Sutherland was born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Above Rocks in Saint… Read Full Bio ↴Sutherland was born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Above Rocks in Saint Catherine Parish. She began performing in 1979, winning the Tastee Talent Contest that year (beating Paul Blake and Yellowman), with her parents managing her career while she studied at St Andrew High School.[2][3] She combined her musical career with studies in business administration, and was the first artist signed by Bob Marley to his Tuff Gong label, recording "Starvation on the Land" while aged eleven.[3][4][5] After Marley's death, Sutherland performed at memorial concerts outside Jamaica, along with Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, the I Threes, and the Wailers.[3]
She struggled to break through as a solo artist and after touring the US as support to Bunny Wailer, she worked as a backing vocalist at Gussie Clarke's Music Works studio.[3] She went on to work for Donovan Germain at his Penthouse Studios, and Germain produced her 1993 hit "Action", a combination with Terror Fabulous.[3] The track was used by the Jamaican Labour Party as their election campaign theme, and in 2007 was included by Vibe at number nineteen in its list of the fifty greatest duets of all time.[3][6][7] In the US, "Action" reached number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3][8] Buju Banton's "Dickie" was remixed as "Wicked Dickie" with Sutherland adding vocals, and this topped the charts in Jamaica.[3] She collaborated with Banton again on the single "What Am I Gonna Do".[9]
In 2006 she performed at Reggae Sunsplash, and in 2007 she released the album Call My Name, which was a hit in Jamaica as well as on reggae charts in Florida and New York.[4][10][11] At the Canadian Reggae Music Awards in 2008, the album was nominated in the 'Top Reggae CD/Album (International)' category, while a single from the album, "Big Tingz", was nominated as 'Best Reggae Single (International)'.[1]
Sutherland has also appeared as a judge on the TV show Digicel Rising Stars,[12] written for the Jamaica Observer,[13] and been a committee member for the charity Sisters to Sisters.[14

Down On My Knees
Nadine Sutherland Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

nkazi ine mutu zwee, iwe olo ntima kugunda?
koma ndingakozedwe ima kaye ndingotunda iweyo uli on fire koma sukuyaka ngati mafuwa umapangisa mdima masana ndiwe chiphadzuwa, tadikila pang'ono ndufuna ntakamba nawe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Nadine Sutherland's song "Down On My Knees" speaks about an individual in a vulnerable state, feeling powerless and seeking solace in someone they trust. The opening line, "nkazi ine mutu zwee, iwe olo ntima kugunda?" which translates to "do I have a headache, or do you make my heart beat faster?" highlights the confusion and inner turmoil the singer is experiencing. Despite feeling overwhelmed, the singer still longs for the comfort of the person they are addressing, as they confess, "ndufuna ntakamba nawe" which means "I want to talk with you."

The lyrics also bring up themes of insecurity and the fear of rejection. The line "koma ndingakozedwe ima kaye ndingotunda iweyo" which roughly means "I'm afraid to say it now but I'll regret it if I don't," exemplifies the singer's apprehension about potentially being rejected. However, they still put themselves out there by saying "iweyo uli on fire koma sukuyaka ngati mafuwa" meaning "you may be on fire, but I'm melting like wax." They are acknowledging the other person's potential greatness and expressing their admiration but also admitting their own perceived shortcomings.

Overall, the song speaks to the universal human experience of vulnerability and the desire for connection and acceptance. The singer is baring their soul, risking rejection, but seeking emotional safety in someone they trust.

Line by Line Meaning

nkazi ine mutu zwee,
As a woman, I have a strong mind,

iwe olo ntima kugunda?
Do you have a heart that matches?

koma ndingakozedwe ima kaye ndingotunda
But I cannot be controlled, I stand my ground

iweyo uli on fire koma sukuyaka ngati mafuwa
You may be passionate, but you blow hot and cold

umapangisa mdima masana
You confuse me in broad daylight

ndiwe chiphadzuwa, tadikila pang'ono
You are like the sun, blinding me slowly

ndufuna ntakamba nawe
I want to have a conversation with you

Writer(s): Clayton Morrison, Arif Cooper, Nadine Sutherland, Abean Cooper

Contributed by Peyton R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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