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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)
The Way It Is
Lucky Dube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
High enough for you
I was running like a fugitive all the time
Risking rejection from my own people, yeah
Now that you got what you wanted
You don't even know my name
It's so funny we don't talk anymore
Be good to the people on your way up the ladder
That's the way it is (The way it is)
That's the way it is (The way it is)
That's the way it is (The way it is)
That's the way it is oh no (The way it is)
Didn't I raise my fists high enough for you
I guess I can pat myself on the shoulder
For a job well done
Dodging bullets in the streets I was there
Risking rejection from my own people
Now that you got what you wanted
You don't even know my name remember
Be good to the people on your way up the ladder
Cause you'll need them on your way down
That's the way it is (The way it is)
The way it is yeah (The way it is)
That's the way it is (The way it is)
That's the way it is (The way it is)
And that's the way it is (The way it is)
That's the way it is (The way it is)
That's the way it is (The way it is)
That's the way it is (The way it is)
The way it is (The way it is)
That's the way it is
Be good to the people on your way up the ladder
Cause you'll need them on your way down
That's the way it is oh no (The way it is)
That's the way it is
Be good to the people on your way up the ladder
Cause you'll need them on your way down
That's the way it is (The way it is)
That's the way it is
Be good to the people on your way up the ladder
Cause you'll need them on your way down
The lyrics of "The Way it Is" by Lucky Dube address the issue of people who forget their roots and those who helped them on their way up the ladder. The singer speaks of raising his voice and fists high enough for his audience, risking rejection from his own people while trying to appeal to a larger audience. However, now that he has achieved what he wanted, these people he was trying to please do not even know his name. The message of the song is to be good to the people on your way up the ladder to success because one would need them on the way down.
The song's lyrics suggest that it is necessary to appreciate the people who have helped you make it to where you are, rather than forgetting about them once you have achieved your goal. The reference to dodging bullets in the streets suggests that the path to success might not have been straightforward or easy for the singer. The lyrics also contain a warning that those who kick others on the way up the ladder would need them once they start making their way down. Overall, the song advises one to stay humble and treating everyone with kindness because no one knows what tomorrow might bring.
Line by Line Meaning
Didn't I raise my voice
Didn't I speak up loudly enough
High enough for you
To get your attention and make my point
I was running like a fugitive all the time
I was constantly on the move, trying to avoid danger
Risking rejection from my own people, yeah
Taking the chance that my own community would not support me
Now that you got what you wanted
After achieving your goal
You don't even know my name
You have forgotten who helped you get where you are
It's so funny we don't talk anymore
It's ironic that our relationship has changed so much
Be good to the people on your way up the ladder
Treat those who help you succeed with respect and kindness
Cause you'll need them on your way down
Because eventually you will fall and need their help again
That's the way it is (The way it is)
This is just the reality
Didn't I raise my fists high enough for you
Didn't I fight hard enough
I guess I can pat myself on the shoulder
I can give myself some credit
For a job well done
For accomplishing something difficult
Dodging bullets in the streets I was there
I was in the middle of danger, avoiding being shot
Remember
Don't forget
And that's the way it is (The way it is)
This is just how things are
The way it is yeah (The way it is)
That's just how it is
Be good to the people on your way up the ladder
Treat those who help you succeed with respect and kindness
Cause you'll need them on your way down
Because eventually you will fall and need their help again
That's the way it is oh no (The way it is)
This is not always easy to accept
That's the way it is
This is just how things are
That's the way it is (The way it is)
This is just the way things are
Be good to the people on your way up the ladder
Treat those who help you succeed with respect and kindness
Cause you'll need them on your way down
Because eventually you will fall and need their help again
That's the way it is (The way it is)
This is just how things are
That's the way it is
This is just the way things are
Be good to the people on your way up the ladder
Treat those who help you succeed with respect and kindness
Cause you'll need them on your way down
Because eventually you will fall and need their help again
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LUCKY DUBE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@simonemwamu3946
RIP Legendary,ur legacy will live on for generations
@FrazerSikanyika
Nice track, rest in peace man.