Led by the husband-and-wife team of Glenn and Wendi Kaiser, the band has been the preeminent example of how to evangelize using Christian rock, but the quality musicianship of Resurrection Band has also been a driving force in the development of the Christian music industry at large. Glenn Kaiser also has an established solo career as a blues musican and is also a well-known speaker on various spiritual issues to youth and adults.
Official website: http://www.resurrectionband.com/
Afrikaans
Resurrection Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see a black man, see a coloured man in a cage,
The sweat of miners digging diamonds,
Digging graves to feed the boss-man, to feed his family, to feed his slaves,
Men are cursing, women praying for release, but when a white man kills one of "them" no one sees,
From Capetown to Pretoria, to Johannesburg, there is a crying of people dying that can be heard,
I hear the gunfire, see the blood run, smell the fear,
You lock your minds up, shut the curtains, you close your ears.
Forget the black man, neglect his baby, ignore his hell,
We need apartheid to keep the animal in his cell,
You sweep the pavement, shine the buildings, display the maid,
You say "Republic", I say, "Blind man, it's a cage,"
God makes the colour, but the colour doesn't make you God,
Oh, and in the judgement, he will remember the ones you've robbed,
Without the Lord's love this injustice will prevail,
Until Jesus is the only master we'll never break the bars of this jail.
The lyrics of Resurrection Band's "Afrikaans" express the pervasive racism that existed during apartheid in South Africa. The imagery of gunshots, blood, and miners digging graves paints a bleak picture of the violence and oppression that black and coloured people faced at the hands of white people. The lyrics also highlight the power dynamics that were at play, where white people held all the authority and used it to exploit the labour of black and coloured people. The chorus of "I hear the gunfire, see the blood run, smell the fear" drives home the sense of terror that permeated life for non-white people, while also pointing out the apathy or willful ignorance of white people who choose to ignore or close their minds to the suffering around them.
The verses of "Afrikaans" also contain religious allusions, with the lyrics referencing God's creation of different people of different colours, and the eventual judgment where those who have taken advantage of others will be held accountable. The use of the word "animal" to describe black people highlights the dehumanization that was a cornerstone of apartheid ideology. The lyrics are a stark reminder of the devastation wrought by apartheid, and the need to actively work against racism and oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear gunfire, see the blood run, feel the rage,
Amidst the chaos and commotion, hearing the sound of gunfire, seeing the blood shed and feeling the anger that prevails in the situation
I see a black man, see a coloured man in a cage,
Witnessing the unfortunate situation where the colored and black men are being subjugated and confined behind the bars
The sweat of miners digging diamonds,
The toil and hard work of the miners who are excavating diamonds
Digging graves to feed the boss-man, to feed his family, to feed his slaves,
The ironical process of working hard to excavate minerals but in return, the fruits of their hard work goes to the boss-man, their families and slaves instead of them
Men are cursing, women praying for release, but when a white man kills one of "them" no one sees,
In the moments of distress, men are expressing their fury and women are hoping for relief, but it seems that when a white person perpetrates violence, it goes unnoticed
From Capetown to Pretoria, to Johannesburg, there is a crying of people dying that can be heard,
The cries of the dying and oppressed people reach from Capetown to Pretoria and even to Johannesburg
I hear the gunfire, see the blood run, smell the fear,
Acknowledging the terrifying sights and sounds of bloodshed, accompanied by the stench of fear
You lock your minds up, shut the curtains, you close your ears.
Choosing to turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the plight of the oppressed and locking the thought processes that could help change the situation
Forget the black man, neglect his baby, ignore his hell,
Disregarding the sufferings of the black man, not only him but also his offspring, and even ignoring his struggles and agony
We need apartheid to keep the animal in his cell,
The desire to continue the practice of apartheid to keep the black man like an animal in his confinement
You sweep the pavement, shine the buildings, display the maid,
Prioritizing the beautification of the streets and display of servants but disregarding the plight of the black man
You say "Republic", I say, "Blind man, it's a cage,"
Disagreeing with the notion of Republic and claiming that it's nothing but a confinement for everyone living there
God makes the colour, but the colour doesn't make you God,
God created different colors but possessing a certain color doesn't make one superior or turn them into God-like figures
Oh, and in the judgement, he will remember the ones you've robbed,
On the day of reckoning, God shall remind people of the atrocities and sufferings they have caused to others
Without the Lord's love this injustice will prevail,
The only way to eliminate the injustice from persisting is through the love of the Lord which can help people empathize with the plight of the oppressed
Until Jesus is the only master we'll never break the bars of this jail.
As long as people don't surrender themselves to Jesus as their ultimate master, they won't be able to break free from the chains of their confinement
Contributed by Benjamin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
John McGowan
on Hotfootin'
A couple of lyrics changes:
"Banana-boat Buick blaring in stereo can't drown out what he is saying."
"Brothers and sisters he tells them..."
Bruce M. Axtens
on Benny & Sue
"ignored the one inside" or "ignored the warning sign"?