Bamako
Songhoy Blues Lyrics

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Samedi soir à Bamako sur ma moto
Samedi soir à Bamako sur ma moto
Ho ho ho ho c′est chaud
Ha ha ha ha c'est là

Samedi soir à Bamako sur ma moto
Samedi soir à Bamako sur ma moto
Ho ho ho ho c′est chaud

Ha ha ha ha c'est là

Ir ma fata
Ir ma fata
Ir ma fata
Ir ma fata

Il est 21h au cop me voilà sur la route
Mais tous les resto du bord de la capitale sont déjà sold out
C'est le rendez vous du peuple au carrefour de la joie
Nordistes et sudistes on s′éclate sur la même piste
C′est beau de voir tous ces couples
Bien habillés qui nous arrivent à bout
Lady sexy, les garçons chauds
Samedi soir c'est le jour

Ir ma fata
Ir ma fata
Ir ma fata
Ir ma fata

Un seul arbre qui tombe, le bruit s′installe
Mais la forêt?? couches, on entend que dalle
C'est terrible quand s′installe la peur faisons la fête

Samedi soir à Bamako sur ma moto
Samedi soir à Bamako sur ma moto
Ho ho ho ho c'est chaud
Ha ha ha ha c′est là
Ho ho ho ho c'est chaud
Ha ha ha ha c'est là

Ir ma fata
Ir ma fata
Ir ma fata
Ir ma fata
Ir ma fata
Ir ma fata

Ir ma fata
Ir ma fata

Overall Meaning

The song "Bamako" by Songhoy Blues is a celebration of the vibrant nightlife and culture of the capital city of Mali. The lyrics describe the experience of being out on a Saturday night in Bamako, riding a motorcycle through the city and taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling streets. The repetition of the phrase "Samedi soir à Bamako sur ma moto" (Saturday night in Bamako on my motorcycle) gives the song a hypnotic quality, as if the listener is being transported through the city along with the singer.

The chorus of the song, "Ir ma fata," is a phrase in the Songhai language that means "let's dance" or "let's enjoy ourselves." This phrase emphasizes the festive atmosphere of the song and encourages the listener to join in the celebration.

Throughout the song, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of the diverse and joyful community that can be found in Bamako. The singer observes people from different regions of Mali coming together to dance and have fun, despite their differences. The song celebrates the power of music and dance to bring people together and create a sense of unity and joy.

Overall, "Bamako" is a joyous and celebratory song that captures the spirit of a vibrant city and its people.

Line by Line Meaning

Samedi soir à Bamako sur ma moto
The singer is riding his motorcycle on a Saturday night in Bamako.

Ho ho ho ho c′est chaud
The singer is enthusiastic about the atmosphere of the city, using 'chaud' to convey both heat and excitement.

Ha ha ha ha c'est là
The singer is delighting in the moment and location of the experience.

Il est 21h au cop me voilà sur la route
It is 9pm and the singer is headed towards the city center.

Mais tous les resto du bord de la capitale sont déjà sold out
All the restaurants on the outskirts of the capital are already full.

C'est le rendez vous du peuple au carrefour de la joie
The city center is the gathering place for people to have fun and enjoy themselves.

Nordistes et sudistes on s’éclate sur la même piste
Both northerners and southerners are dancing and having fun on the same dancefloor.

C'est beau de voir tous ces couples bien habillés qui nous arrivent à bout
The singer admires the sight of well-dressed couples arriving at the event.

Lady sexy, les garçons chauds
The singer observes attractive women and hot guys at the event, adding to the overall excitement of the night.

Samedi soir c'est le jour
Saturday night is the best night of the week for partying in Bamako.

Un seul arbre qui tombe, le bruit s’installe
Even the sound of a single falling tree can make an impression when the city is otherwise quiet.

Mais la forêt?? couches, on entend que dalle
But when the entire forest is down, there is complete silence.

C'est terrible quand s’installe la peur faisons la fête
Fear can take over in a time of silence, but the singer suggests that the better option is to keep the party going despite it.

Writer(s): Garba Toure, Aliou Toure, Nathanael Dembele, Oumar Toure

Contributed by Samantha L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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