The album
Entitled Tres Tres Fort, the band's debut album was released on Crammed Discs in March 2009. It was produced over the course of three years by Crammed's Vincent Kenis (known for introducing and producing bands such as Konono No1, Kasai Allstars, and for the Congotronics series). Kenis recorded the band mostly in the Kinshasa zoo. The album also contains four of Barret & de la Tullaye's videos
Website links: https://myspace.com/staffbendabilili
POLIO
Staff Benda Bilili Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was born as a strong man but polio crippled me
Look at me today, I'm screwed into my tricycle
I have become the man with the canes
The hell with those crutches!
Parents, please go to the vaccination center
Please save them from that curse
My parents had the good idea to register me for school
Look at me now: I'm a well-educated person
which enables me to work and support my family
Parents please don't neglect your children
The one who is disabled is no different from the others
(why should he?)
Treat all your children without discrimination
(don't throw anyone on the side)
Who among them will help you when you're in need?
God only knows who
Gesund und stark geboren, hat mich die Polio verkrüppelt.
Schau mich jetzt an, ich stecke in meinem Dreirad fest.
Ich wurde der zum Mann mit den Stöcken.
Zur Hölle mit den Krücken!
Eltern, geht bitte zum Gesundheitszentrum,
lasst Eure Babys gegen Polio impfen.
Rettet Sie vor diesem Fluch!
Meine Eltern waren schlau und schickten mich zur Schule
Schau mich jetzt an: Ich bin gebildet
und so kann ich für meine Familie sorgen.
Eltern, bitte vernachlässigt eure Kinder nicht.
Ein behindertes Kind ist ein Kind wie alle anderen
(warum auch nicht?)
Behandelt alle eure Kinder gleich
(lasst keinen links liegen)
Welches von Ihnen wird euch helfen, wenn Ihr in Not seid?
Das weiß nur Gott.
The song POLIO by Staff Benda Bilili is about the struggles of living with polio as a disabled person. The lyrics express the singer's frustration and pain at having been born healthy and strong, only to be crippled by polio. The use of the tricycle as a symbol for the singer's disability is powerful, as it highlights the confinement and limitations that his condition has imposed on him. Despite his disability, the singer has managed to achieve a level of education that has enabled him to work and support his family.
The song's message is one of hope and encouragement for parents to vaccinate their children against polio. The singer urges parents to take their babies to vaccination centers to protect them from this debilitating condition. He also emphasizes the importance of treating all children with equal love and care. Disabled children should not be neglected, but rather embraced as a crucial part of the family. The singer reminds us that we never know when we might need their help in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Gesund und stark geboren, hat mich die Polio verkrüppelt.
I was born healthy and strong, but polio left me paralyzed.
Schau mich jetzt an, ich stecke in meinem Dreirad fest.
Look at me now, I am stuck in my tricycle.
Ich wurde der zum Mann mit den Stöcken.
I have become the man with the canes.
Zur Hölle mit den Krücken!
Screw those crutches!
Eltern, geht bitte zum Gesundheitszentrum, lasst Eure Babys gegen Polio impfen.
Parents, please go to the vaccination center and get your babies vaccinated against polio.
Rettet Sie vor diesem Fluch!
Save them from this curse!
Meine Eltern waren schlau und schickten mich zur Schule
My parents were wise and sent me to school.
Schau mich jetzt an: Ich bin gebildet und so kann ich für meine Familie sorgen.
Look at me now, I am educated and able to support my family.
Eltern, bitte vernachlässigt eure Kinder nicht.
Parents, please do not neglect your children.
Ein behindertes Kind ist ein Kind wie alle anderen (warum auch nicht?)
A disabled child is like any other child (why wouldn't they be?)
Behandelt alle eure Kinder gleich (lasst keinen links liegen)
Treat all your children equally (don't leave anyone behind).
Welches von Ihnen wird euch helfen, wenn Ihr in Not seid? Das weiß nur Gott.
Which one of them will help you in times of need? Only God knows.
Contributed by Bentley F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alelakau8085
songtext in english und deutsch
I was born as a strong man but polio crippled me
look at me today, I´m screwed into my trycicle
I have become the man with the canes
The Hell with those crutches!
Parents, please go to the vaccination centre
get yout babies vaccinated against polio
please save them from that curse!
My parents had the good idea to register me for school
look at me now: I´m a well-educated person
which enables me to work and to support my family!
Parents, please don´t neglect your children
the one who is disabled is no different from the others
(why should he?)
treat all you children without discrimination
(don´t throw anyone on the side)
who among them will help you when you´re in need?
God only knows who!
Gesund und stark geboren, hat mich die Polio verkrüppelt
Schau mich jetzt an, ich stecke in meinem Dreirad fest.
Ich wurde der Mann mit den Stöcken.
Zur Hölle mit den Krücken!
Eltern, geht bitte zum Gesundheitszentrum,
lasst Eure Babys gegen Polio impfen.
Rettet Sie vor diesem Fluch!
Meine Eltern waren schlau und schickten mich zur Schule.
Schau mich jetzt an: ich bin gebildet
und so kann ich für meine Familie sorgen.
Eltern, bitte vernachlässigt Eure Kinder nicht!
Ein behindertes Kind ist ein Kind wie alle anderen
(warum auch nicht?)
Behandelt alle Eure Kinder gleich
(lasst keines links liegen)
Welches von ihnen wird Euch helfen, wenn Ihr in Not seid?
Das weiß nur Gott.
@conradecek
These are the coolest people in the world. Saw them last night, and they were one of the best shows I have ever seen. Most energy, most music, most heart. This kind of music is worth paying for.
@memas999
I am a polio survicor, since the age of 4 months, this song just broke my heart to pieces! You made feel again what is to be human and that is to feel the pain of the other and help him!!! God bless you!!!!
@sophiecrumb9386
Je pleure d’emotion et de respect... merci les gars, vous etes beaux et talentueux, on danse sur votre musique tous les jours ...💕💕💕
@YENMENDT
Definitely, we all have good health, a good place and we complain so much ... and they with all their disability and still decide to sing! Faith in God is infinite and is joy even in the smallest things!
@iacopodgfilm
I have bought their CD in Bristol and I bring their music to Italy! Staff are the best!
@dehteh76
to all people out there.. support their stuff.. buy it.. support humans with the heart at the right place... respect and love from germany to staff benda bilili
@TheAnakin275
Colours of Ostrava! The best concert of the festival
@sw24243
A great example of the power of music and video. Thank you for sharing this.
@dancingdave5404
A message that must be heard. Who better to deliver it than the brothers from Kinshasa who have walked the walk...can deliver the talk. The world thanks you.
@Stevenbadman
Très très fort...