Tiken Jah was born into a family of griots and christened Doumbia Moussa Fakoly on June 23, 1968 in Odienne, north-western Côte d'Ivoire. He discovered reggae at an early age, assembling his first group, Djelys, in 1987. He became well-known at a regional level, but would soon ascend to national recognition.
Concerned by the social and political evolution of his country, it was not long before Tiken Jah was writing incisive works on the political environment in Côte d'Ivoire. One such work was on the death of Felix Houphouet-Boigny in 1993, which resulted in a surge of popularity amongst the nation's youth. In 1998, Fakoly made his first international appearance in Paris.
Tiken Jah Fakoly plays music "to wake up the consciences". His music speaks about many injustices done to the people of his country, and those over Africa. As such, African listeners feel a deep affinity with his lyrics as Fakoly speaks for people whom are under oppression. This connection has helped make Tiken Jah Fakoly a much-listened artist throughout both Europe and Africa.
Discography
1. 1993: Les Djelys (cassette only - discontinued)
2. 1994: Missiri (cassette only - discontinued)
3. 1996: Mangercratie
4. 1999: Cours d'histoire
5. 2000: Le Cameleon (exclusive to West Africa)
6. 2002: Françafrique (a term coined by Francois Xavier-Verschave)
7. 2004: Coup de gueule
8. 2005: Africa wants to be free, compilation to support fr:Survie (association)
NOTE: Mangercratie was released in France in 1999 and in Canada in 2000. Cours d'histoire was released in France in 2000 and in Canada in 2001. The first two albums were only released in Côte d'Ivoire.
Outside Projects
Tiken Jah Fakoly has recorded various tracks with other artists. He is featured on Steel Pulse: African Holocaust, on Rike: Airt Frais, on Bernard Laviliers: Carnet De Bord, on Amadou & Marima: Dimanche A Bamaco, on Dub Incorporation: Life, and on Tata Pound: Cikan. He also appears on the compilation African Consiences with Mebgane N'Dour. He will be featured in the upcoming movie Les Oiseaux Du Ciel, directed by Eliane De Latour.
Awards:
2003: Victoires de la Musique 2003, in the category of Reggae Album/Ragga/World with the album Françafrique.
Soldier
Tiken Jah Fakoly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He american soldier
Soldier soldier soldier
He british soldier
Quelle est la mère qui t’a laissé partir
Un beau matin plantée sur le tarmac
D’un aéroport de Londres ou d’Atlanta
Et cette femme qui t’as dit « rentre »
Qui a peut-être vingt ans de moins
Sa main posée sur son ventre
Cache peut-être un orphelin
Soldier soldier
He american soldier
Soldier soldier soldier
He british soldier
Est-ce que cinquante et une étoiles
Valent tous ces morts et ces larmes
Oui est-ce qu’elles valent autant de balles
Autant de cris autant de larmes
Say Mama I'm gone
And I don't know when I'll be back again
My homeland is at war
Whether we're right or wrong
I'll call you soon so we can check again
We can discuss this some more
I know that it hurt's you to know that
I'm so far from home
Hurt's you to know so many things gone wrong
Ask yourself why not someone else's son
But I'm chosen to be the one to drop this bomb
Soldier soldier
He american soldier
Soldier soldier soldier
He british soldier
T’as cru mourir au champ d’honneur
Ce n’est qu’un champ de pétrole
La liberté, ce n’est qu’un leurre
Quand elle est Jihad ou Croisade
Who ever thought that I'll be fighting miles away
Who ever thought that freedom wouldn't come my way
And I try to just forget it
Never could regret it
The President said it
The world led it
Oh Mama send my love
To my sisters and brothers
I'm a soldier just like my father
Don't cry for me please don't cry
This was meant to be
Soldier soldier
He american soldier
Soldier soldier soldier
He british soldier
T’as cru mourir au champ d’honneur
Ce n'est qu'un jeu de pouvoir
C’est le soldat qui meurt
Et rarement le Général
Qui lui, met la main sur le cœur
Quand le tien reçoit une balle
D’ailleurs c’est le soldat qui meurt
Et rarement monsieur le Général
Soldier soldier
He american soldier
Soldier soldier soldier
He british soldier
Soldat chicano des favellas
Soldat noir de tous les ghettos
Soldat de toutes les couleurs
Tu es peut-être mort pour rien
The song "Soldier" by Tiken Jah Fakoly Feat. Akon is a powerful anti-war song that reflects on the realities and consequences of being a soldier in today's world. The lyrics are presented in multiple languages, including English and French, and paint a poignant picture of the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families. The song begins by questioning the reasons why soldiers enlist, asking who is the mother who let him go, and suggesting that the idea of dying for honor [in battle] is just an illusion.
The first verse describes a mother standing on the tarmac of an airport in London or Atlanta, watching her son leave for war. Her eyes are described as being like lakes, filled with emotion and tears. The second verse reflects on whether the price of war and the loss of lives is worth the political objectives of those who send soldiers into battle. The chorus repeats the phrase "soldier soldier," with each line referencing a different nationality of soldiers - American and British.
The third verse is spoken from the perspective of the soldier, addressing his mother and acknowledging the pain that his absence causes. He reflects on the injustices of war and the fact that he is chosen to drop bombs on people in far-off lands. The bridge repeats the chorus and adds a reflection on the futility of war, and how soldiers of all nationalities and ethnicities have died in the name of political objectives.
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the human cost of war and the true motives behind modern-day conflicts.
Line by Line Meaning
Soldier soldier
Acknowledging the presence of soldiers
He american soldier
Referencing American soldiers
Soldier soldier soldier
Emphasizing the presence of soldiers
He british soldier
Referencing British soldiers
Quelle est la mère qui t’a laissé partir
Asking which mother let their child leave for war
Un beau matin plantée sur le tarmac
Describing the mother standing on the tarmac
D’un aéroport de Londres ou d’Atlanta
Specifying possible airports
Y a dans ses yeux comme des lacs
Describing her eyes as teary
Et cette femme qui t’as dit « rentre »
Referring to a woman who told the soldier to come home
Qui a peut-être vingt ans de moins
Specifying the woman's possible age
Sa main posée sur son ventre
Her hand resting on her belly
Cache peut-être un orphelin
Suggesting she may have a child to raise alone
Est-ce que cinquante et une étoiles
Asking if the fifty-one stars on the American flag are worth it
Valent tous ces morts et ces larmes
Questioning the value of all the death and tears
Oui est-ce qu’elles valent autant de balles
Emphasizing the cost of war
Autant de cris autant de larmes
Referencing the emotions tied to war
Say Mama I'm gone
Addressing the soldier's mom
And I don't know when I'll be back again
Admitting uncertainty about the future
My homeland is at war
Stating the reason for leaving
Whether we're right or wrong
Pointing out the ambiguity of the situation
I'll call you soon so we can check again
Promising to keep in touch
We can discuss this some more
Suggesting a need for continued conversation
I know that it hurt's you to know that
Aware of the mother's pain
I'm so far from home
Acknowledging the distance from home
Hurt's you to know so many things gone wrong
Empathizing with the mother's worries
Ask yourself why not someone else's son
Raising the question of why it had to be their child
But I'm chosen to be the one to drop this bomb
Accepting the role of a soldier
T’as cru mourir au champ d’honneur
Implying the idealization of death in battle
Ce n’est qu’un champ de pétrole
Reframing the reality of battle as fueled by oil interests
La liberté, ce n’est qu’un leurre
Asserting that the idea of freedom is a façade
Quand elle est Jihad ou Croisade
Linking the idea of freedom to religious war
Who ever thought that I'll be fighting miles away
Telling the story of fighting far from home
Who ever thought that freedom wouldn't come my way
Noting a disconnect between the ideal of freedom and the reality of war
And I try to just forget it
Attempting to mentally escape the war
Never could regret it
Coming to terms with past decisions
The President said it
Highlighting the role of political leaders
The world led it
Noting global involvement in the war
Oh Mama send my love
Asking for love to be shared
To my sisters and brothers
Including other family members
I'm a soldier just like my father
Identifying with a family legacy of military service
Don't cry for me please don't cry
Pleading for emotional restraint
This was meant to be
Accepting fate
T’as cru mourir au champ d’honneur
Reiterating the idealization of death in battle
Ce n'est qu'un jeu de pouvoir
Framing war as a game of power
C’est le soldat qui meurt
Emphasizing that it is the soldier who dies
Et rarement le Général
Referring to the general's safety in comparison to soldiers
Qui lui, met la main sur le cœur
Contrasting the general's heart with that of the soldier
Quand le tien reçoit une balle
Drawing attention to the vulnerability of soldiers
D’ailleurs c’est le soldat qui meurt
Restating that the soldier is the one who dies
Et rarement monsieur le Général
Pointing out the reality of the general's safety in comparison to the soldier
Soldat chicano des favellas
Referencing Chicano soldiers from the favelas
Soldat noir de tous les ghettos
Referencing black soldiers from various ghettos
Soldat de toutes les couleurs
Acknowledging the diversity of soldiers
Tu es peut-être mort pour rien
Suggesting that the soldier may have died in vain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SONY ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE, LALE ET KINO PRODUCTION
Written by: AKON, TIKEN JAH FAKOLY, Issa KOUROUMA, Cherfi MAGYD, David JNO BAPTISTE, VI AVELINO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind