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.
Still I Rise
Nneka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm careless with the things I own because of you
Speechless for all that we had is what we disregard now
Feel emptiness
You have had enough,
But this time I see the truth
You don't need me no more
I'm restless 'cos you don't love me like I love you
I'm restless 'cos my love just ain't coming through
Tell me how can your love gather so much of hate
Tell me how can you love, when we do not practice what we preach
Did we forget all we have been through
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of light you brought through
There is now darkness surrounding my world
There is now darkness surrounding my world
If you don't come now, Lord, if you don't come now, I'll die
You have had enough,
But this time I see the truth
You don't need me no more
You don't need me no more
And in the naked light, I see a brighter day
And at the end of the road, I will sit and smile and say
You don't need me no more
You don't need me no more
You don't need me no more
You don't need me no more
You don't need me no more
You don't need me no more
Now my work has been done and I set you free
You don't need me no more, you don't need me no more
My work has been done, breath, and so I set you free
You don't need me no more, you don't need me no more
So I set you free, so I set you free, so I set you free
You must go
Oh I set you free
And in the naked light, I see a brighter day
The lyrics of Nneka's song Still I Rise depict a relationship that has hit rock bottom. The singer is yearning for someone's attention and affection. They seem to be in a painful state of longing in their dreams and in their awake moments. The line "I'm restless 'cos you don't love me like I love you" reveals the core issue in this relationship - a lack of reciprocity in love. The singer seems to have invested so much into the relationship that they are starting to lose their own identity. They are neglecting their own possessions and their own needs for the sake of their partner.
The song progresses to the chorus where the singer acknowledges the truth - their partner does not need them anymore. They have reached the end of the road in this relationship. The singer is confessing that they have done everything they can do to make things work, but it seems that their efforts have been futile. They are now standing in isolation and darkness - a metaphor for their emotional state. However, the singer is resolute while talking to God. They plead for a brighter day, a divine intervention, or they will die.
The song ends on an optimistic note where the singer declares that they have finished their work, and they are setting their partner free. They say that they see a brighter day ahead and that they can now sit and smile at the end of the road. The singer is finally at ease, accepting the fact that their partner has moved on, and they are okay with it.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm restless, in my dreams I long for you
I am feeling uneasy and unsatisfied with my current state of being, constantly yearning for the presence of someone I deeply desire in my subconscious mind.
I'm careless with the things I own because of you
My focus and attention are directed toward my longing for you, causing me to neglect and disregard the material possessions that were once important to me.
Speechless for all that we had is what we disregard now
I find myself unable to express the emotions and feelings associated with memories of our past relationship, as they are now dismissed and ignored.
Feel emptiness
I am overwhelmed by a sense of loneliness and absence, feeling as though a part of me is missing due to the absence of your love.
You have had enough,
You have reached a limit in our relationship, and cannot continue on in the same way any longer.
But this time I see the truth
I now have a clear understanding of the reality of our situation, and am accepting that things cannot go on as they were.
You don't need me no more
You have realized that you no longer require my presence or love in your life.
I'm restless 'cos you don't love me like I love you
I am feeling unsettled and agitated because your love for me does not match the intensity and depth of my love for you.
I'm restless 'cos my love just ain't coming through
I am feeling disturbed because my love for you is not being received or acknowledged by you.
Tell me how can your love gather so much of hate
I am asking how it is possible for love to become so tainted and harmful, leading to negative feelings and animosity within our relationship.
Tell me how can you love, when we do not practice what we preach
I am questioning how we can claim to love each other when we do not consistently demonstrate the values and behaviors that love entails.
Did we forget all we have been through
I wonder if we have completely disregarded and neglected the experiences and memories we shared together as a couple.
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of light you brought through
I recall a time when you illuminated my life with brightness and joy, even if that brightness was fleeting and temporary.
There is now darkness surrounding my world
I feel lost and enveloped in darkness and despair, lacking the light and positivity that you once brought to my life.
If you don't come now, Lord, if you don't come now, I'll die
I am expressing urgency in my need for your love and presence in my life, feeling as though I cannot survive without it.
And in the naked light, I see a brighter day
I am able to envision a more positive and hopeful future, where the light of day illuminates the darkness and brings about brighter days.
And at the end of the road, I will sit and smile and say
When I reach the end of my journey, I will look back with contentment and happiness, knowing that I did my best and am content with the way things turned out.
Now my work has been done and I set you free
I have done all that I can do in this relationship, and am now granting you the freedom to make your own choices and decisions.
So I set you free, so I set you free, so I set you free
I am emphasizing my desire for you to be free and happy, repeating the sentiment multiple times to reinforce its importance.
You must go
It is time for us to part ways and move on from this relationship.
Oh I set you free
I repeat the phrase one final time, reinforcing the idea that I am letting go and granting you the freedom to choose your own path in life.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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