Much, much more than a deejay, much more than a singer and more than a chanter too Lutan Fyah also plays guitar, keyboards and the kette drum. He holds strong beliefs in originality at all times and so he is a songwriter too and, as the New Millennium has progressed, he has developed his very own idiosyncratic and unique vocal styling. He embraced the Rastafarian religion at the age of sixteen but his songs are not always strictly Rasta. As a "living man with work to do" he ranges over all subjects and everything and anything can inspire him to write, to play, to chant, to sing and to deejay. Preaching to the converted can prove to be a fairly easy task but to take the same message all around the world is a totally different ball game.
Born Anthony Martin in Thompson Pen, Spanish Town in the parish of St. Catherine, Jamaica his formative years were spent in an environment where music was omnipresent. His grandfather ran a Sound System and artists such as Lt. Stitchie, Papa San and Lady G would gather in the family's yard to practise and perfect their skills on the microphone.
"I grew up around a Sound System. Music flows through my bones ..." Lutan Fyah
Music proved to be an incredible influence on young Anthony but sport, and football in particular, proved to be another and he started playing as a midfielder, a position where he excelled, in teams in his local community. He graduated to his school team, St. Andrew Technical High School, and eventually made the grade as a professional in Jamaican Premier League clubs De la Vega and Constant Spring; but the call of music proved too strong to resist and in 1999 he hung up his football boots and took the first steps towards a musical career.
Like so many others before and after Anthony Martin trod that same dispiriting round of Kingston's studios and record producers where he was met with indifference and at times ignorance. However there was a different reception at Mark Myrie's Aksum Studios where the young chanter's promise was immediately recognised and he passed his audition with flying colours. The man now known as Lutan Fyah spent what he terms his 'internship' at Gargamel where he recorded over sixteen songs for Buju Banton while also freelancing for other producers. His debut release was actually for the Crazy Hate label and 'Ambassador' signalled the arrival of a significant new talent in Kingston's musical maelstrom.
The resurgence of the Rastafarian influence and the Bobo Dread phenomenon in reggae music was an indicator of serious times in Jamaica as a new generation of singers and deejays came to the conclusion that the only credible solution to the current malaise was to "love the word of God and thy neighbour as thyself". Others, who shall remain nameless, were not slow to realise that this presented a heaven sent opportunity to jump aboard the bandwagon for a handy ride on the fast track to fame and money. Many futile attempts were made to hitch a ride to stardom and the words of God were readily mouthed by tongues that had previously been wrapped around the more worldly concerns of the dance hall. But artists such as Lutan Fyah were there for the long run for "the race is not to the swift" and his music was at all times driven by his deep beliefs. His devotion to the Rastafarian religion has meant that he has stayed the course while so many pretenders have fallen by the wayside.
Mama
Lutan Fyah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So much
So tell me can you feel it
So much so much yeah
Ya know
Make that visit
So much so much love
So much
So much so much yeah
So much
So much love to share
Pure blackness, oneness so rare
So much love to give
Let them know they're missin' out
Mama Africa
Has so much love to share
Sweet blackness, oneness
Meet me there
So much love to give
Let them know they missin' out
Sing again
This is for all the love
And the life took away
Don't forget we were born in trade
Are ripped from the land and shipped away
Is the inspiration we used to survive
See
Have to see it with your own cries
Don't play
Add it up and alright
Still ya don't know
Land is so gold and green
The place is so fresh and clean
And everyday I water my garden
Tell me if you feel it deep in your heart
Visit once, guaranteed to visit twice
And if you just believe in the most high
I know you'll be alright
Mama Africa
Pure blackness, oneness so rare
So much love to give
And let them know they're missin' out
Mama Africa
Has so much love to share
Sweet blackness, oneness
Meet me there
So much love to give
Let them know they missin' out
Sing again
That's my favorite place when I need to get away
Must forget but we can't forget to pray
Are
Like Lance ridin' on the runway
In my homeland and I'm feelin' so alive
See
Hear me chant Africa unite
Anna accept mass alright
Still ya don't know
Skin is so dark and brown
She lifts me right off the ground
But no ya not gonna see it on ya tv
So just listen up and believe me
Her trees have the only cure
Her love is so and pure
Had to kiss them troubles goodbye bye
No I don't have to like mama Africa, unite
Pure blackness, oneness so rare
So much love to give
Let them know they're missin' out
Mama Africa
So much love to share
Sweet blackness, oneness
Be there
So much love to give
Let them know they missin' out
Sing again
So much so much love
So tell me can you feel it
So much so much
Make that visit
So much so much love
Synagogue can you feel it
So much so much
Ow!
So much love to share
I just can't see how we livin' without it
So much love to give
Don't miss don't miss one moment about it
So much love to share
Resist this miss
I really doubt it
So much love so much love to share
Oh yeah
Pure blackness, oneness so rare
So much love to give
Let them know they're missin' out
Feelin' it all the time
Sweet blackness, oneness
Meet me there
Better be there
Let them know they're missin' out
Sing again
The lyrics of Lutan Fyah's "Mama" are an ode to the beauty and abundance of Africa, the motherland. The song speaks about the love, oneness, and beauty of Africa and how much the world is missing out by not experiencing its richness. The lyrics are a call to action to visit Africa, reconnect with its roots, and embrace the unity of its people.
The chorus announces the overflowing love that one can sense and feel in Africa. It encourages people to "make that visit" and "feel it deep in your heart." The song emphasizes the rare oneness that is found in Africa and beckons all to come and join in it. The verse is peppered with descriptions of the beauty and abundance of Africa. Lutan Fyah sings about the pure blackness, the gold and green land, the fresh and clean place, and the only cure that can be found in Africa. He calls Africa "Mama" because she is the mother of all humanity and the cradle of civilization.
The song also recognizes the historical injustice of slavery and the trade that snatched people away from their land. The verse acknowledges the resilience and strength of the African people in surviving the atrocities and the inspiration they drew from their faith to overcome it. It is a reminder to never forget where they came from and to always pray for their homeland.
Overall, "Mama" is a lyrical celebration of the richness of Africa and an invitation to all humanity to rediscover and reconnect with its roots.
Line by Line Meaning
So much so much love
There is an abundance of love
So tell me can you feel it
Asking if the listener can feel the love
So much so much yeah
Continuing to emphasize the abundance of love
Ya know
Expressing assurance that the listener knows what is being talked about
Make that visit
Encouraging the listener to visit
Synagogue can you feel it
Asking if the listener can feel the love at Synagogue
So much love to share
There is an abundance of love to be shared
Pure blackness, oneness so rare
The black unity is rare and beautiful
So much love to give
There is an abundance of love to give to others
Let them know they're missin' out
Encouraging the listener to share love with others and not miss out
Mama Africa
Referring to the African continent as a mother figure
Has so much love to share
The African continent has an abundance of love to share
Sweet blackness, oneness
The unity among black people is beautiful
Meet me there
Inviting the listener to meet in Africa
Sing again
Encouraging a repeated chorus of the song
This is for all the love
The song is dedicated to all the love
And the life took away
The love and life that was taken away from African people
Don't forget we were born in trade
Reminding listeners that Africans were forced into the slave trade
Are ripped from the land and shipped away
Describing the brutal nature of the slave trade
Is the inspiration we used to survive
The love and unity between Africans was the inspiration for survival during slavery
Have to see it with your own cries
One has to experience the love and unity to truly understand it
Don't play
Don't underestimate the power of love and unity
Add it up and alright
Putting everything together leads to everything being alright
Still ya don't know
Emphasizing the idea that those who have not experienced it do not understand
Land is so gold and green
Describing the beautiful landscape of Africa
The place is so fresh and clean
Referring to the natural beauty of the land
And everyday I water my garden
Taking care of what one has and cultivating relationships is crucial
Tell me if you feel it deep in your heart
Asking if the listener can feel the love and unity within their heart
Visit once, guaranteed to visit twice
Assurance that visiting once will lead to wanting to return
And if you just believe in the most high
If one has faith and belief in a higher power, everything will be alright
Skin is so dark and brown
Describing the physical appearance of African people
She lifts me right off the ground
The love and unity experienced is uplifting and powerful
But no ya not gonna see it on ya tv
The media does not accurately portray African people and their love and unity
So just listen up and believe me
Encouragement to trust the words being sung
Her trees have the only cure
Nature in Africa has healing powers
Her love is so and pure
The love in Africa is genuinely pure
Had to kiss them troubles goodbye bye
Leaving behind troubles and worries, and embracing love and unity
No I don't have to like mama Africa, unite
Encouragement to unite with Africa, even if one does not love the continent originally
Feelin' it all the time
The feeling of love and unity is constant
Better be there
Encouragement to be present in Africa and partake in the love and unity
Resist this miss, I really doubt it
It is difficult to resist the love and unity present in Africa
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@grecumarius3746
Best song ever! Yesterday would have been mother's day, 56 years old! Respect from Romania!
@VAL_ON_WHEELS
Bless to all the mamas all over the world.
@minarose227
My Son (3 months old ) Smiles everytime I sing this Song
@schluxxauf
🤗
@ChaibelaBlog
One of the greatest jams for mothers out there!!
@Warrize
RIP mama March 16😢💔✝
@matteoborgia
Big up all the gypsys love you muma you are the most beautiful women ever❤☝🏼
@nitschagemerts6869
Rest in peace mom 😢💔januari 2023
@TheZax85
Condolences ❤
@alpachuno
Sorry for your loss 😢