In Ghana in the 1950s, Teddy Osei (saxophone), Sol Amarfio (drums), Mamon Shareef and Farhan Freere (flute) played in a highlife band called The Star Gazers. They left to form The Comets, with Osei's brother Mac Tontoh on trumpet, and scored a hit in West Africa with their 1958 song "Pete Pete." In 1962 Osei moved to London to study music on a scholarship from the Ghanaian government. In 1964 he formed Cat's Paw, an early "world music" band that combined highlife, rock and soul. In 1969 he persuaded Amarfio and Tontoh to join him in London, and Osibisa was born.
The name Osibisa was described by the band members as meaning "criss cross rhythms that explode with happiness" but it actually comes from "osibisaba" the Fante word for highlife. Their style influenced many of the emerging African musicians over the last forty plus years.
Think About The People
Osibisa Lyrics
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Think about the world
Think about the people
Think about their lives
Stop for a moment
Think about the system
Think about your children
Think about the whole wide world!
RIGHT NOW!
Think about deception
Think about pollution
Think about radiation
Think about destruction
Think about revolution
Think about a revelation
Think about a solution
Or think about a whole wide world!
RIGHT NOW!
Think about the people
And think about their lives
Think about the people
And think about the system
Think about the people
And think about pollution
Think about the people
And think about a revolution
Think about the people
And think about a solution
RIGHT NOW!
We all know what the whole world needs
A little love... Understanding. Yah Yah. Right now. Oh yeah!
Think... Think... Think... Think
About the whole wide world
Think... Think... Right now
Think... About the system
Think... About the people
Think... Think... Think... Right Now
Think... Yeah yeah yeah yeah
In "Think About The People," Osibisa is urging listeners to pause and consider the state of the world and the lives of the people within it. They ask us to contemplate the system that governs our world, and the ways in which it affects not only ourselves but our children and the environment around us. In doing so, they touch upon some of the most pressing issues of the era in which the song was written: deception, pollution, radiation, destruction, and the need for a solution and a revolution.
The lyrics of this song are straightforward and urgent, imploring us to take action and think critically about the state of the world. The repeated chorus of "think" serves as a call to action, urging us to engage meaningfully with the problems they discuss rather than remaining passive observers. Ultimately, this song is a powerful call for awareness and engagement, asking us to think about the world around us and what we can do to make it a better place for all.
Line by Line Meaning
Now stop for a moment
Take a break from your daily activities and reflect on issues affecting the world
Think about the world
Ponder on the current state of the world and the challenges that it faces
Think about the people
Reflect on the individuals that make up the society and their welfare
Think about their lives
Consider the quality of life the people lead and identify areas that require improvement
Stop for a moment
Take a pause from your busy routine and reflect on the state of systems that govern our society
Think about the system
Ponder on the political, economic, and social institutions that run the society and identify areas for improvement
Think about your children
Consider the future of the next generation and the kind of world we want to bequeath them
Think about the whole wide world!
Reflect on the state of the world and the various challenges that require attention
Think about deception
Meditate on the dishonesty and unethical behaviors in society
Think about pollution
Consider the environmental degradation and its impact on people's health and quality of life
Think about radiation
Mull over the effects of radiation from sources such as nuclear energy on people's health and the environment
Think about destruction
Ponder over the destruction of natural habitats that houses plants and animals and the impact on our ecosystem
Think about revolution
Contemplate on how people can come together to bring effective and lasting change in society
Think about a revelation
Reflect on the big ideas and innovative solutions that can help to solve challenges afflicting humanity
Think about a solution
Identify practical actions that can help to solve societal issues and instigate positive change
Think about the people
Mull over the everyday people that make up society and the impact of decisions on their lives
And think about their lives
Consider the daily experiences and challenges of ordinary people
Think about the people
Reflect on the welfare of society's individuals
And think about the system
Consider how systems and institutions impact the lives of people
Think about the people
Reflect on the well-being of society's individuals
And think about pollution
Meditate on the negative effects of pollution on people's lives and the planet at large
Think about the people
Ponder on how society's individuals can come together to bring about change and betterment
And think about a revolution
Consider how society can bring about significant and lasting change for the betterment of everyone
Think about the people
Reflect on the welfare of people in society and make changes where possible
And think about a solution
Focus on finding practical, effective solutions to societal challenges
We all know what the whole world needs
It is common knowledge that there are challenges in the world that must be addressed
A little love... Understanding. Yah Yah. Right now. Oh yeah!
What the world needs right now is more love and empathy to understand others and bring about needed change
Think... Think... Think... Think
Reflect deeply on the many challenges that face the world
About the whole wide world
Focus on the many different issues that affect the world and its inhabitants
Think... Think... Right now
Reflect on the world's complications and issues now without hesitation
Think... About the system
Meditate on how the social, economic and political system affect people's livelihoods
Think... About the people
Ponder on how each change will impact society's individuals
Think... Think... Think... Right Now
Reflect on the world's complexities now without any procrastination
Think... Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Reflect internally and come up with ways to instigate positive change
Writer(s): TEDDY OSEI, SOL AMARFIO, MAC TONTOH, ROBERT BAILEY, WHENDELL RICHARDSON, ROY BEDEAU, LOUGHTY AMAO
Contributed by Adam S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Student
on Sunshine Day
I want abadza ewe anloga music to download
Anthony Enright
on Woyaya
A song from my early days that has not lost it's meaning!