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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)
shut up
Lucky Dube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You might wanna go through it someday
Don't burn that bridge
You might wanna cross it someday
Your best friends today
Could be your worst enemies to morrow
Your worst enemies today
Could be your best friends tomorrow
Don't cross the door
Chorus
And if you can't say something good about somebody
Oh shut up
And if you can't say something about somebody
Just shut up.
Ungafakaz' amanga ngomakhelwane wakho
Ungakhulumi I'ndaba ezingafuni wena
Vul'umlomo wakho ufak'ipapa lakho
Vul'umlomo wakho ufak'inyama yakho
Ungakhulumi'ndaba uxabanis'abantu
Uma uthanda futhi ufak'amachips
Amagwinya wona uwashiya nobani?
Don't say those words that will hurt people
Don't do those things that will hurt people
The things you say today
Will come and haunt you tomorrow
The things you do today
Will come and haunt you tomorrow
Do unto others as you would like them do unto you
And if you can't say something good about somebody
Oh shut up
And if you can't say something good about somebody
Just shut up
Reap
Ungafakaz'amanga...
Till fade
In Lucky Dube's song "Shut Up," he begins by encouraging listeners to never close doors behind them or burn bridges, as they may need the opportunity to go back through and cross those bridges again. He cautions against making enemies out of friends and vice versa, as relationships are dynamic and can change overnight. The chorus emphasizes the importance of not speaking negatively about others, encouraging listeners to remain silent if they have nothing positive to say.
The lyrics in the Zulu language add another layer to the song's message, urging listeners to refrain from lying about and gossiping about others. Instead, they should speak truthfully and avoid saying things that would offend or hurt others.
Overall, the song emphasizes the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, and the consequences that can come from negative words and actions towards others.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't close the door behind you
Don't burn bridges with people, you may want to mend things someday.
You might wanna go through it someday
You may want to come back and rekindle old relationships someday.
Don't burn that bridge
Don't ruin friendships or connections with others.
You might wanna cross it someday
You may want to restore old relationships or make new connections with others.
Your best friends today
The people you trust the most today.
Could be your worst enemies to morrow
Those people you have a great relationship with may turn against you tomorrow.
Your worst enemies today
The people you are angry or unhappy with today.
Could be your best friends tomorrow
Those you have conflict with today may be allies in the future.
Don't cross the door
Don't burn bridges with others.
And if you can't say something good about somebody
If you have nothing positive to say about someone...
Oh shut up
Then be silent and refrain from speaking.
And if you can't say something about somebody
If you have nothing good to say about someone...
Just shut up.
Then keep your thoughts to yourself and don't speak negatively.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Will Adams, Jaime Gomez, George Jr Pajon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tyron
on Different Colours (Live)
2024 approves
Sr Kajota
on Peanut Butter (live)
I love that Song. It comes from the gospel group The Thrutless called "peanut butter and jelly" its kind of adpatation, but its amazing the way how Lucky dube could do this.