The traditional folkloric music of Kenya has not received the same global exposure as that of Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Africa or North Africa, for example, and one of the objectives of this project was to try and build on this. The band draw on a broad spectrum of African influences, from Fela Kuti and Tony Allen to the likes of Thomas Mapfumo and Oumou Sangare, but bar Jesse’s participation with Damon Albarn’s Africa Express, this was the first opportunity for Jesse Hackett (keys), Louis Hackett (bass), Sam Lewis (guitar), Chris Morphitis (bouzouki/guitar) and Tom Skinner (drums) to visit specifically for a musical project.
The boys’ first trip to Nairobi was in January 2009 to meet and collaborate with two Kenyan musicians: Joseph Nyamungo and Charles Okoko who hail from a village up country called Owiny Sigoma. The workshop/rehearsals were a lot of fun and pretty fruitful – “They acted as a skills exchange and a way of sharing our music. We learned some of their songs and they learned some of our songs too,” explains Tom. Finding a studio that could accomodate a 7-piece live band wasn’t easy but eventually they holed up in an amazing disused factory space to record. The resulting four tracks made their way to Gilles Peterson who promptly signed the band to his Brownswood imprint and sent the boys back to Nairobi for another week-long recording session with Joseph, Charles and their extended musical family.
The results are documented on the band’s forthcoming album – a collection of gloriously hypnotic Afro grooves symbolic of the true culture clash between the Luo and London. The project will finally be released on 2nd May 2011, preceded by a 12” boasting a monstrous Theo Parrish remix available exclusively via Record Store Day on 16th April 2011. The Motor City legend stripped back the melodic content to the bare essentials and built one of his trademark twisted trips in a whirlwind session with Floating Points at Eglo Studios, London.
Harpoon Land
Owiny Sigoma Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Step right, down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied, words are unspoken
Let love
We haven't done much
But there's a lot going on
Sounds travel down a bloodline
Spirits live through the song
Step right, down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied, words are unspoken
Let love
Hear the voices on the eight strings
Feel it breathing from the drums
Sounds travel down a bloodline
Spirits live through the song
This harpoon land
This harpoon land
Get back, talk in broken language
Step right, down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied, words are unspoken
Let love
Get back, talk in broken language
Step right, down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied, words are unspoken
Let love
The lyrics of Owiny Sigoma Band's "Harpoon Land" demonstrate themes of communication and feeling, expressed through the use of metaphors and imagery. The song's opening line, "Get back, talk in broken language," suggests a difficulty in expressing oneself, perhaps due to a language barrier or simply a lack of adequate words to convey one's emotions. The repeated line "Step right, down in this harpoon land" implies a journey or a task, and "harpoon land" itself could represent a place where things are difficult or dangerous, or perhaps where relationships are unpredictable and unstable.
Throughout the song, the lyrics suggest that despite these challenges, something meaningful is still being shared or experienced. The line "We haven't done much but there's a lot going on" hints at a depth below the surface, and the repeated reference to sounds and spirits suggests a communion that transcends words. The refrain, "Let love," reinforces this idea that despite the difficulties of communication, feelings and connections can still be shared.
Line by Line Meaning
Get back, talk in broken language
Step away and speak in a way that is not fluent or well-formed.
Step right, down in this harpoon land
Enter and descend into this place where weapons used for hunting whales are common.
Tongue tied, words are unspoken
Feeling unable to express oneself through speech.
Let love
Allow love to exist and be present.
We haven't done much
We haven't accomplished much.
But there's a lot going on
Despite the lack of specific achievements, many things are happening around us.
Sounds travel down a bloodline
Music and culture can be passed down from generation to generation.
Spirits live through the song
The essence and energy of individuals can be felt and experienced through music.
Hear the voices on the eight strings
Listen to the sounds produced by the eight-stringed instrument.
Feel it breathing from the drums
Experience the life and energy emanating from the percussion instruments.
This harpoon land
This place associated with the tools used for hunting whales.
This harpoon land
This place associated with the tools used for hunting whales.
Get back, talk in broken language
Step away and speak in a way that is not fluent or well-formed.
Step right, down in this harpoon land
Enter and descend into this place where weapons used for hunting whales are common.
Tongue tied, words are unspoken
Feeling unable to express oneself through speech.
Let love
Allow love to exist and be present.
Get back, talk in broken language
Step away and speak in a way that is not fluent or well-formed.
Step right, down in this harpoon land
Enter and descend into this place where weapons used for hunting whales are common.
Tongue tied, words are unspoken
Feeling unable to express oneself through speech.
Let love
Allow love to exist and be present.
Contributed by Lillian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
cdragon1995
These are what I believe the lyrics to be:
Get back talk in broken language
Step right down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied words are unspoken
let love
We haven't done much
But there's alot going on
Sounds travel down a bloodline
Spirits live through the song
Get back talk in broken language
Step right down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied words are unspoken
let love
Hear the voices on the eight strings
Feel it breathing from the drums
Sounds travel down a bloodline
Spirits live through the song
This harpoon land
This harpoon land
Get back talk in broken language
Step right down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied words are unspoken
let love
Get back talk in broken language
Step right down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied words are unspoken
let love
Aaron
Get back, talk in broken language
Step right, down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied, words are unspoken
Let love
We haven't done much
But there's a lot going on
Sounds travel down a bloodline
Spirits live through the song
Get back, talk in broken language
Step right, down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied, words are unspoken
Let love
Hear the voices on the eight strings
Feel it breathing from the drums
Sounds travel down a bloodline
Spirits live through the song
This harpoon land
This harpoon land
Get back, talk in broken language
Step right, down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied, words are unspoken
Let love
Get back, talk in broken language
Step right, down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied, words are unspoken
Let love
xcitive
Thanks GTA for letting me discover such great music.
Jarius Spear
i know right
216
xcitive for real!
Rohit Joshi
Since GTA3 I knew they had impeccable taste 👌
Devious Lito
@Rohit Joshi you should the interview with lazlo he’s in charge of the music department at gta/rockstars and prettty much that was his goal to put people on to music
Devious Lito
It’s on the all out show I believe
mcpencil
One of the best tracks in GTA V.
Chi Chin
THAT GUITAR beat IS FUCKING AMAZING !! Sounds majestic
Frank Yoster
THANK U GTA! I took shrooms when I was camping with buddy's and I played this song and everyone was like " PUT IT ON REPLAY" we played this song on repeat for 4 hours 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
cdragon1995
These are what I believe the lyrics to be:
Get back talk in broken language
Step right down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied words are unspoken
let love
We haven't done much
But there's alot going on
Sounds travel down a bloodline
Spirits live through the song
Get back talk in broken language
Step right down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied words are unspoken
let love
Hear the voices on the eight strings
Feel it breathing from the drums
Sounds travel down a bloodline
Spirits live through the song
This harpoon land
This harpoon land
Get back talk in broken language
Step right down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied words are unspoken
let love
Get back talk in broken language
Step right down in this harpoon land
Tongue tied words are unspoken
let love