Raised in Washington, D.C., Meshell Suhaila Bashir Shakur (as she became known) adopted the surname Ndegéocello, which means "free like a bird", while still in her teens. She has been hailed in the music press as a redeemer of soul music. Her music incorporates funk, soul, hip-hop, reggae, rock and jazz. She has been nominated for 9 Grammys. She has frequently toured with Lilith Fair.
Ndegeocello honed her chops on the D.C. Go-go circuit in the late 1980s before venturing out as a solo artist. She emerged as a recording artist in 1993 on Maverick Records/Sire Records with her debut, Plantation Lullabies. This recording presented a distinctly androgynous persona. Her music has been featured in a number of film soundtracks including How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Batman and Robin. She has also appeared on recordings by Basement Jaxx and The Blind Boys of Alabama, among others. Her biggest hit is a duet with John Cougar Mellencamp, a cover version of Van Morrison's Wild Night, which reached #3 on the Billboard charts.
Her singles If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night), Leviticus: Faggot, and her cover of Bill Withers Who Is He and What Is He To You? have all charted in the Billboard top 20. She sang background vocals on the song I'd Rather be Your Lover by Madonna, on her album Bedtime Stories. She also sang with Chaka Khan on the single Never Miss the Water, as well as providing her typical solid bass skills.
Sites: YouTube, Deezer, SoundCloud, Wikipedia, Discogs, MusicBrainz, Twitter and Google+
Isolation
Me'Shell Ndegéocello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the meek shall one day inherit the earth
and for those who suffer?
we have no use for ill fated prophets promises
of freedom
of freedom
not needing or wanting anything
as i do the time
cleanse your sick mind
as i do the time
cleanse your sick mind
send me
shall overcome
someday
see, uh
when you are awake, i'm asleep
and when you are asleep, i will awake
and i will live neither in this cell
nor in my heart
only in my head
yeah, some motherf*cker told me um
i needed to stop dwelling in the past
deafened by the dissident harmonies
of sick white crackers
and the tyranny of the self righteous
as i live in my desire
for emptiness
hate
is all you see
and in my fear of becoming like you
i gauged out my eyes, damn
you know ? be worried about the man
? need to worry about themselves
but all this political bullsh*t
be f*cking up my high
and to you?
i am but the offspring of an obsolete machine
but your myth of superiority
would not exist
without me
send me
shall overcome
someday, someday
someday
you prey on the weak to fulfill your lust
and what you perceive as the kingdom of god
is no more than the word of man
and his fear of death
shall overcome
someday
someday
?
yeah, mmm
see paradise
is the fact that i exist
and i exist
despite you
i exist
i exist
despite you
despite you
rape my women
beat my children
castrate my men
poison my food, poison my body
rape my women
beat my children
castrate my men
poison my food, poison my body
rape my women beat my children
castrate my men
poison my food and poison my body
rape my women
beat my children
castrate my men
poison my food and poison my body.
Me'Shell Ndegeocello's song "Isolation" is an insightful commentary on the state of society as it pertains to minority groups who are frequently marginalized and discriminated against. The song begins with a call to "end the suffering," placing the plight of those who have been systematically oppressed at the forefront. Ndegeocello uses vivid imagery to describe the ways in which these individuals have been promised "freedom" but have received only false hope and disappointment. She cleverly turns the language of the oppressed into a tool for their liberation when she sings, "not needing or wanting anything that in your hatred you can deprive me of." This line is a powerful indictment of the way in which systems of oppression work to strip individuals of their humanity and agency, leaving them with nothing but their own powerful will to survive.
The song's title, "Isolation," functions on many levels. On one hand, it refers to the feeling of being cut off from mainstream society that many minority groups experience. It also alludes to the idea that these groups are often forced into isolation by larger systems of power that seek to diminish their voices and agency. The chorus--"send me shall overcome someday"--is a poignant reminder of the resilience and strength of those who have been marginalized throughout history. It speaks to the hope that is necessary in order to resist systems of oppression, and the unwavering determination that is required to overcome them.
Line by Line Meaning
end the suffering
Stop the pain and misery.
the meek shall one day inherit the earth
The humble and gentle will eventually win.
and for those who suffer?
What about those who are in pain?
we have no use for ill-fated prophets promises
We don't want empty promises from misleading leaders.
of freedom
They promise freedom.
of freedom
They promise freedom.
not needing or wanting anything
I don't require or desire anything.
that in your hatred you can deprive me of
Since you hate me, you cannot deny me anything.
as i do the time
While I serve my punishment.
cleanse your sick mind
You must purify and heal your troubled thoughts.
as i do the time
While I serve my punishment.
cleanse your sick mind
You must purify and heal your troubled thoughts.
send me
Help me find the way.
shall overcome
We will win.
someday
Eventually.
see, uh
Listen to me.
when you are awake, i'm asleep
We are never in sync.
and when you are asleep, i will awake
I will continue while you rest.
and i will live neither in this cell
I won’t be confined by imprisonment.
nor in my heart
Nor by heartache.
only in my head
But I will survive in my mind.
yeah, some motherf*cker told me um
Someone once told me.
i needed to stop dwelling in the past
I shouldn't focus on history.
deafened by the dissident harmonies
Overwhelmed by conflicting ideas.
of sick white crackers
Of the oppressive white people.
and the tyranny of the self-righteous
And the oppression of the judgemental.
as i live in my desire
But I strive for emptiness.
for emptiness
For nothingness.
hate
You only see hate.
is all you see
You only see hate.
and in my fear of becoming like you
I am afraid of becoming like you.
i gauged out my eyes, damn
I blinded myself.
you know ?
Do you understand?
be worried about the man
Be concerned about yourself.
? need to worry about themselves
You need to worry about yourself.
but all this political bullsh*t
But this political propaganda.
be f*cking up my high
Is ruining my mood.
and to you?
And to you, specifically.
i am but the offspring of an obsolete machine
I am only a product of a system that needs to be replaced.
but your myth of superiority
But your lie that you are better than me.
would not exist
Would never be true.
without me
If it wasn't for me.
send me
Help me find the way.
shall overcome
We will win.
someday, someday
Eventually, eventually.
someday
Eventually.
?
I don't know.
yeah, mmm
Yeah, just listen.
see paradise
The good part.
is the fact that i exist
Is that I'm alive.
and i exist
And I exist.
despite you
Despite your hatred.
i exist
I exist.
despite you
Despite your hatred.
despite you
Despite your hatred.
rape my women
Assault my women.
beat my children
Hurt my kids.
castrate my men
Emasculate my men.
poison my food, poison my body
Contaminate my nourishment and my physique.
rape my women
Assault my women.
beat my children
Hurt my kids.
castrate my men
Emasculate my men.
poison my food and poison my body
Contaminate my nourishment and my physique.
rape my women
Assault my women.
beat my children
Hurt my kids.
castrate my men
Emasculate my men.
poison my food and poison my body
Contaminate my nourishment and my physique.
Contributed by Thomas C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.