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.
Mind vs Heart
Nneka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What am I without my shadow
What is life without knowing that death comes
What is a song without a melody
Needed to search myself to go back
Had no signs of hope before lost in the darkness
Not knowing what my fate makes of me
There were swamps, slums, gottas, brunks, love songs,
Hidden pleasure, ignored passion, secret worship,
Quiet movement and undissolved self loving
Now I know God has brought me here for something
What is the mind without the heart
What am I without my shadow
What is life without knowing that death comes
What is a song without a melody
My head says I lost my way
But my heart knows that my life is destined in anyway
A long road running towards stops where I pay
Pay, pay for what I have taken and is got what I deserving
Oh God knows very well that my sins are always before me
Yes he gives and he takes and he wounds and he breaks,
He destroys and he builds and still I know
That his love is endless grace
What is the mind without the heart
What am I without my shadow
What is life without knowing that death comes
What is a song without a melody
Tell me what your mind is without your heart
Tell me do you feel, do you feel happiness
Your heart, your heart, your heart
Your soul, your soul, your soul
Say we must destroy in order to rebuild,
In order to rebuild don't you know, don't you know
Your heart, Polarity must be for you and me, for you and me
Nneka's song "Mind vs Heart" deals with the internal conflict between one's rational mind and emotional heart. The lyrics suggest that the mind and heart are both necessary to fully experience life, and that ignoring one or the other can lead to feeling lost in darkness. The song explores themes of self-discovery, destiny, and the struggle to reconcile our actions with our beliefs.
The first stanza of the song describes the importance of both the mind and heart, as well as the inevitability of death, which gives life a certain meaning. The second stanza is more introspective, as the singer searches within herself to find hope and purpose. She acknowledges the negative aspects of her past, but believes that even her mistakes are part of a larger journey that God has planned for her. The final stanza emphasizes the importance of both destruction and reconstruction, as well as the need for harmony between opposing forces in order to move forward.
Overall, "Mind vs Heart" is a powerful exploration of the human psyche and the struggle to find meaning in life. The lyrics are deeply personal and introspective, and the message is universal - everyone must learn to navigate the tensions between reason and emotion in order to live a fulfilling life.
Line by Line Meaning
What is the mind without the heart
Reflecting on the importance of balancing the logical and emotional aspects of oneself.
What am I without my shadow
Acknowledging the inseparable bond between oneself and one's imperfections.
What is life without knowing that death comes
Contemplating the transience and inevitability of life.
What is a song without a melody
Emphasizing the crucial role melody plays in music.
Needed to search myself to go back
Feeling compelled to explore one's past self to move forward.
Had no signs of hope before lost in the darkness
Feeling hopeless and lost in a dark place in life.
Not knowing what my fate makes of me
Uncertain about what the future holds in store.
And oh ignoring the fellowship accompanying me
Choosing to disregard the support and companionship of others.
There were swamps, slums, gottas, brunks, love songs,
Listing various experiences and emotions that were a part of the past journey.
Hidden pleasure, ignored passion, secret worship,
Reflecting on experiences and desires that were suppressed or kept hidden.
Quiet movement and undissolved self loving
Describing a sense of personal growth and self-love that endured over time.
Now I know God has brought me here for something
Believing that a higher power has a purpose for one's life.
My head says I lost my way
Feeling confused about one's path in life based on a logical analysis.
But my heart knows that my life is destined in anyway
Trusting in a sense of fate or destiny that transcends logical analysis.
A long road running towards stops where I pay
Acknowledging that past actions have consequences which will be faced in the future.
Pay, pay for what I have taken and is got what I deserving
Accepting responsibility for one's actions and being open to receiving appropriate consequences.
Oh God knows very well that my sins are always before me
Acknowledging one's flaws and imperfections, even if they are not easily visible to others.
Yes he gives and he takes and he wounds and he breaks,
Describing the unpredictable nature of life experiences and emotions.
He destroys and he builds and still I know
Recognizing that growth and progress can come from even the most difficult experiences.
That his love is endless grace
Believing in a higher power's boundless love and compassion for all beings.
Tell me what your mind is without your heart
Challenging listeners to consider what their lives would be like without the influence of emotion and empathy.
Tell me do you feel, do you feel happiness
Suggesting that true happiness can only be felt when one is attuned to their emotional experiences.
Your heart, your heart, your heart
Repeating the importance of the emotional aspect of oneself.
Your soul, your soul, your soul
Invoking the spiritual aspect of oneself that is connected to a higher purpose.
Say we must destroy in order to rebuild,
Proposing the idea that sometimes the old must be dismantled in order to create something new.
In order to rebuild don't you know, don't you know
Emphasizing the importance of recognizing that growth requires vulnerability and sacrifice.
Your heart, Polarity must be for you and me, for you and me
Reiterating the importance of balancing logic and emotion within oneself and with others.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Nneka Lucia Egbuna, Farhad Samadzada
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Julia
What is the mind without the heart
What am I without my shadow
What is life without knowing that death comes
What is a song without a melody
Needed to search myself to go back
Had no signs of hope before lost in the darkness
Not knowing what my fate makes of me
And oh ignoring the fellowship accompanying me
There were swamps, slums, gottas, brunks, love songs,
Hidden pleasure, ignored passion, secret worship,
Quiet movement and undissolved self loving
Now I know God has brought me here for something
What is the mind without the heart
What am I without my shadow
What is life without knowing that death comes
What is a song without a melody
My head says I lost my way
But my heart knows that my life is destined in anyway
A long road running towards stops where I pay
Pay, pay for what I have taken and is got what I deserving
Oh God knows very well that my sins are always before me
Yes he gives and he takes and he wounds and he breaks,
He destroys and he builds and still I know
That his love is endless grace
What is the mind without the heart
What am I without my shadow
What is life without knowing that death comes
What is a song without a melody
Tell me what your mind is without your heart
Tell me do you feel, do you feel happiness
Your heart, your heart, your heart
Your soul, your soul, your soul
Say we must destroy in order to rebuild,
In order to rebuild don't you know, don't you know
Your heart, Polarity must be for you and me, for you and me
aphrodisyack
great song!!!
ushadrons
This Women is most sincere artist I have heard in a long, long time. I can feel it. Content over style! A beautiful soul blessed with experience. Nneka, continue to let the universe come through. The world needs more like you.
Gadaluck
Raw n lovely vocals. No annoying autotune, just pure n natural. U go girl!!!!!
Galia
Great song! Great singer!! Good music! :-)
Ugodiva
Nneka is so unique and intelligent! She makes me proud to be Nigerian and Igbo ;-). She makes alot of sense, very deep, she tells the truth. Big ups Naija!!!
jurandir joquanan
muito foda o som dela
Pankreaskarzinome
Thanks for uploading!! Awesome song...but you really need to see her live! She turns your knees into rubber =)
larissa sesay
It's simply wonderful!!!
sarsquare
Fantastic, I love a song with a message, not like a lot of artists these days. Brill song through and through.
EyesLikeBlues
Nneka is a true genius! I highly respect artists like this!