes people have to leave in order to pursue their own dreams and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't blame you when you going
I don't hold you responsible for leaving
This is something you got to do
You have a compelling need to depart
You got to go
You must leave without delay
Trying so hard not to cry
I'm attempting to hold back my tears
Since they say a man ain't supposed to cry
Men are often told that showing emotions is weak
But these tears keep running from my eyes
I'm crying despite trying not to
I remember the day I came to the city
I recall the day I moved to the urban area
My children were crying
My kids were weeping
My wife was scared she's gonna lose me
My spouse was afraid I would leave her
To the girls in the city
To be with other women in the city
To make her feel alright
To alleviate her concerns
I said it's impossible
I initially dismissed her worries
But I was wrong
I now realize my mistake
You've been keeping me here
You've been holding me back
All these years
For a long time
As your private lover
As your secret romantic partner
Letters came from home
I received letters from my family
But I never answered
I ignored them
Till tonight when I got this letter
Until just now when I received this message
From my little daughter saying
My young daughter wrote
Missing you, daddy
I miss you, dad
It's time to go
It's time for me to leave
See me now
Look at me now
See me no more
You won't see me again
I heard that whistle blow
I heard the train whistle signaling time to leave
I knew it's time to go
I was aware it was time to leave
Sitting here in this train
I'm seated on this train
Going so fast past the trees
The train is moving quickly, rushing past the trees
I'm thinking of words to apologise
I'm reflecting on what I could say to express regret
Cause sorry ain't enough
Simply saying sorry is insufficient
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LUCKY PHILLIP DUBE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johngitonga7430
Trying so hard not to cry
Since they say man ain't supposed to cry
But these tears keep running from my eyes
I remember the day I came to the city.
My children were crying
My wife was crying
She's gonna lose me
To the girls in the city
To make her feel alright I
said it's impossible
But I was wrong
Can't blame you when you're going
This is something you've got to do
You've got to go ho ho.
You've been keeping me here all these years as your private lover
Letters came from home
But I never answered
'Till today when I got this letter
From my little daughter saying
"Missing you daddy."
It's time to go.
Can't blame you when you're going
This is something you've got to do
You've got to go ho ho.
You've been keeping me here all these years as your private lover
Letters came from home
But I never answered
'Till today when I got this letter
From my little daughter saying
"Missing you daddy."
It's time to go.
Can't blame you (as above)
See me now, see me no more
I heard that whistle blow
I knew it's time to go
Sitting here in this train
Going so fast past the trees
I'm thinking of words to apologize
'Cause sorry ain't enough
Can't blame you when you're going
This is something you've got to do
You've got to go ho ho.
You've been keeping me here all these years as your private lover
Letters came from home
But I never answered
'Till today when I got this letter
From my little daughter saying
"Missing you daddy."
It's time to go.
Can't blame you (till fade)
@jeanpaulouiya2760
can't blame you is tne one of the greatest songs of Lucky .. when i'm listening this i got somthing cold in my body.. rest in peace Lucky
@christinepete4227
Can't blame you, is an amazing song, listening to these song make me cry, and imagining myself in a foreign country,
@johnjusa3438
I find myself crying 😢😭
@johninner9729
I remember the day i came to the city, my children were crying.., my wife was scared shes gonna loss me to the careless people in the city......kupotelea kwa mpango wa kando
@alexkiria1901
John Inner aisee ni noma hii kichwa haijawahi kitokea mungu ampe pumziko jema
@johninner9729
@@alexkiria1901 Innalillahi WA innaillahirajuun
@EWMachu
Kunyakuliwa na ka-slay queen....
@ladybinternational
This music makes me happy it heals my heart when it hurts me
Listening to can't blame you today 15th May 2019 I feel blessed
Thank you Dube
@kingyaroyaro5561
I searched for this song for an hour , I finally found it, 👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋
@kigongomdsulaimanqatar9224
Can't blame u