Recorded 1987
Released July 1987 on Anyone Can… Read Full Bio ↴Written by David Gedge
Recorded 1987
Released July 1987 on Anyone Can Make a Mistake
Personnel
David Gedge - vocals, guitar
Peter Solowka - guitar
Keith Gregory - bass
Shaun Charman - drums
Notes Originally recorded October 1986 for a BBC Session, the song was recorded proper in 1987 for inclusion as a B-side for their fifth single Anyone Can Make a Mistake. It was an attempt by David Gedge to write a song about something else other than a relationship, and the resulting lyric was inspired by a year he spent living in South Africa as a child.
All About Eve
The Wedding Present Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've read this page a thousand times
It's the only way that I could find to carry on
"Say. Isn't it a good life over here?
And can you catch another can of beer?
So sharp, so clear
You bet! And a good kaffir I've never met
But you know this heat will make them sweat!"
Oh man, I'm too full of hate to shake your hand
And don't you ever call me your friend
He'll take this land
Did you try to imagine the hate
That a young boy could feel?
Did you try to imagine the hate
That a young boy could feel?
Big game; four begging children by the train
The Afrikaner does the same
Then gets back on again
And who's she?
"They call he Black Revolution Eve"
On the master's land she sowed some seeds
Today she leaves
Did you try to imagine the hate
That a young boy could feel?
Did you try to imagine the hate
That a young boy could feel?
Did you try to imagine the hate
That a young boy could feel?
Did you try to imagine the hate
That a young boy could feel?
The Wedding Present's song All About Eve tells a powerful story of a young boy's hatred towards the apartheid system in South Africa. The lyrics are emotional and thought-provoking, taking the listener through various scenes of life in South Africa. The opening verse describes the boy's determination to keep reading about the struggle, hoping to find a way to keep going despite the overwhelming feeling of hate. He hears the voice of someone cheering and inviting him to have a "good life" and a "can of beer," but fails to emerge from his own anger and resentment.
The song then shifts to a powerful scene of a train passing by with four begging children and an Afrikaner who does nothing. The mention of "Black Revolution Eve" signifies the arrival of a strong woman who is trying to revolutionize things by planting seeds on the master's land. The song ends with her leaving the farm, but the lyrics beg for the listener to "try to imagine the hate that a young boy could feel."
Overall, the song is a poignant statement on the apartheid system, urging the listener to take notice of the injustice and cruelty that existed in the society. The song's lyrics show a powerful contrast between the oppressors and the oppressed, highlighting the struggle for freedom and equality.
Line by Line Meaning
I've read this page a thousand times
I keep going over this same scenario in my head over and over again
It's the only way that I could find to carry on
This is the only way I can cope with my pain
Say. Isn't it a good life over here?
A sarcastic remark about the lifestyle in South Africa
And can you catch another can of beer?
A request for another drink to numb the pain
So sharp, so clear
The clarity and precision of the situation in South Africa
You bet! And a good kaffir I've never met
A racist remark about a Black person
But you know this heat will make them sweat!
A racist remark about the climate in Africa
Tin wall, hot flesh
The oppressive nature of living in South Africa
Oh man, I'm too full of hate to shake your hand
I am too full of anger towards you to pretend to be friendly
And don't you ever call me your friend
I want nothing to do with you
He'll take this land
A reference to the apartheid government seizing land from Black people
Did you try to imagine the hate that a young boy could feel?
A rhetorical question about the deep-seated anger and resentment felt by Black South African children
Big game; four begging children by the train
The stark disparity between the wealthy and poor in South Africa
The Afrikaner does the same
White South Africans also beg for money
Then gets back on again
A reference to the societal and economic neglect of Black South Africans
And who's she?
A question about the identity of an important figure
"They call he Black Revolution Eve"
A reference to a powerful Black leader and activist
On the master's land she sowed some seeds
Black activists worked tirelessly to promote social change in the face of oppressive forces
Today she leaves
This activist is forced to flee from South Africa for her own safety
Contributed by Zachary N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@davidcrespin6987
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