Zenzile Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), also known as Mama Africa, was beyond di… Read Full Bio ↴Zenzile Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), also known as Mama Africa, was beyond dispute one of South Africa's true legends. Born March 4, 1932 in Johannesburg, Miriam Makeba was barely 21 years old when she, as a member of the Manhattan Brothers, reached for the stars in her home country. It didn't take long before Miriam Makeba's career was brought to another level. In 1966 she received a Grammy Award for the album An Evening with Harry Belafonte & Miriam Makeba, making her the first African artist to win a Grammy. Her star rose further when she released her 1967 globally acclaimed Pata Pata, including the worldwide hit "Qongqothwane" (better known as the 'Click Song'). Shortly thereafter she published her autobiography .

Miriam Makeba used her voice to entertain, but also to give a voice to millions of oppressed fellow South Africans who suffered as a result of apartheid. The price she had to pay for her actions was high, namely her South African citizenship. After she appeared, in 1960, in the an anti-apartheid documentary Come Back, Africa, the South African regime banned her from returning to her home country and took away her citizenship.

This event didn't stop her from continuing to raise her voice against the apartheid regime. Between 1964 and 1975, as a United Nations delegate of Guinea where she was granted asylum, Miriam Makeba addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations regularly on the tragic developments in South Africa.

Meanwhile she carried on singing, a process in which she put South African music on the map. Over the years Makeba worked with artists as Joe Sample, Stix Hooper, Arthur Adams, and David T. Walker of The Crusaders. In the late 1980's she joined Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo during their world-wide Graceland tour and in 1990 she worked with Odetta and Nina Simone for the One Nation tour.

Following Nelson Mandela's release from prison, the citizen of the world Makeba returned to South Africa in December 1990; more than thirty years after she went in exile. In April 1991 she performed her first concert in her homeland in three decades.

The years after were busy ones for Makeba. She starred in the South African award-winning musical Sarafina! , about the 1976 Soweto youth uprisings, playing the role of the title character's mother. She then reunited with her first husband, trumpeter Hugh Masekela, for the Tour Of Hope. She also performed at the Vatican's Nevi Hall during the world-wide broadcasted show, Christmas In The Vatican. In 2000 Makeba released the grammy-nominated Homeland, her first studio album in a decade. In 2002 she shared the Polar Music Prize with Sofia Gubaidulina, in recognition of her exceptional achievements in the creation and advancement of music.

After her return to South Africa Miriam Makeba recorded over ten albums. In 2004, at the age of 72, she relased Reflections honoring the tenth anniversary of the end of apartheid in South Africa. In that same year Makeba was voted 38th in the Top 100 Great South Africans. She also started a 14 month worldwide farwell tour in 2005, holding concerts in all countries she had visited during her life.

With an impressive career spanning more than four decades Miriam Makeba is, indeed, one of the most respected, loved and cherished treasures in (South) Africa.

On the early morning of 10th of November 2008 she died at the age of 76 after being taken ill near the southern Italian town of Caserta, after performing at a concert against organized crime.

Source: Miriam Makeba, A true South African musical Legend

Discography on last.fm

External links:
Official website
Unofficial website
Movie database

For What It
Miriam Makeba Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I've got to beware

I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's goin' down

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Gettin' so much resistance from behind

I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's goin' down

What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
A-singing songs and a-carryin' signs
Mostly say, "hooray for our side"

I think it's s time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's goin' down

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the man come and take you away

Better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
You better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
You better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
You better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down
Stop

Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down

Overall Meaning

In Miriam Makeba’s song “For What It’s Worth,” the lyrics communicate a message of social and political awareness, commenting on the tense cultural climate of the 1960s. The opening lyrics refer to an event that is happening but is not yet discernible. It is clear there is some time of confrontation going on, with the line “there’s a man with a gun over there, telling me I’ve got to beware” speaking to the audience's anxiety and mistrust of those in authority. This is followed by the call to stop and take notice, with the repeated “children, what’s that sound?” indicating the need for attention and vigilance.

The second verse in “For What It’s Worth” carries on the theme of conflict, with the lines “there’s battle lines being drawn, nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong” referencing the sense that there are two sides to every situation, but when everyone is wrong, there can be no winners. Young people expressing their opinions also encounter resistance from traditional viewpoints, which can be seen in the line “getting so much resistance from behind.” These themes paint a picture of a society in turmoil, where opposing opinions are clashing and people are working to be heard.

The final verse of “For What It’s Worth” describes the paranoia and fear that can arise from instability, with “paranoia strikes deep, into your life it will creep” bringing up the idea of distrust and suspicion creeping in and invading one’s life. The song ends with the repeated warning to “stop, hey what’s that sound, everybody look what’s going down,” emphasizing the need to pay attention and be aware of what is happening.

Line by Line Meaning

There's something happening here
There is a significant event or occurrence that’s taking place.

What it is ain't exactly clear
It is difficult to determine the nature of the event.

There's a man with a gun over there
There is an individual carrying a weapon within the vicinity.

Telling me I've got to beware
The man is cautioning me to be cautious.

I think it's time we stop
It's the moment for us to halt what we're doing.

Children, what's that sound?
Young people, what is that noise I hear?

Everybody look what's goin' down
Pay attention to what is taking place.

There's battle lines being drawn
There is a divide between individuals or groups.

Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
If everyone is incorrect, no one is correct.

Young people speaking their minds
Adolescents voicing their opinions.

Gettin' so much resistance from behind
Experiencing great opposition from those behind them.

What a field-day for the heat
What an exciting day for the authorities.

A thousand people in the street
Numerous people are gathered in public spaces.

A-singing songs and a-carryin' signs
Many are singing and holding up signage.

Mostly say, "hooray for our side"
The speeches and phrases they are reciting are mostly positive towards their group.

Paranoia strikes deep
Anxiety and suspicion deeply impacts people.

Into your life it will creep
It will continue to grow and infiltrate your daily life.

It starts when you're always afraid
It begins when you're consistently feeling fearful.

Step out of line, the man come and take you away
If you break any protocols or regulations, the authorities will seize you.

Better stop
You'd better stop and reassess the situation.

Hey, what's that sound?
Hey, what is that noise I hear?