After relocating to Hamburg in 2003, Nneka has been working closely with the hip hop beatmaker DJ Farhot. As a young singer she first gained public attention in 2004 while performing as an opening act for dancehall reggae star Sean Paul at Hamburg Stadtpark. After much acclaim, Nneka released her debut EP The Uncomfortable Truth with the music label Yo Mama's Recording Company after which she performed on her first tour with Patrice, playing shows in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
She finished recording her first album in the autumn of 2005. Entitled Victim of Truth. Garnering rave reviews from the media, the UK's Sunday Times later declared it “the year’s most criminally overlooked album”, comparing it favourably to 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'.
In February 2008, she released her second album, No Longer at Ease. The title of the album is taken from a novel of the same name by Chinua Achebe and reflects the lyrical content of the record. Most of the songs are political, talking about the plight of the Niger Delta and the corruption in Nneka’s homeland. “No Longer at Ease” combines the political and the personal in “a winning mix of soul, hip-hop an reggae”. The lead single from it, "Heartbeat", became her first song to break into the German Top 50.
In November 2009, Nneka staged her first concert tour of the United States where she performed shows in New York City, Vienna (Washington DC), Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Furthermore she was a special guest on The Roots Jam session. Her first US release Concrete Jungle was set for 2 February 2010.
Nneka recorded her last album Soul Is Heavy in Nigeria. She also co-founded a charity foundation called the "ROPE foundation" with Genda, Ahmed Nyei from Sierra Leone. She has worked extensively in charity and arts with the foundation in Sierra Leone. Nneka has also worked with Reebok and her track "Shinning" topped global charts in 2013.
Changes
Nneka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Remember when humans had to live in cages
And now we own our own stages
Time, yes age turns our pages (2x)
Looking out of my window, chilling warm relaxing my speed
Watching the people right back down on the streets
Asking myself how I feel as I see d living passing me
Happy Family a boy loves a girl a mother breastfeeding her child
A taxidriver has just lost his job
And still it is not a matter of this world being
People manifest within themselves
Chorus:
Everything changes,
Remember when humans had to live in cages
And now we own our own stages
Time, yes age turns our pages
A mother gives birth to her baby,
In that moment sche feels it ist her one and only property
She'd hold on it
She'll do anything to protect it from insecurity
Just like seeds develope into flowers
And children develope into adults
Love can turn into hate and the truth u see could be deceit
Consequences do not arise without a cause
Causes could make u win or loose
Chorus 2x
What u make outta it is what u become
Some happy some are lonesome
Changes, changes always comes
Chorus
The song "Changes" by Nneka talks about the different changes that happen in life. The lyrics reflect on the changes that have occurred in the world and in society throughout history. It starts by comparing the past when human beings lived in cages with the present where people own their own stages. This implies the evolution of humanity from a time of oppression and restriction to a time of freedom and empowerment. The song also expresses the idea that changes happen continuously and that time constantly turns our pages.
The second verse of the song focuses on observing the world through the eyes of the singer. She sees people going about their business and wonders how she feels about the living world passing her. She acknowledges that everyone is in their own world, but life remains the same, where different things happen. A happy family, love, and birth are observed alongside a taxidriver who has lost their job, just like the ups and downs of life. The song's message is that people need to manifest, make changes within themselves, and accept that everything is subject to change.
The chorus reflects on the theme of change and reminds us that everything changes, including the world we live in, and the people around us. The reference to humans living in cages and now owning stages speaks of the huge changes that have happened throughout history. The second verse's reference to a mother holding her baby and doing everything to protect it from insecurity while acknowledging that love can turn into hate and truth can be deceitful shows how changes can be both good and bad. The song closes with the message that what we make of the changes in our lives determines who we become.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything changes,
The world is constantly evolving and shifting.
Remember when humans had to live in cages
Reflecting on the oppressive and inhumane treatment of people in the past.
And now we own our own stages
Celebrating the progress and accomplishments that have been made to overcome past injustices.
Time, yes age turns our pages (2x)
Emphasizing the inevitability of change as time passes by.
Looking out of my window, chilling warm relaxing my speed
Taking a moment to slow down and observe the world around us.
Watching the people right back down on the streets
Observing the diverse range of individuals in society and their daily lives.
Asking myself how I feel as I see d living passing me
Contemplating personal emotions and experiences while observing the world.
Everybody in his own but on the whole Life is still the same
Acknowledging the individuality of people, but recognizing that the human experience and struggles remain similar.
Happy Family a boy loves a girl a mother breastfeeding her child
Describing moments of joy and familial love that occur in everyday life.
A taxidriver has just lost his job
Highlighting the difficulties and setbacks that can unexpectedly arise in life.
And still it is not a matter of this world being
Recognizing that despite the challenges faced by individuals, the world itself is not flawed.
People manifest within themselves
Emphasizing the power of individuals to shape their own lives and experiences.
Chorus:
The repeating chorus emphasizes the central theme of the song that everything changes.
A mother gives birth to her baby,
Describing the intense and protective love that a mother has for her child.
In that moment sche feels it ist her one and only property
Elaborating on the depth of feeling that a mother has for her child.
She'd hold on it
The mother will fiercely protect and care for her child.
She'll do anything to protect it from insecurity
The mother will go to great lengths to ensure that her child is safe and secure.
Just like seeds develope into flowers
Comparing the natural growth and development of flowers to children growing into adulthood.
And children develope into adults
Further emphasizing the natural progression of human life.
Love can turn into hate and the truth u see could be deceit
Acknowledging the complications and unexpected turns that love and reality can take.
Consequences do not arise without a cause
Stressing the importance of understanding the roots and causes of events.
Causes could make u win or loose
The cause of a situation can determine whether or not it ends positively or negatively for an individual.
Chorus 2x
Repeating the chorus to emphasize the message that everything changes.
What u make outta it is what u become
Empowering individuals to take control of their own lives and shape their own futures.
Some happy some are lonesome
Recognizing the varied experiences of individuals in society.
Changes, changes always comes
Concluding with a reminder of the constant evolution and progress of the world.
Contributed by Gavin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.