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.
Lucifer
Nneka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm loving you more than I love myself
With no doubt
You stole my soul so I couldn't love myself
Oh no doubt
I'm loving you more than I love myself
With your mouth
You took my soul so and so I couldn't love myself
You want Dollars you want Euros is it Sullis is it Pounds
Is it Crowns is it Yens is it Lyons
Still the clouds are gray did you want us to believe that you love us
More than you love yourself
We have been wanting to trust you since
Had you praying on blood wounded knees for you to hear us out
In distress must confess you have achieved what is best
For the devil to rule our lives to ruin this world
Oh no doubt
I'm loving you more than I love myself
With your mouth
You stole my soul so I couldn't love myself
Oh no doubt
I'm loving you more than I love myself
With your mouth
You took my soul so and so I couldn't love myself
For there's war with our minds and our soul in the world
There are books there are laws there's religion for confusion for control
Every corner there is dragon there is pain
Is there love in the heart of man
For we know not what we do
Oh Eledumare Lord
Jah save us oo
Oh no doubt
I'm loving you more than I love myself
With your mouth
You stole my soul so I couldn't love myself
Oh no doubt
I'm loving you more than I love myself
With your mouth
You took my soul so and so I couldn't love myself
Oh oo oh oh oh oh sa-a-a-ve
Oh oh oh oh sa-a-a-ve
Oh oh oh oh for we know not what we do sa-a-a-ve ohooo we know not what we do oh oh oh oh
Ehhyy ehhyy eyyyyyyy sa-a-a-ve we know not save ourself
Oh no doubt
I 'm loving you more than I love myself
With your mouth
You stole my soul so I couldn't love myself
Oh no doubt
I'm loving you more than I love myself
With your mouth
You took my soul so and so I couldn't love myself
Oh no doubt
I'm loving you more than I love myself
With your mouth
You stole my soul so I couldn't love myself
Ummm
Ummm
Ummm
Ummm
Ummm
Ummm
The song "Lucifer" by Nneka is a commentary on the way people willingly give up their power and independence to those in positions of authority. The lyrics imply that the listener has fallen victim to a person who has seduced them into giving up their own identity, desires and needs, in their quest for power and wealth. The first verse talks about the singer's love for someone they are sacrificing their own self-love for. The verses also suggest that the person the singer is in love with has taken away their ability to love themselves, with their voice, implying that this person's words were so powerful they made the singer forget about their own worth.
The second verse speaks about how nations are often similarly led astray by their own rulers. Leaders promise to love their people, yet they use them for their selfish desires, like the accumulation of wealth. They prey on the listener's trust and vulnerability and become the devil to rule our lives and ruin this world. The lyrics overall seem to be about how people often give away their own power and fall under the influence of others, who convince them that their own individual needs are insignificant in comparison.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh no doubt
Undoubtedly, I have been loving you more than I have loved myself.
I'm loving you more than I love myself
I have been prioritizing my love for you above my own well-being.
You stole my soul so I couldn't love myself
Your actions have resulted in me losing my sense of self and my ability to love myself.
With your mouth
Through your words and promises.
You took my soul so and so I couldn't love myself
You have taken away my sense of identity and left me unable to care for myself.
You want Dollars you want Euros is it Sullis is it Pounds
You are greedy and money-driven, desiring various currencies and monetary figures.
Is it Crowns is it Yens is it Lyons
You will stop at nothing to get your hands on any form of wealth and riches, even if it means resorting to unethical ways.
Still the clouds are gray did you want us to believe that you love us
Despite your supposedly loving attitude towards us, there is still an air of uncertainty and doubt.
More than you love yourself
You claim to care for us more than you do for yourself, but this is likely a lie.
We have been wanting to trust you since
We have been wanting to trust you for a while now, but your actions have continuously shattered our trust and belief in you.
Had you praying on blood wounded knees for you to hear us out
We have been in a state of desperation, begging for your attention and understanding through painful and harsh times.
In distress must confess you have achieved what is best
Acknowledging that in times of desperation, you have been successful in achieving your own needs and goals.
For the devil to rule our lives to ruin this world
You have resorted to devilish and manipulative tactics to take control of our lives and negatively impact the world around us.
For there's war with our minds and our soul in the world
The world is filled with battles and challenges to our mental and emotional well-being.
There are books there are laws there's religion for confusion for control
Various entities, such as literature, laws, and religion, often induce confusion and control in our lives.
Every corner there is dragon there is pain
There is hardship, struggle, and a sense of overwhelming danger in every aspect of life.
Is there love in the heart of man
As a result of the difficulties and hardships of life, it is questioned whether or not love still exists in the hearts of people.
For we know not what we do
We are lost and unsure of what we are doing or where we are headed.
Oh Eledumare Lord
A plea to a higher power for guidance and support.
Jah save us oo
A call for Jah, or God, to save and help us.
Oh oo oh oh oh oh sa-a-a-ve
A repeated call for salvation and help.
Ehhyy ehhyy eyyyyyyy sa-a-a-ve we know not save ourself
A repeated plea for assistance and salvation, admitting that we are not capable of saving ourselves.
Ummm
An interjection, conveying an indeterminable emotion or thought.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: FARHAD SAMADZADA, NNEKA-LUCIA EGBUNA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nazahbarbosa6146
Ahhh Nneka...Sem palavras...Uma fã Brasileira,viciada em ouvir suas canções emocionantes...Queria que viesse ao Brasil!!!!
@cozishisaidso
Such a beautiful woman with a wonderful voice. A great gift to mankind!! I love Nneka!! <3
@MichaelDornelas
Maravilhosa 💕🇧🇷
@nuname3062
what an awesome woman, really respect her
@Blestyr
I'm happy that Nneka retain her roots and style even after becoming "famous". Some artists decide to change their style to please a certain kind of market, leaving behind the reason why fans loved them in the first place, to become something more "marketable". Not so with Nneka: she retains her style and personality, never leaving her fans down. Love you Nneka, keep yourself up!
@r2-d2b32
otra gran canción....me encanta
@albertcodonyer
increible, felicidades por ese trabajo tan impresionante.
@andrzejh5495
Polska też kocha tę piosenkę ;D
@suavedream7402
woow! You got a lovely voice...love this song a lot...used to watch it on tv...God bless you more Nneka
@CakeFaace
This is my favourite song of Nneka :)