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?
The Moon And The Sun
William Onyeabor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are the moon that shines in the night
And the sun that shines in the day
We must walk hand in hand
Please come here my darling
- My darling
I've got to hold you in my arms
I've got to hold you tight around me
In the night, you will be with me
And I'm gonna show you love
The kinda love you've never seen before
From the north
To the south
From the east
To the west
I'm gonna show you love
And the kinda love
You've never seen before
My honey I want to you be my everything
I want to be the only one in your life
Forever, and ever
Oh my...
Of all the girls I know in this world
You are the only one I need
And I hope you never let me down
If you let me down I will runaway
If you let me down I will disappear
And you will never find me
When I'm checking out, when I'm (?) ever and around
In the day, you will look for me
In the night, you will look for me
But you won't find me
When I'm checking out, when I'm (?) ever and around
Honey, you are the moon that shines in the night
And I'm the sun that shines in the day
We've got to walk hand in hand
That's love
My honey I want to you be my everything
I want to be the only one in your life
Forever, and ever
Oh my...
Of all the girls I know in this world
You are the only one I need
And I hope you never let me down
If you let me down
I will runaway
If you let me down I will disappear
And you will never find me
When I'm checking out, when I'm (?) ever and around
In the day, you will look for me
In the night, you will look for me
But you won't find me
When I'm checking out, when I'm (?) ever and around
The lyrics of William Onyeabor's "The Moon and the Sun" is a love song about two individuals representing the moon and the sun who must walk hand in hand. The singer declares his love for his partner and emphasizes that they must always be together. He wants to hold his lover tightly and show them the kind of love they have never experienced before. He wants his lover to be the only one in his life, and he will do anything to ensure that they never let him down. The lyrics speak to the themes of love, trust, and commitment.
The song's lyrics colorfully represent the metaphor of the sun and the moon, two objects that never meet in the sky but their importance in our lives is undeniable. The moon and the sun are complete opposites, yet they are both necessary and represent an essential bond. The singer emphasizes this bond by saying that they must "walk hand in hand." He reassures his lover that he will be there for them day or night, and he will always show them love like they have never seen before.
In summary, the lyrics of "The Moon and the Sun" represent a deep, passionate love between two individuals who must always be together, even though they are complete opposites. The themes of love, trust, and commitment are highlighted throughout the song, making it a classic love song.
Line by Line Meaning
I know
I have a clear understanding.
You are the moon that shines in the night
You provide me with light during the dark times.
And the sun that shines in the day
You keep me warm and give me energy during the day.
We must walk hand in hand
We must support and guide each other.
Please come here my darling
Please come close to me, my dear.
My darling
My beloved one.
I've got to hold you in my arms
I need to embrace you.
I've got to hold you tight around me
I need to hold you close to me.
And let you know I love you
And express my deep affection for you.
In the day, you will be with me
During the day, we will be together.
In the night, you will be with me
During the night, we will be together.
And I'm gonna show you love
And I will demonstrate my love for you.
The kinda love you've never seen before
A type of love that is unique and unparalleled.
From the north
From one direction.
To the south
To another direction.
From the east
From yet another direction.
To the west
To a final direction.
I'm gonna show you love
I will demonstrate my love for you.
And the kinda love
And the type of love.
You've never seen before
That you have never experienced.
My honey I want to you be my everything
My dear, I want you to be my entire world.
I want to be the only one in your life
I wish to be your sole companion and love interest.
Forever, and ever
For an endless amount of time.
Oh my...
An expression of surprise or exclamation.
Of all the girls I know in this world
Among all the women I have encountered in my life.
You are the only one I need
You are the only person I require in my life.
And I hope you never let me down
And I wish for you to never disappoint me or betray my trust.
If you let me down I will runaway
If you betray me, I will leave abruptly.
If you let me down I will disappear
If you betray me, I will vanish without a trace.
And you will never find me
And you will never be able to locate me.
When I'm checking out, when I'm (?) ever and around
When I am departing or traveling or doing whatever else.
In the day, you will look for me
During the day, you will search for me.
In the night, you will look for me
During the night, you will search for me.
But you won't find me
But you will be unable to discover my whereabouts.
That's love
That is a manifestation of love.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: WILLIAM ONYEABOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Amy Thornburg
Pure joy!
Fernando Cahnfeld
This song makes me wanna dance ;)
Philip Adamek
One year Bill bore a fine tune.
whut whut
What a flipping boss
Chauncey McLoggins
This is the answer!