Effortlessly combining folk, reggae, soul and blues, the singer/songwriter/guitarist , Patrice, exploded onto the music scene with his phenomenal testimonial debut Lions E.P in 1999 aged just 18. With the deep lyrical content and social conscience resonating within his work, Patrice alludes to his late father (a Sierra Leonian political activist and poet) and Bob Marley as the greatest influences on his music. Lions, with its tales of love and social rhetoric coupled with raw acoustic production, perfectly showcased Patrices distinctive fusion of lyrics, sounds and genres. After supporting Lauryn Hill on her much acclaimed Miseducation of Tour, Patrice released his critically acclaimed first album Ancient Spirits in 2000 (European sales in excess of 150,000)
Since 2001, Patrice has toured relentlessly and wooed audiences at gigs across Europe, USA and Africa. Whether solo, acoustic or with his band Shashamani, a big combination of humour, B-boy stage antics, and incredible musicianship have thus far made Patrices live shows a highlight of his career. Five years on, his reputation has been cemented with show stopping headline performances alongside Youssouf N'Dour in Senegal, Manu Chao and Damon Albarn at The Festival In The Desert and the Tamika Reggae Awards in New York amongst many others.
His second largely self produced album How Do You Call It (released in Europe September 2002) saw Patrice evolving his sound with a rich melange of Hip Hop, Soul and Reggae which underpinned twelve well crafted songs. Recorded over a two-month period in Jamaica and with 3 tracks produced in London with Cameron McVey, Massive Attack, Youssouf N'Dour, Andu Baraganescu and Neneh Cherry, How Do You Call It further cemented his unique niche in todays diverse musical landscape. The LP also spawned the Pan European hit Sunshine.
Nile, Patrice's third and most current album (named after the river Nile, representing Life in the African continent) is truly a bold undertaking and can be described as a work of astounding maturity, sincerity and sensitivity. Whether rocking to the amped guitar, explosive drums and African percussion behind Africanize Dem or soaking up the beautiful rendition of the obscure Wailers track It Hurts To Be Alone it's clear that experimentation has lent his work an undeniable urgency and freshness. The present single Soulstorm has provided Patrice with another European hit. The majority of 2005 was spent performing to sell out audiences throughout Europe which included his first headlined show for all the UK fans at The Borderline, in London, and perhaps the pinnacle of his career so far, playing in front of the 6,000 fans who filled out the Zenith in Paris. In the summer of 2006 Patrice released a live DVD which gives the audience an exclusive look at how Nile was recorded, rehearsed and performed throughout the world.
Slave To The River
Patrice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And this is what she said:
I look simple yet I'm complex
I do not distract
I have the same color
As the son I was built of
My shape is beautiful
and at the river she showed me my dream
only peace could deliver
the son of sons and let him rescue me anyway
Slave to the river
Following no sinner
Slave to the river
Following no sinner
Teardops gonna flow away
Sunshine gonna bow the rain
When the smoke cleared
she was standing there
There was no more fear on the battlefield
Tell me who is fit to judge a man
That was there from before time began
The ancient spirit
from the river bank
babtunde son of a great man
that was known to be a givin' one
Living son of a mother that is beautiful
oh I feel so powerful
When I flow end...
Slave to the river
Following no sinner
Slave to the river
Following no sinner
Teardops gonna flow away
Sunshine gonna bow the rain
Follow the one
and only true don gogon
"lay" was born from the soil
that was planted by the "gwan
I am the son of sons of chamnuka and
Nehanda hrere true kwere kwere african
who's knocking at my door and
want fi offer me american
brainwash my nation to amageddon
with nuclear science, technology and
money charm
but soon and very soon I ah know
that their day will come
prophecied in revelations
cry me a river where peace sees
the morning sun
and the resurrection of leader and swan
Slave to the river
Following no sinner
Slave to the river
Following no sinner
Teardops gonna flow away
Sunshine gonna bow the rain
The song "Slave to the River" by Patrice, featuring Laygwan Sharkie, is a poignant and powerful message of strength and resilience. The lyrics describe a person who is drawn to the river and is deeply moved by its beauty and complexity. The river appears simple at first, but is in fact a complex, multi-layered entity. The singer of the song sees themselves in the river, as they too are complex and nuanced. The river becomes a symbol of strength and resilience, and the singer sees themselves as a slave to this symbol.
The river is also a source of dreams and hope. It is where the singer finds their dream, and where they are able to find peace and deliverance. The river is a place of power, and the singer feels this power flowing through them as they become more connected to the river. The singer declares that they are a slave to the river, but this is not a negative thing. Rather, it is a testament to the strength and resilience that the river represents.
Overall, "Slave to the River" is a song about finding strength and hope in difficult times. The river is a symbol of the power that can be found in nature, and the singer sees themselves as part of this power. The lyrics are full of imagery and metaphor, and the song has a powerful emotional impact.
Line by Line Meaning
He went down to the river
The person went to the river
And this is what she said:
Someone (superior) spoke, which was probably the river
I look simple yet I'm complex
The river looks simple, but it's actually more intricate than it seems
I do not distract
The river is natural and doesn't interfere with anything around it
I have the same color
The river is the same color as the son (sun) that it was created from
As the son I was built of
The river came forth from its natural surroundings, the sun
My shape is beautiful
The river has an attractive appearance
From a stream she cried me a river
The river was formed from a stream, which likely cried or flowed heavily
and at the river she showed me my dream
At the river, the artist was able to realize their dream
only peace could deliver
The only way the artist's dream could come true was through peace
the son of sons and let him rescue me anyway
A son, like a hero, saved the singer from any troublesome situations
When the smoke cleared
After a difficult situation or battle, things calmed down
she was standing there
The river, being a consistent part of nature, remained in place
There was no more fear on the battlefield
The singer wasn't scared about what happened there
Tell me who is fit to judge a man
As a rhetorical question, no one has the right to judge another person
That was there from before time began
Someone who existed before the beginning of time isn't at fault for anything
The ancient spirit
The river's spirit is connected to older, important forces
from the river bank
The spirit emerged or lives near the river's banks
babtunde son of a great man
Babatunde, likely a person, is the child of someone important
that was known to be a givin' one
The father was generous and giving
Living son of a mother that is beautiful
Babatunde's mother is beautiful and alive
oh I feel so powerful
The artist feels strong and confident
When I flow end...
When the singer moves on or dies
Follow the one
Follow an important figure or leader
and only true don gogon
This leader is likely called Don Gogon and is significant
"lay" was born from the soil
The singer Lay was born from a natural setting, the soil
that was planted by the "gwan
The soil was prepared by someone known as Gwan
I am the son of sons of chamnuka
The artist, Lay, is the child of Chamnuka's offspring
Nehanda hrere true kwere kwere african
Someone else, possibly a group of people, are true African descendants
who's knocking at my door and
Someone is approaching the singer
want fi offer me american
They are offering the singer something from America
brainwash my nation to amageddon
The American offer would harm the artist's nation in some way
with nuclear science, technology and
The harmful offer involves technology and energy
money charm
This harmful offer includes the influence of money
but soon and very soon I ah know
The singer is confident that soon things will resolve
that their day will come
The people offering harm will face repercussions
prophecied in revelations
This prediction was foretold in religious texts
cry me a river where peace sees
The singer wants to go to a peaceful place to cry
the morning sun
This place has the sun shining down on it in the morning
and the resurrection of leader and swan
At this peaceful place, there will be a restoration of important figures or symbols
Teardops gonna flow away
The artist's tears will eventually stop
Sunshine gonna bow the rain
The sun's presence will change rainy conditions
Slave to the river
The singer is dedicated to the river
Following no sinner
The artist is righteous and isn't following anyone who is malicious
Slave to the river
The artist is dedicated to the river
Following no sinner
The artist is righteous and isn't following anyone who is malicious
Contributed by Isabelle L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.