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?
let's fall in love
William Onyeabor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let us fall in love
Let us fall in love
To love with God
We gotta fall in love
To love with God
And I'm gonna love you
Give me a smile
And I'm gonna love you
When there is love
God is there
Where there is love
God is there
Come along come along come along
Come on!
The lyrics to William Onyeabor's song "Let's Fall in Love" appear quite simple at first glance, but they actually carry a deeper meaning. The opening lines of "Right on! Let us fall in love" create a sense of urgency, perhaps suggesting that the singer and their intended partner have been holding back their feelings for too long. The repetition of the line "To love with God" highlights the spiritual nature of the love they are seeking. Rather than a purely physical or emotional connection, the singer views love as a way to connect more deeply with the divine.
The lines "Give me a smile/And I'm gonna love you" illustrate the power of small gestures to make a big impact. It suggests that the singer is looking for a partner who can evoke positive feelings in them simply by smiling. As the song progresses, the repetition of the line "Where there is love/God is there" reinforces the idea that love is not just a human emotion, but something that is inherently tied to spirituality and the divine.
The closing lines "Come along come along come along/Come on!" suggest that the singer is eager to start this journey toward love and connection, and wants their desired partner to come along with them. Overall, the song seems to promote an idea of love as a force that can bring us closer to both one another and to something greater than ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Right on!
Expressing enthusiasm and agreement
Let us fall in love
Inviting someone to experience love
To love with God
Love is a divine experience
We gotta fall in love
It is necessary to fall in love to experience its true nature
Give me a smile
Asking for a simple sign of affection and kindness
And I'm gonna love you
Promising to reciprocate love
When there is love
Love brings about positive change
God is there
Love is a divine presence
Where there is love
Love is a universal force that transcends all boundaries
Come along come along come along
Encouraging someone to join in and experience love together
Contributed by Avery B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
naive_melody
Before he found God, he blasted some heavy gear. Diamond in the rough.
Sam Cearlock
It sounds like she's singing "Never fall in love"
Brett Welch
Happy Valentine’s Day!!!❤❤❤🎉
Taivast
let us fall in love - never fall in love
aortinez
mother AFRICA ...................LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUU
Mark Calderon
Afro beat
Ardente Patience
I don't know if its the compression, almost sound distorted and too high pitched. Try listening to another upload, folks. Definitely sounds better on my turntable