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.
Don't Even Think
Nneka Lyrics
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You will never see me beg
For the pride that you have
For the fact that you are you
For the joy you brought to me
For the pain you made me feel
Words have meanings, but actions speak louder
Don't even think about it
Don't even think about it
Don't even think about it
Don't even think about it
Don't even think about it
Don't even think about it
I still will stand for you make me strong
For is this what we have made
For the sunshine and the rain
For the talents that you claim, you still are human so just relax
For the hearts that you have broken, for the blood that you have been sucking
For the riches you have been claiming
I would stop you from your greed
'Cause you got to know that you would go too far
For you shall never prosper with someone's loss
For broad, broad is the way that you are o
You're running in the wrong direction
Don't even think about it
Don't even think about it
Don't even think about it
Don't even think about it
Don't even think about it, you make me full
Don't even think about it, you make me weak
Don't even think about it, you make me
I still will stand for you make me strong
You make me strong
For the love that did deceive, for the hate that you conceived
For the fact that you did what you did, I still would stand
In solitude, I am closest to life, to love
What drives me is loneliness
My heart is hardened, senses are numb
Can't feel nothing, can't hear no one, is almost like
I'm invisible but I would stand for I'm strong
Still stand naked, not one day and don't realize
I'm not complete without the Lord
I'm learning and I'm growing in my pain
But I reach out to the most high
For he is my keeper, God is my keeper, love is my keeper
You make me full, don't even think about it
You make me weak, don't even think about it
You make me full, don't even think about it
You make me strong, don't even think about it
You make me strong, don't even think about it
You make me full, don't even think about it
You make me weak, don't even think about it
You make me
I still will stand
Love is my keeper
Nneka's song "Don" is a powerful and introspective piece that speaks of strength in the face of adversity, pride, and greed. The song's opening lines, "You will never see me crawl / You will never see me beg," reveal the singer's unwavering and unyielding disposition when it comes to holding on to her self-respect and dignity. The following lines allude to the pride and joy someone brings to her life while also acknowledging the pain they have caused her. The repeated phrase "Don't even think about it" serves as a warning to those who might take advantage of her or cause her further pain.
The second verse of the song speaks of the consequences of greed and the harm it brings to others. The singer urges the greedy individual not to think about their ill-gotten gains, which have come at the expense of others. She insists that they will never prosper with someone else's loss and warns that they are running in the wrong direction. The final verse delves into the singer's personal struggles with loneliness and her realization that she needs the Lord and love to keep her whole.
Overall, "Don" is a song about standing tall and refusing to be broken or beaten down by life's challenges. It speaks of the power of self-respect, the destructive nature of greed, and the importance of love and spiritual grounding.
Line by Line Meaning
You will never see me crawl
I will never submit to your power
You will never see me beg
I will never plead for mercy
For the pride that you have
For your sense of superiority
For the fact that you are you
For your self-centeredness
For the joy you brought to me
For the happiness you once gave me
For the pain you made me feel
For the suffering you caused me
Words have meanings, but actions speak louder
What you do is more important than what you say
Don't even think about it
Do not even consider continuing your harmful actions
I still will stand for you make me strong
I will continue to resist you because you give me strength
For is this what we have made
Is this what we have created
For the sunshine and the rain
For the good and bad times
For the talents that you claim, you still are human so just relax
Even though you have skills, you are still mortal and should take it easy
For the hearts that you have broken, for the blood that you have been sucking
For the emotional and physical damage you have caused
For the riches you have been claiming
For the wealth you have acquired through unethical means
I would stop you from your greed
I will prevent you from being consumed by your desire for more
'Cause you got to know that you would go too far
You need to be aware that your actions have consequences
For you shall never prosper with someone's loss
You can never truly succeed at another's expense
For broad, broad is the way that you are o
You are on a wide path of destruction
You're running in the wrong direction
You are heading towards failure
You make me strong
You give me strength
For the love that did deceive, for the hate that you conceived
For the false affection and malicious intentions you had
For the fact that you did what you did, I still would stand
Despite your actions, I will continue to resist you
In solitude, I am closest to life, to love
I feel most connected to existence and affection when alone
What drives me is loneliness
Isolation is my motivation
My heart is hardened, senses are numb
I am emotionally detached
Can't feel nothing, can't hear no one, is almost like I'm invisible but I would stand for I'm strong
I feel ignored, but I will continue to resist because I am strong
Still stand naked, not one day and don't realize I'm not complete without the Lord
I stand exposed, but I understand that I am incomplete without my faith
I'm learning and I'm growing in my pain
I am developing despite the hardship
But I reach out to the most high
I turn to my faith
For he is my keeper, God is my keeper, love is my keeper
My faith, my love, protect and guide me
You make me full
You satisfy me
You make me weak
You diminish my strength
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARCUS NIGSCH, NNEKA-LUCIA EGBUNA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind