Youssou N'Dour (born 1 October 1959 in Dakar, Senegal) is a singer, percuss… Read Full Bio ↴Youssou N'Dour (born 1 October 1959 in Dakar, Senegal) is a singer, percussionist and occasional actor. N'Dour is one of the most celebrated African musicians in history, his mix of traditional Senegalese mbalax with eclectic influences ranging from Cuban rumba to hip hop, jazz, and soul has won him an international fan base of millions.

N'Dour was born in Medina in Dakar, Senegal, in 1959 and started his music career singing in small clubs in Dakar in the Wolof language, which is predominantly spoken in Senegal and Gambia. He's most popular for his mbalax beat which gave him the title "Roi de Mbalax" (King of Mbalax), and is a household name in Senegal, Gambia and neighbouring countries in West Africa with a long list of hits from the early days in the 70s to date.

In 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Etoile de Dakar. His early work with Etoile de Dakar was in the typical Latin style popular all over Africa during that time, but in the 1980s he developed a unique sound when he started his current group, Super Etoile de Dakar, featuring Jimi Mbaye on guitar, bassist Habib Faye, and tama (talking drum) player Assane Thiam.

N'Dour was introduced to the Western audience when Peter Gabriel had him appear on his 'So' album (in 1986) and theb took N'Dour and The Super Etoile de Dakar on the road with him in a subsequent world tour. N'Dour has also collaborated with a lengthy list of influential artists including Paul Simon, Neneh Cherry, and Branford Marsalis.

He is endowed with remarkable range and poise, a composer, bandleader, and producer with a prodigious musical intelligence. The New York Times most recently described his voice as an "arresting tenor, a supple weapon deployed with prophetic authority". N'Dour absorbs the entire Senegalese musical spectrum in his work, often filtering this through the lens of genre-defying rock or pop music from outside Senegalese culture.

Youssou N´Dour is currently the new minister of Culture of Senegal as a reward for his campaign against the former president of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade who was defeated by Macky Sall in February 2012.

My hope is in you
Youssou N'Dour Lyrics

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I never know
But now I know
[Foreign content]
Some day we'll see
All the possibilities

My hope is in you
I wanna watch your spirit

Touch the sky
So much more we can do

My hope is in you
If you take your love and fly away
I know you'll make it through
You'll make it through

Drop your guns and go to school
Do you hear me brother [Incomprehensible]?

[Foreign content]

Some day we'll know
Just how far we can go

My hope is in you
I wanna watch your spirit
Touch the sky
So much more we can do

My hope is in you
If you take your love and fly away
I know you'll make it through
You'll make it through

Feel the earth beneath your feet
[Incomprehensible]
So much more that we can be
I know you see, I know you see
Your future is shining

My hope is in you
I wanna watch your spirit
Touch the sky
So much more we can do

My hope is in you
If you take your love and fly away
I know you'll make it through

My hope is in you
I wanna watch your spirit
Touch the sky
So much more we can do

My hope is in you
If you take your love and fly away
I know, I know you'll make it through

My hope is in you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Youssou N’dour’s “My hope is in you” speak of hope and faith in a better future. The song starts off with a confession of ignorance, “I never know, but now I know,” indicating that the search for or discovery of hope is a process that requires time and experience. The singer then goes on to urge his listeners to let go of violence and embrace education, saying “drop your guns and go to school, do you hear me brother?” Here, he implies that violence and ignorance are at the root of many problems faced in society, and by casting them aside, we open the door to greater possibilities.

The chorus, “my hope is in you,” is a declaration of faith in a higher power or individual, and a call to action to make the most of the opportunities available. The repetition of the phrase throughout the song reinforces the message of faith in a better future, and the desire to see potential realized. The lines, “I wanna watch your spirit touch the sky” and “feel the earth beneath your feet,” suggest a sense of empowerment and connection to the world, and signal that there is much more to be discovered and achieved.

Overall, “My hope is in you” is a message of hope and faith in a better tomorrow. It is a call to action to overcome violence and ignorance, and embrace the opportunities available to us. It acknowledges that the journey towards a better future may not be easy, but with perseverance and unity, we can achieve great things.

Line by Line Meaning

I never know
I used to be unsure and uncertain about life and all its possibilities.

But now I know
But now I have gained a valuable insight about how to live a fulfilling and purposeful life.

[Foreign content]
The lyrics here are unknown, and cannot be given a meaning.

Some day we'll see
There will come a day when we will finally be able to understand and realize all the opportunities and potential that exist in our lives.

All the possibilities
Every opportunity that exists within our lives, whether good or bad.

My hope is in you
Despite everything else, I believe that my hope still lies in you, and that you possess the ability to help me realize my fullest potential.

I wanna watch your spirit
I strive to be able to witness your soul and personality soar to great heights and achieve amazing things.

Touch the sky
Reach for the stars and succeed beyond all expectations.

So much more we can do
There is still so much more that we are capable of doing and achieving, and we should never give up on that potential.

If you take your love and fly away
Even if you leave me and pursue your own dreams, I know that you will succeed and thrive.

You'll make it through
You will overcome any obstacles or challenges that life may throw at you, and you will be triumphant.

Drop your guns and go to school
Put down your weapons and focus on your education and self-improvement, instead of resorting to violence or crime.

Do you hear me brother [Incomprehensible]?
The lyrics here are unclear and cannot be given a meaning.

Some day we'll know
At some point in the future, we will be able to understand the true meaning of our existence and purpose.

Just how far we can go
We will realize the full extent of our abilities and the limitless possibilities that exist within us.

Feel the earth beneath your feet
Be grounded and connected with the earth, and use this connection to propel you forward in your journey.

[Incomprehensible]
The lyrics here are unclear and cannot be given a meaning.

So much more that we can be
There is still so much more that we can achieve and become, and we should never give up on this potential.

I know you see, I know you see
I know that you understand the potential that lies within you, and that you are committed to fulfilling it.

Your future is shining
Your future is bright and filled with possibilities, and you are capable of achieving everything that you desire.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADRIAN ISRAEL GURVITZ, MARIBETH DERRY, YOUSSOU N'DOUR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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