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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)
Mickey Mouse Freedom
Lucky Dube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Behind him
He could hear those innocent voices
Crying out so bitterly
Saying
We did not start the war
But we fighting now
But we burning now
They were told many years ago
That their country is free
But they didn't understand
That it's not real
They never knew
It was a Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
I tell you it's a Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
Oh I tell you it's a Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
It is a Mickey Mouse independence yeah
Mickey Mouse independence
It is a Mickey Mouse independence yeah
Mickey Mouse independence
I tell you it's a Mickey Mouse independence oh
Mickey Mouse independence
Becoming a new country
That's said to be free
Becoming a new country
That is said to be free
Me sight corruption (Corruption)
Me sight starvation (Starvation)
Walking like a millionaire
Cause you think your country is free
One thing you don't know
Your country is being remote controlled
It is a Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
It is a Mickey Mouse independence yeah
Mickey Mouse independence
I tell you it's a Mickey Mouse freedom
Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
It is a Mickey Mouse independence yeah
Mickey Mouse independence
Listen to me it is a Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
They have a Mickey Mouse independence yeah
Mickey Mouse independence
The song "Mickey Mouse Freedom" by Lucky Dube portrays the disillusionment and disappointment of the people of Africa who were promised freedom after they gained independence from their colonial rulers. The first stanza of the song talks about a man who walks away from innocent voices crying out so bitterly. These voices are a representation of the people who suffered due to the false promises of independence. The second stanza talks about how the people were told their country was free, but they did not understand it was not real, which led to a Mickey Mouse freedom or independence. They are now fighting a war they did not start and burning in a fire they did not light. The lyrics suggest that the people of Africa were not given true independence but given a hollow imitation of it.
The third stanza goes on to describe the current state of the country, with corruption and starvation as elementary problems. People walk like millionaires now they believe their country is free, but unknown to them, their country is being remotely controlled. The repetition of 'Mickey Mouse freedom' and 'Mickey Mouse independence' emphasizes the hollowness of the freedom and independence which are mere imitations of some sort.
Line by Line Meaning
Put his coat on his shoulders and slowly he walked away
He left the situation with disappointment and sadness, wrapping himself up in his coat as he walked away.
Behind him, he could hear those innocent voices crying out so bitterly
As he left, he could still hear the voices of the innocent people, filled with bitterness and sorrow.
Saying we did not start the war but we fighting now
The people are claiming that they didn't cause the war, but they are the ones fighting in it now.
We did not start this fire but we burning now
The people are suffering the consequences of actions they were not responsible for.
They were told many years ago that their country is free
The people were informed years ago that their country had achieved freedom.
But they didn't understand that it's not real
However, they were not aware that the freedom they had been granted was not genuine.
They never knew it was a Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
The people were clueless that the freedom they had was a fake one.
Mickey Mouse freedom yeah, Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
The use of 'Mickey Mouse freedom' is to signify that the freedom was not genuine, but rather, a façade.
Oh I tell you it's a Mickey Mouse freedom yeah, Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
The phrase 'Oh I tell you' implies the artist is trying to convince others that the freedom granted was insincere.
It is a Mickey Mouse independence yeah, Mickey Mouse independence
Independence granted to them was also not real, and the repetition of 'Mickey Mouse independence' emphasizes this point.
Becoming a new country that's said to be free
The country was transitioning to a new era of independence and freedom.
Me sight corruption (Corruption), me sight starvation (Starvation)
The artist sees corruption and starvation within the country despite claims of freedom.
Walking like a millionaire 'cause you think your country is free
The citizens are deceived into thinking their country is rich and free, but it's a false sense of reality fueled by propaganda.
One thing you don't know, your country is being remote controlled
The leaders are not in charge, rather outsiders control the country in subtle ways from afar.
Listen to me it is a Mickey Mouse freedom yeah, Mickey Mouse freedom yeah
The repetition emphasizes that this is a facade of independence and freedom.
They have a Mickey Mouse independence yeah, Mickey Mouse independence
The people have been granted a fake independence filled with empty promises.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVID MAURICE SEGAL, RICHARD SILUMA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ibrahimlarryissaka9301
Who's with me here in 2020
@TupeTanielu
RIP TO THIS LEGEND.
@josephgicheru3781
Lucky dube my best reggae artist
@angelpee6863
Me
@l48349
'23
@lancinesamake1771
Me!! My bro !
@simphiwengubane4830
Who's with me here in 2024
@adlerlaguerre8021
I listen to luckydube everyday.
@thankgodokonta1057
+Adler Laguerre same here!!
@atuhairwediana2387
Me too