The son of a Senegalese high official and member of the Lebou tribe, Diop left Senegal in the 1970s to study engineering in Paris, but once there turned to music, joining a fellow Senegalese musician, Umban Ukset, in forming the band West African Cosmos. Diop left the band in 1979 to start a solo career, and over the next decade achieved some small success, particularly in partnerships with singer Marie-France Anglade and jazz saxophonist Yasuaki Shimizu, but it wasn't until the early 1990s that his career began to take off with the success of his first album, the soundtrack to the film Hyenes (which had been directed by his brother, Djibril Diop Mambety).
More albums followed: No Sant in 1995, Toxu in 1998, and the compilation album Everything Is Never Quite Enough in 2004.
He lives in Paris and writes much of his music in French. Among English-speaking audiences, he's probably best known for African Dream, a single off No Sant which made it to the Top 40 list in England, and Everything is Never Quite Enough, which featured on the soundtrack to the 1999 film The Thomas Crown Affair.
My Son
Wasis Diop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was all alone in a boat
By his house on the lake
He laid back as he closed his eyes
And he drifted off to sleep
He awoke to the sound of crashing waves
His boat was a million miles away
He heard his father's voice again, he said...
Son just take my hand
Rest your feet on solid land
Keep your eyes laid on me
Don't be swayed by the sea
And I will lead you home
You know that I live for You
But sometimes I get caught in the storm
And I fall
You know when I'm in that boat
And the world comes seeping in
Sometimes I start sinking in the sea
Sometimes I'm in way too deep for me
Sometimes when I'm crying out for fear
I hear You whisper in my ear, You say...
Son just take my hand
Rest your feet on solid land
Keep your eyes laid on me
Don't be swayed by the sea
And I will lead you home
Wasis Diop's song 'My Son' is a beautiful and metaphorical representation of a father's unconditional love for his child. The song starts off with the story of Billy, who is depicted as a young boy sailing alone in a boat near his house on the lake. In the twinkling of an eye, the boy falls asleep, and when he wakes up, he finds himself stranded in the middle of nowhere, with his boat millions of miles away. However, in that moment of despair, Billy hears the voice of his father assuring him to keep his eyes on him, and he would lead him safely back home.
The father's words, "Son just take my hand. Rest your feet on solid land. Keep your eyes laid on me. Don't be swayed by the sea, and I will lead you home," are a powerful representation of the father's commitment to his child. The father is aware of the difficulties the child may face, and he promises to be there for him, to take his hand, and guide him through life's tough times. Moreover, the lyrics also highlight the father's vulnerability and humanness. He admits to his own struggles and failings, but at the same time, he assures his child that he would always be there to lead him back home.
In conclusion, 'My Son,' with its simple yet emotionally charged lyrics, is a heart-touching song that celebrates the bond between a parent and child. The song conveys the message that no matter how hard life gets, a parent's love for their child is an unbreakable bond that could overcome even the greatest of obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
When Billy had just turned eight
Billy was still very young, having recently celebrated his eighth birthday.
He was all alone in a boat
Billy found himself alone in a boat out in the middle of the lake.
By his house on the lake
The location where Billy fell asleep in the boat was close to his house on the lake.
He laid back as he closed his eyes
Feeling safe and secure, Billy relaxes and closes his eyes.
And he drifted off to sleep
The peacefulness of the moment leads Billy to fall asleep.
He awoke to the sound of crashing waves
Billy was jolted awake by the sudden sound of waves crashing around him.
His boat was a million miles away
Billy's boat had drifted far away from him.
And just when he thought he'd seen the end
Billy's thoughts began to drift towards seeing the worst possible outcome.
He heard his father's voice again, he said...
Just as things seemed dire, Billy heard his father's voice speaking to him.
Son just take my hand
Billy's father offers his hand to help him through his troubles.
Rest your feet on solid land
His father reassures Billy that he is there to help him and provide a sense of security.
Keep your eyes laid on me
Billy's father urges him to focus on him and not be distracted by the surrounding chaos.
Don't be swayed by the sea
His father reminds him not to be overwhelmed by the uncontrollable elements of the world around him.
And I will lead you home
His father promises to guide him to safety.
You know that I live for You
Billy's father reminds him of his love and devotion to him.
But sometimes I get caught in the storm
His father admits that he too has been overcome by troubles.
And I fall
His father admits that he sometimes loses his footing as well.
You know when I'm in that boat
His father reminds him that he too has been in similar situations.
And the world comes seeping in
His father acknowledges the overwhelming nature of the world around them.
Sometimes I start sinking in the sea
His father admits to his own fears of being overwhelmed by the sea.
Sometimes I'm in way too deep for me
His father recognizes when the situation is beyond his control.
Sometimes when I'm crying out for fear
His father admits to experiencing fear and feeling alone in troubling times.
I hear You whisper in my ear, You say...
Despite his fears, his father recalls receiving comforting words.
Son just take my hand
His father once again extends his hand in support.
Rest your feet on solid land
His father reminds him of the importance of stability in uncertain times.
Keep your eyes laid on me
His father urges him to stay focused on him for guidance.
Don't be swayed by the sea
His father cautions to not be overwhelmed by the chaos of the surroundings.
And I will lead you home
His father promises to help guide him to safety in these difficult times.
Contributed by Chloe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.