In 2016, the band were invited to support Massive Attack on their UK and European tour after working together on Massive Attack’s single “ Voodoo In My Blood”, which was released in January 2016.
Young Fathers feature 6 tracks on the Trainspotting T2 soundtrack, including “Only God Knows”, written specifically for the film.
In November 2017 the band announced that they had finished work on their third album to be release on Ninja Tune in early 2018.
NO WAY
Young Fathers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sitting in the parlour offerings of flour
Milk plantain rice for the bridal shower
Slaughter a goat two chickens and a ram
Sister Sade give me another round of rum
Palm wine bottle of star nothing to pay for
Reducing me to pity
Ju-ju for her tata
Poison for your toto
If you see me Auntie
You better take a photo
Hollywood baby doll
Don't sleep too long you might miss your train
Get on board now you ticking time bomb
Pull up trousers and fix your braids
Wondering eyesore watch out for the typhoid
And other things that possess your veins
Walking through the gutter on the way to the church
Another trimester to pull you out the dirt dirt
AK47 take my brethren straight to heaven
Tell the story that I'm living say the words and I am smitten
Some call it pussy I call it kitten it all depends on how it's written
Got me feeling Presbyterian but inside I'm still Liberian
Never find peace the war is too pretty
I'm wired wrong the girls don't pick me
I run like someone's pulling me back pulling me back pulling me back
No way ohyaiehyayoi
No way ohyaiehyayoi
No way ohyaiehyayoi
No way
AK47 take my brethren straight to heaven
No way
The lyrics of "No Way" by Young Fathers are filled with references to African culture, colonialism, and the struggles of the African people. The opening lines describe a scene of celebration with offerings of traditional African cuisine, including flour, plantain, rice, goat, and chicken. These offerings are accompanied by rum and palm wine, which are often consumed during celebrations in African culture. However, the lyrics then take a darker turn with the mention of "ju-ju" and "poison," which are used to harm others in African culture.
The song then speaks about the struggles of African people, with the lyrics mentioning typhoid and other diseases that often plague African communities. The reference to the church suggests that faith is a source of comfort for some individuals, but it is not enough to protect them from the harsh realities of their lives. The reference to the AK47 is a direct comment on the violence that plagues many African nations, with the hope that those who die in these conflicts will find peace in the afterlife.
Overall, "No Way" is a powerful commentary on the struggles faced by African people, and it uses enthralling imagery and symbolism to portray this.
Line by Line Meaning
Count me in, G
Include me, my friend
Sitting in the parlour offerings of flour
Being present in the living room, with food made from flour being offered
Milk plantain rice for the bridal shower
Rice made with plantain and milk being served at a bridal shower
Slaughter a goat two chickens and a ram
Killing a goat, two chickens and a ram for the occasion
Sister Sade give me another round of rum
Requesting Sister Sade to serve additional servings of rum
Palm wine bottle of star nothing to pay for
Drinking palm wine and consuming Star beer without any payment required
We’re not missing the chance offer of labour
Taking advantage of an opportunity to work
Reducing me to pity
Making me feel sorry
Ju-ju for her tata
Magic/charm to improve her fortune
Poison for your toto
A hex or bad luck for your private parts
If you see me Auntie
You better take a photo
If you see me, Auntie, you should take a picture of me
Hollywood baby doll
A glamorous and attractive woman
Don’t sleep too long you might miss your train
Don't oversleep or else you'll miss your opportunity
Get on board now you ticking time bomb
Join us immediately, you're a time-sensitive issue
Pull up trousers and fix your braids
Adjust and prepare yourself for the task ahead
Wondering eyesore watch out for the typhoid
Be careful of harmful diseases lurking around
And other things that possess your veins
And other things that could have harmful effects on your body
Walking through the gutter on the way to the church
Trudging through the unpleasant parts of life
Another trimester to pull you out the dirt dirt
Another difficult period to overcome
AK47 take my brethren straight to heaven
AK47 (gun) taking my brothers to a better place after death
Tell the story that I’m living say the words and I am smitten
Narrate my story and I'll be captivated by the words
Some call it pussy I call it kitten it all depends on how it’s written
Some people refer to it vulgarly, but I prefer a more subtle approach
Got me feeling Presbyterian but inside I’m still Liberian
Despite appearing different on the outside, I still identify with my roots
Never find peace the war is too pretty
It's hard to find peace in the midst of an attractive war
I’m wired wrong the girls don’t pick me
Something seems off about me and it makes me less desirable to girls
I run like someone’s pulling me back pulling me back pulling me back
I'm trying to move forward but something seems to always be holding me back
No way ohyaiehyayoi
No way
No way ohyaiehyayoi
No way
No way ohyaiehyayoi
No way
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALLOYSIOUS MASSAQUOI, GRAHAM HASTINGS, KAYUS BANKOLE, TIMOTHY BRINKHURST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind