They changed their name to Stimela after a life-changing experience in Mozambique when they were stranded in Maputo for three months. They had to sell all their belongings to take a train home. This trip was a watershed moment as it was where they conceived the new name for the band: train is translated as Stimela in Nguni languages.
Besides the change in name, the band also expanded with new members Charlie "Sam" Ndlovu, Nana Coyote, Thapelo Kgomo and Ntokozo Zungu. With soulful tunes and gripping lyrics, the band has recorded platinum-winning albums such as Fire, Passion and Ecstasy, Listen, Look and Decide as well as the controversial People Don't Talk, So Let's Talk. One of their most memorable tracks - "Whispers in the Deep" - was restricted for broadcast by the old South African Broadcasting Corporation.
Members
Ray Phiri - lead guitar, lead vocals (Raymond Chikapa Enock Phiri, 23 March 1947 – 12 July 2017)
Sam Ndlovu - Vocals
Isaac "Mnca" Mtshali - drummer
The late - Nana Coyote - lead vocals
Thapelo Kgomo - keyboards
Ntokozo Zungu - lead guitar
Bafana Khuzwayo - organ
Discography
1982: Fire, Passion and Ecstasy
1983: Rewind
1985: Shadows, Fear and Pain
1986: Look, Listen and Decide
1988: Live!
1987: Unfinished Story
1991: Siyaya
1983: Rewind (EP)
1985: Shadows Fear and Pain (EP)
1989: Trouble in the Land of Plenty
1994: Khululani
1995: Don't Ask Why
1995: Are You Ready (Live)
1987: The Unfinished Story
1996: Out of the Ashes
2000: Steam Tracks (Best of)
2001: Live At The Market Theatre - 1st Half (Live)
2002: The 2nd Half (Live)
2010: A Lifetime...
2011: turn on the sun
Raymond Chikapa Enock Phiri (23 March 1947 – 12 July 2017) was a South African jazz, fusion and mbaqanga musician born in Mpumalanga to Malawian immigrant worker and South African guitarist nicknamed "Just Now" Phiri. He became founding member of the Cannibals in the 1970s. When the Cannibals disbanded Ray founded Stimela, with whom he conceived gold and platinum-selling albums like Fire, Passion and Ecstacy (1991), Look, Listen and Decide (1992) as well as the controversial People Don't Talk So Let's Talk.
See the World
Stimela Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I'm stealing into the night
With this broken hurt
Won't you please write a letter to yourself
Maybe we'll touch base when I see your thoughts
Won't you please take this time far away
There's too much blood flowing around
Won't you please take this child by the hand
Put a smile on the child's face
So scared of those brother
Always feeling so alone
Now won't you please take the time to right the wrong
That was inherited by nest with tube
Say it loud, Say it loud
Say it loud and clear
I made a call to the Missing People's Bureau
I wrote a song I had never sung
The voice on the other side
Sad, Pained and old
They said, Son, There's no time for a second call
Try again tomorrow
So I'm blue, I said
Take my soul, Take my pain
Take my paycheck and all
But please take the child
With a little help from our friends
From my friends in high places
From my friends in even higher places
We can save the child
Why won't you be, Be responsible
Don't take your time to think about the needs of the child
It's their world we're living in
See the world through the eyes of the child
Imagine yourself in the same situation
You got nobody
You know no other
You so lonely, Sad's got a darkness
You were a child once
That makes my lesson day light intimidating
Happiness and grace
Love is a destination
Belonging in inspiration in gentile
See the world through the eyes of a child
(See the world through the eyes of a child)
Take this child away from me, Too much blood for him (See the world through the eyes of a child)
Petrified, Petrified, Protect the child (See the world through the eyes of a child)
(See the world through the eyes of a child)
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
The lyrics of the song “See the World” by the South African band Stimela deal with the challenges and difficulties faced by children living in poverty, particularly in Africa. The opening lines "It don't hurt no more, As I'm stealing into the night, With this broken hurt" sets the context of the song, portraying the pain and desperation of parents who are forced to abandon their children due to extreme poverty. The lyrics urge the listeners to take a step towards making the world a better place by acknowledging their responsibility towards the children who face numerous obstacles and challenges from lack of education to exposure to violence and abuse.
The singer then makes a plea to the listeners to take action and make a difference in the world that we live in by "writing a letter to yourself" and trying to understand the pain and suffering of these children. The imagery of "too much blood flowing around" suggests that there is too much violence and negativity surrounding the children, which is why the need to "take this child by the hand, put a smile on the child's face" is paramount.
The chorus of "See the world through the eyes of a child" is repeated throughout the song and is a call to action to all the listeners, urging them to contemplate the struggles of children living in poverty and to imagine themselves in the same situation. The song ends on a note of hope and positivity, with the repeated "oh yeah" suggesting that if everyone works together, we can make a difference in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
It don't hurt no more
I am no longer in pain
As I'm stealing into the night
I am sneaking away in the darkness
With this broken hurt
Despite my pain, I am still hurt inside
Won't you please write a letter to yourself
Can you take some time to reflect on your own thoughts?
Maybe we'll touch base when I see your thoughts
Perhaps we can reconnect when we understand each other's perspectives
Won't you please take this time far away
Please take some space and distance yourself from the situation
There's too much blood flowing around
The situation is too violent and dangerous
Please be saviors child
Let us all be the savior for the child in need
Won't you please take this child by the hand
Can you offer guidance and support to this vulnerable child?
Put a smile on the child's face
Bring joy and happiness to the child's life
So scared of those brother
The child is afraid of their abusers
Always feeling so alone
The child feels isolated and abandoned
Now won't you please take the time to right the wrong
We must take action to correct the injustices that have been done
That was inherited by nest with tube
Generational trauma has affected this family
Say it loud, Say it loud
We must speak up and make our voices heard
Say it loud and clear
We must communicate our message effectively
I made a call to the Missing People's Bureau
I reached out to an organization for help finding a missing person
I wrote a song I had never sung
I expressed my emotions through art
The voice on the other side
The person who answered the phone
Sad, Pained and old
The person on the phone sounded unhappy, hurt, and elderly
They said, Son, There's no time for a second call
The organization is too busy to provide immediate assistance
Try again tomorrow
Please call back at a later time
So I'm blue, I said
I am feeling sad and defeated
Take my soul, Take my pain
I am offering up my being and my suffering for the cause
Take my paycheck and all
I am willing to sacrifice my financial stability to help
But please take the child
Our top priority should be rescuing the child from harm
With a little help from our friends
We can achieve great things if we work together
From my friends in high places
We can leverage the power and influence of our influential connections
From my friends in even higher places
We can enlist the help of those with even greater authority and power
We can save the child
Together, we can rescue and protect the innocent child in danger
Why won't you be, Be responsible
It is our duty to take responsibility for the well-being of others
Don't take your time to think about the needs of the child
We must act quickly to address the immediate needs of the child in danger
It's their world we're living in
We must prioritize the future and safety of the next generation
See the world through the eyes of the child
We should try to understand the experiences of the vulnerable child
Imagine yourself in the same situation
Put yourself in the child's shoes and think about how you would feel
You got nobody
The child has no one to turn to for help
You know no other
The child has no other options or resources
You so lonely, Sad's got a darkness
The child is sad, alone, and facing a bleak reality
You were a child once
We must remember our own childhood experiences and empathize with the vulnerable child
That makes my lesson day light intimidating
The gravity and urgency of the situation can be overwhelming
Happiness and grace
We should strive to bring joy and kindness into the child's life
Love is a destination
Love is a powerful force that can bring us all together towards a brighter future
Belonging in inspiration in gentile
We can find motivation and inspiration in the sense of community and belonging
Take this child away from me, Too much blood for him
We must intervene and save the child from the violent and dangerous situation they are in
Petrified, Petrified, Protect the child
The child is terrified and vulnerable, so we must take action to ensure their safety
(See the world through the eyes of a child)
Let us try to see the world from the child's perspective
Oh yeah
An expression of affirmation and agreement
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Thatoblackchild
Lyrics:
It don't hurt no more
As I'm stealing into the night
With this broken heart
Won't you please write a letter to yourself
Maybe we'll touch base, when I see your thoughts.
Won't you please take this child far away
There's too much blood flowing around
Please be saviors' child
Won't you please take this child by the hand
Put a smile on the child's face
So scared of those brother
Always feeling so alone
Now won't you please take this time to right the wrong
That was inherited by nest with tube
Say it loud, Say it loud
Say it loud and clear
I made a call to the Missing People's Bureau
I wrote a song, I had never sung
The voice on the other side
Sad, Pained and old
They said, Son, There's no time for a second call
Try again tomorrow
So I'm blue, I said
Take my soul, Take my pain
Take my paycheck and all
But please save the child
Hhhuuuhhh hoooo woooo!...
With a little help from our friends
From my friends in high places
From my friends even in higher places
We can save the child
Why won't you be, Be responsible
Don't take your time to think about the needs of the child
It's their world we're living in
See the world through the eyes of the child
Imagine yourself in the same situation
You got nobody
You know no other
You so lonely, Sad's got a darkness
You were a child once
That makes my lesson day light intimidating
Happiness and grace
Love is a destination
Belonging in inspiration in gentile
See the world through the eyes of a child
(See the world through the eyes of a child)
Take this child away from me, Too much blood for him (See the world through the eyes of a child)
Petrified, Petrified, Protect the child (See the world through the eyes of a child)
(See the world through the eyes of a child)
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
@lobnaboukadi731
"See the world through the Eyes of a Child ... in particular, was special to you because it was a song about a neglected, homeless child, exposed to much street violence and blood, and subsequently grown to be scared of darkness. It was a song of prolonged pain and suffering; but it was also a song of hope and love. It reminded you strongly of your own loneliness and fear of rejection at certain dark times of your life." Welcome To Our Hillbrow
@SlitDrum
One of my favorite books!
@qamaninjara2482
Never have I connected with a quote more. Good to know there is someone else who appreciates that book as much as i do
@lesibakekana2823
A very smart lady... Well defined.
@aqaulibriumprojects6621
Wow
@bongiwedlomo52
❤❤❤❤
@Happs525
I remember the first time I heard this years ago, was moved by Nana's voice, with whats happening in our country this song is relevant everyday. Stimela ❤
@sirgiftmediaproductions8302
We need a South African movie that will honor Stimela
@simonpark92
Best Song i have Heard in awhile I want to hug the Person WHO Made this
@zzmncina7349
When ever i play this song all i think about is how i grew up and think of my children 😢,tears fall coz i don't know how they will end when I'm gone