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.
Old Man
Youssou N'Dour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Susan decides to cheer up her husband. Bob loves her homemade cookies. Nicole suggests she start a cookie business.
Susan: Bob, I baked cookies for you.
Bob: That was so nice of you, dear. You've got a heart of gold!
Susan: Go ahead and pig out!
Bob: These are delicious!
Susan: I thought they might cheer you up. You've been in a bad mood lately.
Bob: I guess I have been a little on edge. But these cookies are just what the doctor ordered!
Susan: Yes, Nicole. Help yourself.
Nicole: Yum-yum.* These are out of this world. You could go into business selling these!
Bob: You could call them Susan's Scrumptious Cookies. You'd make a bundle.
Susan: Good thinking!
Nicole: Don't forget to give me credit for the idea after you're rich and famous!
Susan: You know I always give credit where credit is due!
* Yum-yum: this is said when something is delicious. You can also say "mmm, mmm" or "mmm-mmm, good."
The lyrics of Youssou N'Dour's song Old Man are about an elderly man who reflects on his life and the choices he has made. The song starts with the old man saying that he has lived a long life and realized that in his quest for wealth and success, he missed out on the simple pleasures of life. He talks about the importance of family and relationships as he reaches the end of his life. The chorus of the song translates to "We are all children of the world, without knowing where we come from or where we are going, every day is a miracle, and each person is unique."
As the song continues, the old man says that religion and cultural differences mean nothing to him, and that it is only love and compassion that can bring people together. He then reflects on his fear of death and the uncertainty of what comes next. The song ends with the old man saying that he does not want to die, but that he is ready to accept whatever fate has in store for him.
The lyrics of Old Man are powerful in their simplicity and thought-provoking in their message. They touch on universal themes of life, love, and death that resonate with listeners of all ages and backgrounds.
Line by Line Meaning
Old man sitting by the side of the road
An elderly man sitting alone by the street
He's not watching the birds, not watching the traffic flow
He's not observing what's happening around him
Just sorting out the one's who pass him by
He's mentally categorizing the people who walk past him
He's got nothing to say, he's got nothing to show
The man is in a state of quiet contemplation
Not that common a sight anymore
This is a less common scene these days
To see an old man smile
It's a rare sight to witness him happy
Old man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you
The singer is asking the man to see the similarities between them
I need someone to love me the whole day through
The singer is expressing his desire for love and companionship
Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true
The singer believes that his loneliness is apparent in his eyes
Lullabies, look in your eyes, run around the same old town
The singer is reminiscing about the past and his desire for stability
Doesn't mean that much to me to mean that much to you
The singer believes that relationships are a two-way street
I've been first and last, look at how the time goes past
The singer reflects on his age and experiences over time
But I'm all alone at last, rolling home to you
The singer is returning home to someone who loves him
Old man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you
The singer repeats his request to the old man
I need someone to love me the whole day through
The singer reiterates his desire for companionship
Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true
The singer's loneliness is still apparent in his eyes
Old man look at my life, twenty four and there's so much more
The singer feels like he has a lot of life left to live
Live alone in a paradise that makes me think of two
The singer lives alone but envisions a life with a partner
Love lost, such a cost, give me things that don't get lost
The singer regrets losing love and desires something more permanent
Like a coin that won't get tossed rolling home to you
The singer wants something that won't be easily discarded, and yearns for a return to love
Old man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you
The singer still feels a kinship with the old man
I need someone to love me the whole day through
The singer emphasizes his need for love and companionship
Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true
The singer still believes that his loneliness is apparent in his eyes
Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were
The singer acknowledges that the old man was once like him
Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were
The singer repeats his acknowledgement and request
Contributed by Peyton C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Bisedouest
Lyrics :
Gorgui nena aduna ken xamuko Papa expliquer ma Gorgui nena aduna ken khamuko Gorgui waxtanéko Gorgui nena aduna lou woradi la Papa expliquer ma Gorgui nena aduna ken khamuko Papa expliquer ma
Waaw ma expliquer len
Makk sama dom Sama dom yekk si mbam Mane may tété mbam Anh ñu romb ben deuk Nitt yi togon fofu Ñingui nane xolal xalé bé ka rew Nadj bou tang bi Mom mu warona tété mba Sama doom degloul ben a ngog oyyy Makk sama dom
Sama dom wathie mbam
Mane ma yekk thi mbam Mom muy tété mbam Benen deuk buñu romb Nitt ñi toggon fofu Ñingui nan makk mi mo ñak khel Sama dom degloul ñar a ngog oyyy Aduna bi So defé li ñu nela leulé nga def leulé ñune li ñu gueneu nekh J′essaye j'essaye j′essaye j'essaye J'essaye j′essaye j′essaye j'essaye Gorgui néna aduna ken khamuko Papa expliquer ma Gorgui nena aduna ken khamuko Gorgui waxtanéko Gorgui nena aduna ken khamuko Papa expliquer ma Gorgui nena aduna koum fatelikou Papa expliquer ma Waaw ma expliquer len Leigui ñu wathieu mbam Ñun ñarr ñuy tété mbam Ñenen ñiñu romb fé Ñingui nane ñar ñi ño ñakk bopp Leigui ñu yekk thi mbam Ken omatoul mbam Fenen fuñu romb fé Ñingui nane ñi ñar ño ñakk yeurmandé Sama dom degloul ñett ngog ohh Aduna bi So defé li Ñu nela leulé nga def leulé ñune li ñu gueneu nekh J′essaye j'essaye j′essaye j'essaye J′essaye j'essaye j'essaye j′essaye Né bayil bayil mane suma la rombé Bayil bayil mane suma la djitto Nga waxma lu ñaw Né bayil bayil mane suma la rombé Né bayil bayil mane sumala djitto Nga waxma lu ñaw Né bayil sumala rombé nga waxma lu ñaw Mane sumala djitto nga waxma lu ñaw Mane limay deff a guen lingay deff Am lingay wax a guen limay wakh Né bayil bayil mane suma la rombé Bayil bayil mane suma la djitto Nga waxma lu ñaw Né bayil sumala rombé nga waxma lu ñaw Mane sumala djitto nga waxma lu ñaw Mane limay deff a guen lingay deff Am lingay deff a guen lingay deff Wommat Wommat dal ba guiss li Dunya Ni mou mel guen ninguen mel Wommat Wommat dal ba guiss li Ni dunya Nimu mel a guen ninguen mel Wommat Sumala wané ganaw nga wax ci mane Waxo ci mane ludul wax dju ñaw Louma deff ngani baxoul Lumani amna ngani lolu amoul Waw lolu loucci pékhé Licciy pékhé moy bul falé Bul topoto té déko soralé Babacar Kane Mbaye Lo Aladji Bada Lo moy bayam Settal Youssou Ndour numuy wayé Mbar mbeut akk mbeuteur Setal étoile nimouy deffé Dañuy musique moussaf Youssou way si kawam Su doyul ñu doli Su eupé ñu xadjalé Su matoul ñune ñu motaliko Ismaëla Sow ndax mu tané
@here1050
The lyrics in this song are so powerful---to summarize it, he's basically saying: Stop living for people, no matter what good you do, people will still try to find wrong in it or something bad to say about you or find a reason to oppose everything you say EVEN when your intentions are good.. Be yourself. Haters will always exist….it's just a part of life.
@abdulaiconteh7832
Subhanallah!!!
Only try to satisfy Allah
@kakaricardo4752
True ,you very smart brother I can't stop to listen this lyrics
@MrAbib34
Never stress the little things like a hater, something that comes when youre eating, like a waiter.. #DjaiDjuffatai
@melodicprogressivehousemph6429
Thank you Thank you. I have been listening to this song for years and you finally explained it.
@Isha-dw1mv
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Always a great message in Youssou’s songs.
@elisobais
I’m from Ghana and this is my ALL TIME favorite Youssou song......Yeeeesssssss. I have my own understanding to the lyrics.....LOL.
@cliffymokwefo476
Cliffy
@cliffymokwefo476
This Man's whole set up on this track is amazing it makes my soul very full of humour.Before I knew what the song means I connected spiritually and I understood it🙏✊👌👊
@s0xnaciindew178
Enock Owusu Amankwah thanks U
Youssou is our legend🥰🥰