William Onyeabor (Enugu, Nigeria, 29 March 1946 – 16 January 2017) was a Ni… Read Full Bio ↴William Onyeabor (Enugu, Nigeria, 29 March 1946 – 16 January 2017) was a Nigerian afro-funk, musician, singer and songwriter.

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?

Ride On Baby
William Onyeabor Lyrics

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Ride on baby
I said to her ride on baby

I don′t know why I love you so much baby
I don't know why I need you all my life
I don′t know why you make me get crazy
I don't know why I can't live without you

You don′t know why you love me so much baby
You don′t know why you need me all your life
You don't know why I make you get crazy
You don′t know why you can't live without me baby

... Brothers sisters and friends
They all know I love you
Oh baby
Ride on baby
Ride onto me
Ride on baby
Ride onto me
Ride on baby
Ride onto me

I don′t know why I love you so much baby
I don't know why I need you all my life
I don′t know why you make me get crazy
I don't know why I can't live without you baby

I don′t know why I need you so close ...
You don′t know why you love me so much baby
You don't know why you need me all your life
You don′t know why I make you get crazy
You don't know why I make you get crazy
You don′t know why I need you so close ...

Ride on baby
Ride on baby
Ride on baby
Ride on baby
Ride on baby
Ride on baby

Ride on baby
Ride on baby

Overall Meaning

The song "Ride on Baby" by William Onyeabor is a love song with a repetitive chorus of "Ride on baby" which is a message to the lover to keep coming back, to keep holding on, and to keep going despite the difficulties that may arise. The lyrics suggest a strong emotional attachment between the two lovers. The singer in the song confesses his undying love for his partner, despite not knowing why he loves them so much. There is an air of desperation in the lyrics, as the singer feels like he cannot live without his partner.

The repetition of the phrase "Ride on baby" can be interpreted as a form of encouragement or motivation, telling the partner to keep moving forward and not to give up on the relationship. The phrase "Ride on" itself suggests a sense of progression, moving towards an end goal or destination. The singer may be saying that despite the difficulties that come with love, they are both in it for the long haul.

Overall, "Ride on Baby" is a heartfelt and emotional love song that speaks to the complexities of relationships and the power of love to keep people together even in difficult times.

Line by Line Meaning

Ride on baby
Encouraging the subject to move forward and continue on their journey

I said to her ride on baby
Continuing the encouragement to the subject to keep moving forward

I don’t know why I love you so much baby
Expressing the intense feelings of love towards the subject without fully understanding the reason for it

I don’t know why I need you all my life
Admitting that the subject is an important part of the artist's life and they can't imagine living without them

I don’t know why you make me get crazy
Acknowledging the power the subject has on the artist's emotions and reactions

I don’t know why I can't live without you
Affirming the subject's importance and necessity in the singer's life

You don't know why you love me so much baby
Acknowledging the intensity of the subject's love towards the singer without understanding the reason behind it

You don't know why you need me all your life
Affirming the artist's importance and necessity in the subject's life

You don’t know why I make you get crazy
Acknowledging the power the artist has on the subject's emotions and reactions

You don't know why you can't live without me baby
Affirming the artist's importance and necessity in the subject's life

Brothers sisters and friends They all know I love you Oh baby
Declaring the love for the subject to others and expressing their importance and value

Ride onto me
Encouraging the subject to depend on the artist and trust in them

I don't know why I need you so close ...
Acknowledging the subject's proximity and importance in the singer's life without fully understanding the reason for it

Ride on baby
Final encouragement to the subject to keep moving forward