Onyeabor's songs are often heavily rhythmic and synthesized, occasionally epic in scope, with lyrics decrying war and sung by both Onyeabor himself and female backing vocalists. In recent years a number of his songs have appeared on various compilations, most often his biggest hit, "Better Change Your Mind", which has appeared on Africa 100, World Psychedelic Classics 3: Love's a Real Thing - The Funky Fuzzy Sounds of West Africa, and Nigeria 70: The Definitive Story of 1970's Funky Lagos, through labels such as Luaka Bop.
Some biographies claim that he studied cinematography in Russia, returning to Nigeria in the 1970s to start his own Wilfilms music label and to set up a recording and production studio. He was later crowned a High Chief in Enugu, where he still lives as a businessman working on government contracts and running his own flour mill. According to the Luaka Bop record label, Onyeabor "self-released eight albums between 1977 and 1985 and then became a born-again Christian, refusing to ever speak about himself or his music again." The label reports that through attempting to speak with Onyeabor himself, and by talking to people who seem to have firsthand knowledge, it has been trying to construct an accurate biography of him for the past 18 months, without success.
In 2014, the music website Noisey, affiliated to Vice magazine, released a 31-minute documentary entitled Fantastic Man that documents Onyeabor's history and legacy as well as Noisey's attempt to track him down for an interview. 2014 also saw a touring supergroup called the Atomic Bomb! Band come together to play Onyeabor's music at a series of concerts and festivals around the world. The group includes David Byrne (of Talking Heads) and Money Mark (of the Beastie Boys).
In December 2014, William Onyeabor made his first radio appearance on the Lauren Laverne Show on BBC 6 Music, where he stated "I only create music that will help the world," whilst also admitting that he has never played live, and announcing that he had plans to release new material.
William Onyeabor died aged 72, peacefully, on January 16, 2017.
Atomic Bomb
Luaka Bop World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who is William Onyeabor?
Better Change Your Mind
William Onyeabor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You ever think this world is yours, eh?
And you Russia, hey yeah
You ever think this world is yours?
You China
You ever think this world is yours, eh?
And you Cuba, hey yeah
Canada
You ever think this world is yours, eh? heh?
And you Britain, hey yeah
You ever think this world is yours?
If you are thinking so
My friends
Better change your mind
If you are thinking so
My friends
Better change your mind
Because there is no other one
Except God, who owns this world
Hey, hey, hey
????
That's not bad
And you France
You ever think this world is yours, eh? heh?
And you rich man, hey yeah
You ever think this world is yours?
You white man
You ever think this world is yours, eh? heh?
And you black man, Hey yeah
You ever think this world is yours?
Leaders
You ever think this world is your, eh?
President, hey yeah
You ever think this world is yours?
If you are thinking so
My friends
Better change your mind
If you are thinking so
My friends
Better change your mind
Because there is no other one
Except God, who owns this world
The lyrics in William Onyeabor's song "Better Change Your Mind" appear to address some of the world's superpowers and leaders. Onyeabor seems to be questioning the mindset of those who believe they own or have control over the world. He calls out America, Russia, China, Cuba, Canada, and Britain, along with France and wealthy individuals. He also specifically addresses white and black people, as well as leaders and presidents. Onyeabor's message is clear - if you are thinking that this world belongs to you, better change your mind. The only true owner of the world, according to Onyeabor, is God.
Through these lyrics, Onyeabor may be trying to convey that people should not think they have ultimate power or control over the world, as this can lead to problems such as greed and corruption. Instead, people should recognize that there is something greater than themselves and their own desires. They should acknowledge a higher power and respect the world as something that is not solely meant for their own benefit.
Overall, the lyrics of "Better Change Your Mind" carry a message of humility and an invitation for people to reconsider their beliefs about their own power and control.
Line by Line Meaning
America
Have you ever considered that you own the world?
You ever think this world is yours, eh?
Do you believe that this world is in your possession?
And you Russia, hey yeah
Hey Russia, what about you?
You ever think this world is yours?
Do you consider yourself the rightful owner of this world?
You China
What about you, China?
You ever think this world is yours, eh?
Do you believe that this world is in your possession?
And you Cuba, hey yeah
Hey Cuba, what about you?
You ever think this world is yours?
Do you consider yourself the rightful owner of this world?
Canada
How about you, Canada?
You ever think this world is yours, eh? heh?
Do you believe that this world is in your possession?
And you Britain, hey yeah
Hey Britain, what about you?
You ever think this world is yours?
Do you consider yourself the rightful owner of this world?
If you are thinking so
If you believe that this world is ultimately yours
My friends
Listen to me, my friends
Better change your mind
You should reconsider your beliefs
Because there is no other one
The only one true owner of this world is
Except God, who owns this world
God is the only owner of this world
Hey, hey, hey
Can we all listen up?
And you France
What's your perspective, France?
You rich man, hey yeah
How about you, wealthy people?
You ever think this world is yours?
Do you feel like this world belongs to you?
You white man
White people, what do you think?
You ever think this world is yours, eh? heh?
Do you believe that this world is your possession?
You black man, Hey yeah
How about the black community?
You ever think this world is yours?
Do you feel like this world belongs to you?
Leaders
To all the leaders
You ever think this world is your, eh?
What about the belief that this world is ultimately yours?
President, hey yeah
To the president, what's your perspective?
You ever think this world is yours?
Do you believe that this world is your possession?
If you are thinking so
If you believe that this world is ultimately yours
My friends
Listen to me, my friends
Better change your mind
You should reconsider your beliefs
Because there is no other one
The only one true owner of this world is
Except God, who owns this world
God is the only owner of this world
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: WILLIAM ONYEABOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@daniellopezroa8705
América
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu, hein?
E você Rússia, ei sim
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu?
Você China
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu, hein?
E você Cuba, ei sim
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu?
Canadá
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu, hein? heh?
E você Grã-Bretanha, ei sim
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu?
Se você está pensando assim
Meus amigos
Melhor mudar de ideia
Se você está pensando assim
Meus amigos
Melhor mudar de ideia
Porque não há outro
Exceto Deus, que possui este mundo
Ei ei ei
[????]
Isso não é ruim
E você França
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu, hein? heh?
E você homem rico, ei sim
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu?
Seu homem branco
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu, hein? heh?
E voce homem negro, ei sim
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu?
Líderes
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu, hein?
Presidente, ei sim
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu?
Se você está pensando assim
Meus amigos
Melhor mudar de ideia
Se você está pensando assim
Meus amigos
Melhor mudar de ideia
Porque não há outro
Exceto Deus, que possui este mundo
@djlifeforce
Not quite
Disagree
My sense is most would agree firstly
The small g MUst surely be an unfortunate typo.
Otherwise come on NoW!
wTf GoODnesSGRacioUsS
.....can you feel me.
With No Doubt...
biG ChOON This
Ridiculously good,
If I may,
Ridiculously NOT even Close to what must be Much More of AN Accurate ... Respect Due.
Thoughts anyONE, yA
@coosoorlog
Someone should make a 100 hour version.
oh, yeah, almost forgot — rest in peace with god amazing man william onyeabor!
@pavilionman64
"I identify with those who are humiliated and offended, i find mysef among them"
Ryszard Kapuściński
@gisurider
Classical! Luv it ) ..And sooo inspiratinol that this sound is coming straight outta Nigeria from the 60s! Jah bless Africa
@pattinoble2511
I can't stop listening to this song. Had to buy it...and the Who is William Onyeabor album, too.
@xavierrandall
STRONG MESSAGE TO THE WORLD!!! BETTER LISTEN AND TAKE HEED!!!
@flyinspirals
English in that accent is music by itself. And his voice is like satin.
@hugoaq2673
Great song!
@daniellopezroa8705
América
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu, hein?
E você Rússia, ei sim
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu?
Você China
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu, hein?
E você Cuba, ei sim
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu?
Canadá
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu, hein? heh?
E você Grã-Bretanha, ei sim
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu?
Se você está pensando assim
Meus amigos
Melhor mudar de ideia
Se você está pensando assim
Meus amigos
Melhor mudar de ideia
Porque não há outro
Exceto Deus, que possui este mundo
Ei ei ei
[????]
Isso não é ruim
E você França
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu, hein? heh?
E você homem rico, ei sim
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu?
Seu homem branco
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu, hein? heh?
E voce homem negro, ei sim
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu?
Líderes
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu, hein?
Presidente, ei sim
Você já pensou que este mundo é seu?
Se você está pensando assim
Meus amigos
Melhor mudar de ideia
Se você está pensando assim
Meus amigos
Melhor mudar de ideia
Porque não há outro
Exceto Deus, que possui este mundo
@ilichmejia3137
straight up genius!
@killercaution62
Really nice song, and so accurate for the time we are living actually. And you Russia you always think this world is yours … 🎶🙇