Give I Fe I Name
Pablo Moses Lyrics
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I an'I don't want dis ya name
Chinese name chin and chung
Mc Intosh came from Scotland
Indian name Rajah and Gavaskar
I man sure Smith nuh come from Africa
Oh no, you hear what I say, oh no
Wo wo wo
When I reach Ethiopia, I feel embarassed
After telling I I-drens I name Morris
Because the name I have is for a European
Not the name of a black, black African
So take back your name and give I fe I name
I an'I don't want dis ya name
Chinese name Chin and Chung
Mc Intosh came from Scotland
Indian name Rajah and Gavaskar
I-man sure Smith nuh come from Africa
Oh no, you hear what I say, oh no
My brothers and sisters, no
Wo wo wo, no
You know the name I have I isn't the correct one
It was given to I by you, the Babylonians
It was not I wish to accept it
I and I was forced by you to use it
So take back your name and give I fe I name
I an'I don't want dis ya name
Chinese name Chin and Chung
Mc Intosh came from Scotland
Indian name Rajah and Gavaskar
I-man sure Smith nuh come from Africa
Oh no, you hear what I say, oh no
My brothers and sisters, no
Wo wo wo, no
This name nuh come from Africa, no
No, h, oh no.
In Pablo Moses's song "Give I Fe I Name," the singer urges the listeners to reclaim their African identity by rejecting the European names that were forced upon them by the colonial powers. Moses himself feels embarrassed by his European name when he is in Ethiopia, surrounded by people with African names. He points out how different names such as Chinese, Scottish, Indian, and English have been imposed on different cultures by different colonial powers. The use of the word "I-an-I" suggests that Moses is speaking on behalf of all black people who have been colonized and have lost their original names and cultural identity. Moses demands that the listeners take back their original names and reject the ones that were forced upon them.
The song highlights the issue of cultural identity and the impact of colonialism on people's lives. It asserts the importance of cultural heritage and the need to reconnect with one's roots. The line "My brothers and sisters, no" suggests that Moses wants his message to reach all black people who feel disconnected from their cultural heritage. The repetition of the line "Take back your name and give I fe I name" emphasizes the importance of reclaiming one's identity, and the use of different cultural names emphasizes the universality of the issue.
Line by Line Meaning
Take back your name and give I fe I name
I request that you relinquish ownership of my name and allow me to have my own unique name
I an'I don't want dis ya name
I do not wish to have this name
Chinese name chin and chung
Some Chinese people have a common last name of Chin or Chung
Mc Intosh came from Scotland
The surname McIntosh originates from Scotland
Indian name Rajah and Gavaskar
Some Indian people have the first name Rajah or the last name Gavaskar
I man sure Smith nuh come from Africa
I am certain that the surname Smith does not originate from Africa
Oh no, you hear what I say, oh no
An expression of disbelief or frustration at the current state of affairs
My brothers and sisters, no
A plea for support from the audience
Wo wo wo
An onomatopoetic expression of protest or dissatisfaction
When I reach Ethiopia, I feel embarassed
Upon arriving in Ethiopia, I feel ashamed of my European-sounding name
After telling I I-drens I name Morris
After revealing my given name of Morris to my friends and acquaintances
Because the name I have is for a European
My name belongs to the European cultural sphere
Not the name of a black, black African
It is not a name that is culturally relevant to African people
You know the name I have I isn't the correct one
I believe that my assigned name is incorrect or inappropriate
It was given to I by you, the Babylonians
My name was imposed upon me by an outside group or authority
It was not I wish to accept it
I did not choose to accept this name of my own volition
I and I was forced by you to use it
I was compelled to use this name against my own will
This name nuh come from Africa, no
This name does not have African origins
No, h, oh no.
A repetition of the earlier expression of frustration or protest
Contributed by Chase E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.