The single stayed at #1 for 16 consecutive weeks on the French Singles Chart, which was the record of the most weeks at the top at the time, and also rose to #3 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was a track on N'Dour's album The Guide (Wommat), released shortly after the single. In 1996 it was included on the Neneh Cherry album Man.
Youssou N'Dour is a hugely successful Senegalese singer and percussionist. In 2004, Rolling Stone described him as, in Senegal and much of Africa, "perhaps the most famous singer alive." He helped develop popular music in Senegal, known in the Wolof language as mbalax, a blend of the country's traditional griot percussion and praise-singing with the Afro-Cuban arrangements and flavors which made the return trip from the Caribbean to West Africa in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s and have flourished in West Africa ever since.
Neneh Cherry (born Neneh Marianne Karlsson on March 10, 1964 in Stockholm) is a two-time Grammy Award-nominated and MTV Europe Music Award-winning Swedish singer-songwriter and rapper. Cherry is also an occasional DJ and broadcaster. Cherry blended hip hop with other influences, and experienced some moderate mainstream success with several of her recordings.
Seven Second
Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
Mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale
Roughneck and rudeness,
We should be using, on the ones who practice wicked charms
For the sword and the stone
Battle is not over
Even when it's won
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin it's living in
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin it's living in
And there's a million voices
And there's a million voices
To tell you what she should be thinking
So you better sober up for just a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
The song "7 Seconds" by Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry touches on themes of unity and hope in the face of racial and social division. The lyrics describe the need to rise above the negative influences of the world, to resist wickedness and embrace diversity. The opening lines are sung in Wolof, a Senegalese language, and talk about the importance of coming together in harmony. The chorus repeatedly references the idea of being "7 seconds away," implying that change and progress are always within reach if one can simply persevere.
The next set of verses, sung in French by Cherry, speak to the need to overlook race and to focus instead on shared human experiences. She calls for open doors and supportive communities, where individuals can connect and communicate honestly without the threat of division or hate. The final lines of the song reinforce the message that change begins with individuals taking responsibility for their actions and attitudes, and that a better world is possible if everyone works towards it.
Line by Line Meaning
Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
Roughneck and rudeness, we should be using, on the ones who practice wicked charms.
Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
For the sword and the stone, Bad to the bone.
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
Battle is not over, even when it's won.
Mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale
And when a child is born into this world, it has no concept of the tone the skin it’s living in.
7 seconds away
Just a short duration.
Just as long as I stay
I will be waiting for only that much time.
It's not a second
Refers to the time it takes for an idea in the lyrics to happen, rather than a literal second.
J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout
I assume the reasons that drive us to change everything.
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
I would like us to forget their color so that they can have hope.
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Many racial feelings that make them despair.
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes
I want the doors to be wide open.
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Friends to talk about their pain, their joy.
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
So that they can give them information that does not divide them.
And there's a million voices, to tell you what she should be thinking
There are millions of voices dictating what she should think.
So you better sober up for just a second
You should regain composure for a brief moment.
I'll be waiting
A repetition indicating the artist will be patient.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CAMERON MCVEY, JONATHAN SHARP, NENEH CHERRY, YOUSSOU N'DOUR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zamshire
Thank you Modou,
He used also French in this song between 1.44 and 2.08 :
J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer
Very beautiful song, very difficult to translate in English
... And in Wollof, I heard about it today
Thanks one more time Modou, and happy to speak with all the world so easily
The peace could arrive by this way only !!!
@andrewherman2370
Beautiful song I used to listen to this in Africa when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Gabon.
J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer
I assume why we push to change everything
I want to forget skin color for hope's sake
But too many strong feelings about race crush hope
I want to see the doors flung wide open
between friends to talk openly about all of their pains and joys
to let flow all information that (unites) won't divide us
The last line is very interesting. "let flow info that doesn't divide us" meaning "if we care enough to talk about our problems they won't be problems". The more we discourse the more we realize we are the same "au coeur". This is so true. The story of humanity is so sad, but it doesn't have to be this bad.
I feel my country is no longer deserving to lead the world as Trump supporters in America want to stop all serious discussions of race and actually strongly encourage anti-PC culture in order to "let flow the info that (divides us) won't unite us" .
@GreenredProductions
Classic composition!
@lrc9304
Nigga say wha'?
@bricomecanique5724
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu97drfgz_72F2imhy-ux0A
@mariaaparecidadeoliveirada6192
Que clássico !Amo.
@MrAzamatbogotov
Its classic how much of a walmart employee you are ....
@chinomirabueno8483
Set me free
@GrandHotel.SeagullMagique
If you are listening to this song right now, your brain is functioning well and you have great taste in music. Congratulations! Kisses from Italy.
@MrsSlocombesPuddyCat
🙂 Nah. Not really. I am however rather drunk.....
@tamaraaranguiz6143
😂😂😂
@omario4823
Aawww thank you