7 Seconds
N'Dour Youssou & Cherry Neneh Lyrics
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Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
Mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale
Roughneck and rudeness,
We should be using, on the ones who practice wicked charms
For the sword and the stone
Battle is not over
Even when it's won
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin it's living in
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin it's living in
And there's a million voices
And there's a million voices
To tell you what she should be thinking
So you better sober up for just a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
The lyrics of "7 Seconds" by N'Dour Youssou and Cherry Neneh are about the need for unity and acceptance in a world where people are judged based on their skin color and ethnicity. The opening lines are in Wolof, a Senegalese language, and translate to "I don't know where we came from, but we're here now, brother." The lyrics then move to a call for toughness and resistance against those who use their power to discriminate against others. The lines "Roughneck and rudeness, we should be using, on the ones who practice wicked charms" express the need for a strong response to such behavior.
The song then takes a turn and addresses the issue of race and how it affects people's perceptions of each other. The lines "And when a child is born into this world, it has no concept of the tone of skin it's living in" point to the idea that skin color is socially constructed, and children are not born with an inherent understanding of race. The chorus, "7 seconds away, just as long as I stay, I'll be waiting," is a call for hope and patience in working towards a better world.
The final verse is in French and speaks of the need for people to come together and talk about their experiences, both good and bad, in order to break down barriers and forge connections. The lyrics "I assume the reasons why we push to change everything, I would like us to forget their color so they can hope" express the hope for a future where race no longer divides people.
Line by Line Meaning
Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
Using roughness and toughness to combat those who use wickedness to hurt others
Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
The sword and the stone- the battle is not over once it's won
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
Newborns have no perception of skin color or racial differences
Mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale
A million voices try to shape a child's thoughts, but we must rise above this influence and wait patiently for change
J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
I understand why many people want to change things
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
We must strive to forget about skin color/race so as to let hope grow
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
So many people despair because of how they're perceived because of their race
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes,
We need open doors and open dialogue
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Friends to share their pain and their joy with
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
So that they can share information without division
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Cameron Mcvey, Jonathan Sharp, Neneh Cherry, Youssou N'Dour
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zamshire
Thank you Modou,
He used also French in this song between 1.44 and 2.08 :
J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer
Very beautiful song, very difficult to translate in English
... And in Wollof, I heard about it today
Thanks one more time Modou, and happy to speak with all the world so easily
The peace could arrive by this way only !!!
@andrewherman2370
Beautiful song I used to listen to this in Africa when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Gabon.
J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer
I assume why we push to change everything
I want to forget skin color for hope's sake
But too many strong feelings about race crush hope
I want to see the doors flung wide open
between friends to talk openly about all of their pains and joys
to let flow all information that (unites) won't divide us
The last line is very interesting. "let flow info that doesn't divide us" meaning "if we care enough to talk about our problems they won't be problems". The more we discourse the more we realize we are the same "au coeur". This is so true. The story of humanity is so sad, but it doesn't have to be this bad.
I feel my country is no longer deserving to lead the world as Trump supporters in America want to stop all serious discussions of race and actually strongly encourage anti-PC culture in order to "let flow the info that (divides us) won't unite us" .
@GreenredProductions
Classic composition!
@lrc9304
Nigga say wha'?
@bricomecanique5724
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu97drfgz_72F2imhy-ux0A
@mariaaparecidadeoliveirada6192
Que clássico !Amo.
@MrAzamatbogotov
Its classic how much of a walmart employee you are ....
@chinomirabueno8483
Set me free
@GrandHotel.SeagullMagique
If you are listening to this song right now, your brain is functioning well and you have great taste in music. Congratulations! Kisses from Italy.
@MrsSlocombesPuddyCat
🙂 Nah. Not really. I am however rather drunk.....
@tamaraaranguiz6143
😂😂😂
@omario4823
Aawww thank you