- - -
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)
Keep On Knocking
Lucky Dube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the early days of December
Saying she wasn't happy
Where she was
Oh that's the bad news, yeah
That is why today I'm here
To take her away from you
It brings back memories and
We don't want to see her go through hurt again
Keep on knocking but you can't come in now
Keep on knocking but you can't come in now
She's my mother you know
She's my mother you know
Keep on knocking but you can't come in now
Keep on knocking but you can't come in now
She's my mother you know
She's my mother you know
If she was a bad mother
She would have thrown us away
Long time ago
Even when things got bad
She still held onto us
All the way
When she cries we cry too
When she smiles we smile too
We were happy all this time
Until you came along
Every time you treat her badly
It brings back memories and
We don't want to see her go through hurt again
Keep on knocking but you can't come in now
Keep on knocking but you can't come in now
She's my mother you know
She's my mother you know
Keep on knocking but you can't come in now
Keep on knocking but you can't come in now
She's my mother you know
The lyrics of Lucky Dube's song "Keep on Knocking" tell the story of a son who receives a letter from his mother in early December expressing her dissatisfaction with her current situation. The son takes it upon himself to come to his mother's rescue and take her away from wherever she is. He warns whoever is mistreating her that they cannot come back into her life, even if they keep knocking. It's clear that the person who was making his mother unhappy is no longer welcome in her life, and her son is doing everything he can to protect her from any future pain.
The song is a heartfelt tribute from Lucky Dube to his mother who played a significant role in his life. He appreciates her for being a devoted mother who never gave up on her children, even when things got tough. He acknowledges that his mother is a good person who has always been there for him and his siblings. The song's chorus "She's my mother, you know" is a reminder to the listener of the importance of cherishing their mothers and never taking them for granted.
The overall message of the song is that mothers play an integral part in raising their children and should be treated with the utmost respect and care. The lyrics are an ode to mothers everywhere, a tribute to the sacrifices they make for the wellbeing of their families. Lucky Dube's "Keep on Knocking" is a powerful reminder to always appreciate our mothers and treat them with the love and respect they deserve.
Line by Line Meaning
She wrote me a letter
A letter was sent to me
In the early days of December
The time period in which the letter was sent was early December
Saying she wasn't happy
The letter contained a message about her dissatisfaction
Where she was
She expressed her unhappiness with her current location
Oh that's the bad news, yeah
The message in the letter was negative
That is why today I'm here
The singer's present location is attributed to the contents of the letter
To take her away from you
The singer intends to take the recipient's mother away from their care
Every time you treat her badly
The recipient's treatment of their mother is often unfavorable
It brings back memories and
These acts bring up past experiences
We don't want to see her go through hurt again
The artist is concerned for their mother's well-being and hopes to prevent any further harm
Keep on knocking but you can't come in now
The singer is denying someone entry despite their persistent knocking
She's my mother you know
The artist emphasizes their connection to the person they are protecting
If she was a bad mother
The singer is considering a hypothetical situation in which their mother is not a good parent
She would have thrown us away
The singer believes that an unfit parent is likely to abandon their children
Long time ago
This abandonment would have happened in the past
Even when things got bad
The mother's loyalty to her children is highlighted in difficult situations
She still held onto us
She maintained her care and responsibility for her children
All the way
This care was consistent throughout their upbringing
When she cries we cry too
The children are emotionally affected when their mother is upset
When she smiles we smile too
The children reflect their mother's joyous emotions as well
We were happy all this time
The family's happiness was unmarred until a certain point
Until you came along
The artist blames the recipient of their mother's recent distress
She's my mother you know
The singer reiterates their strong bond with their mother, making their protective actions understandable
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LUCKY PHILLIP DUBE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@champolahyamio6006
She wrote me a letter
In the early days of December
Saying she wasn't happy
Where she was
Oh that's the bad news yeah
That is why today I'm here
To take her away from you
Everytime you treat her badly
It brings back memories and
We don't want
To see her go through
Hurt again so!
[Chorus:]
Keep on knocking but you
Can't come in now
She's my mother you know
If she was a bad mother
She would have thrown us away
Long time ago
Even when things got bad
She still held onto us all the way
When she cries we cry too
When she smiles we smile too
We were happy all this time
Until you came along
Everytime you treat her badly
It brings back memories and
We don't want to see her
Go through hurt again
[Chorus: till fade]
@amoahanastasia2521
Who else wishes Lucky Dube was still alive any time I listing to song tears drop from eyes.May your soul rest in peace Legend 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 27/01/2019
@lisalilburn537
Same here
@agabajunior8002
Rastafarians don't die he is still with us
@halimawodi1197
Me too
@official_maizonking4420
Lucky dube songs are medicines to many souls...always studio fresh. Rest peacefully, Legend.
@donaldarinzewilliams4653
Who's going to be here 2030 for this track
@CheikhTidianeNDAO
Amen!❤❤❤. Nuff respect and thanks 😘😘😘
@ogoubah4879
Me
@LosubaLWUpele
My heart will always treasure you Lucky till my last breath. You are the most inspiring down to earth legend of Reggae. Great human being like you never die. Dube you will always be the great inner source of the African holistic strength.
@defenderjdefenderj680
Lucky I will never forget you till I die.