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.
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
Youssou N'Dour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Molly is the singer in a band
Desmond say to Molly, "Girl I like your face"
And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand:
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da,
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
La la how the life goes on
Desmond take a trolley to the jeweler's store
Buys a twenty carat golden ring, (rin-ring)
Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door
And as he gives it to her she begins to sing:
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Yeah, In a couple of years they
have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard of
Desmond and Molly Jones
Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening she's a singer with the band
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on,
bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
"Youssou N'Dour's song, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, has uplifting lyrics about the simple joys of life, love, and family. The song is a tribute to the daily lives of two fictional characters, Desmond and Molly Jones, who live and work in a market place. Desmond is a hard-working man who falls in love with Molly, a talented singer in a band. He buys her a golden ring, and they build a home together and have children. The lyrics convey a sense of contentment and joy in the everyday moments of life, encapsulated in the refrain, 'Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, bra, la la how the life goes on.'
Moreover, the song has a reggae-influenced sound with an African twist, as Youssou N'Dour, a Senegalese musician, brings his unique voice and rhythms to the song. The instrumentation includes acoustic guitar, bass, percussion, and horns, creating a lively and upbeat mood. The song was originally written and recorded by the Beatles in 1968, but Youssou N'Dour's version is a fresh take on a classic song, with its own distinct sound and interpretation."
Line by Line Meaning
Desmond has a barrow in the marketplace
Desmond owns a cart in a marketplace, which he uses to sell his wares.
Molly is the singer in a band
Molly is a musician who sings in an ensemble.
Desmond say to Molly, "Girl I like your face"
Desmond compliments Molly on her appearance.
And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand:
Molly responds to Desmond's complement by grasping his hand.
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da,
A nonsensical expression used to represent the ongoing, cyclical nature of life.
Life goes on, bra
The world keeps turning, my friend.
La la how the life goes on
A refrain that underscores the idea that life's momentum is unstoppable.
Desmond take a trolley to the jeweler's store
Desmond rides a cart to a jeweler's shop.
Buys a twenty carat golden ring, (rin-ring)
Desmond purchases a high-quality, yellow-gold ring with a ringtone.
Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door
Desmond brings the ring back to Molly, who is outside their home.
And as he gives it to her she begins to sing:
As he hands her the ring, Molly bursts into song.
In a couple of years they have built a home sweet home
Within a few years, Desmond and Molly have established a pleasant household for themselves.
With a couple of kids running in the yard
Their two children play in the yard.
of Desmond and Molly Jones
The family unit is officially recognized as the Joneses.
Happy ever after in the market place
The family is content living their lives in the marketplace.
Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Desmond permits his children to help him with his business on occasion.
Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
Molly remains at home and tends to her appearance.
And in the evening she's a singer with the band
In the evenings, Molly performs with her musical group.
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
The never-ending cycle of life continues.
Life goes on, bra
The unstoppable momentum of existence persists, my friend.
La la how the life goes on
A recurring refrain that underscores the continuation of life's momentum.
Writer(s): John Lennon, PAUL MCCARTNEY
Contributed by Liliana H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ali Lebeko
on Birima
Always soulful and heartthrobing performance