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Biko Lyrics

Artist: Peter Gabriel
Album: Peter Gabriel III

September '77
Port Elizabeth weather fine
It was business as usual
In police room 619
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
-The man is dead

When I try to sleep at night
I can only dream in red
The outside world is black and white
With only one colour dead
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
-The man is dead

You can blow out a candle
But you can't blow out a fire
Once the flames begin to catch
The wind will blow it higher
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
-The man is dead

And the eyes of the world are
watching now
watching now

Comments/Interpretations

by Kassian on 5/19/2008 6:48pm
This song is another reminder of the true nature of human beings, brilliantly written. This is music with substance.

by Dennis on 5/24/2008 10:55am
Thank You for posting the Lyrics. I am and have for a long time been a fan of Peter Gabriel. Especially the song Biko, so much so that I named my African Grey Parrot "BIKO" in Honor of Bantu Steven Biko

by Jake on 6/24/2008 7:01am
This is a really good song. we watched and learned about it in school, and we watched the movie "Cry Freedom" which is about Beko and what he went through to change so much.

by Tom Raftery Ireland on 6/30/2008 on 6/29/2008 6:03pm
Its about another hero Steven Biko but I always associate it with the greatest statesman of our time, Nelson Mandella and other great songs he inspired like Jackson Browne's "When the Stone begins to turn" and its great line "your walls may hold the man inside but they'll never ever hold back the tide" - He was right! What a powerful song Biko is - an anthem of our time!

by Lasha on 9/11/2008 10:47pm
I d/l this song onto my iPod tonight and it strikes me that all these years later it is still a moving and relevant piece of music. If you've never watched the movie "Cry Freedom," go and rent it. Denzel Washington plays Steven Biko.

by Geneva Guy on 9/17/2008 5:37pm
look up Steven Biko, and you'll see what this song is about for those who dont know...

by Wilson on 10/17/2008 9:50am
I cry to the song. RIP steve biko

by Peter B. on 11/10/2008 6:35pm
This song had a big impact on the growing anti apartheid movement in 1980. Thanks Gabe!

by ron nyc on 11/24/2008 10:12pm
Thank you Peter, thank you... please come back and play for us.... we really need you now

by Nando on 12/11/2008 3:06pm
Sorprendente..... Insuperable, Magnifica. Mientras los libros de historia solo rescatan la vida de los "heroes" y de los que "ganaron", el arte se encarga de recordarnos que otra historia fue la realmente vivida por los pueblos. As� nunca nos olvidaremos de las verederas haza�as de los grandes heroes. Gracias Peter Gabriel

by maple on 2/16/2009 2:04am
i read the whole story on Biko and it is truly sad,Peter Gabriel is a grate singer and is even better because he sings about things about what the humans do and why its bad.

by mia on 3/7/2009 4:48pm
this song is an amazing symbol, through well-written analogies you can really see the important meaning. thank yyou Peter Gabriel

by Flopo on 4/15/2009 10:28pm
I will never forget how people shiver with this song, when Peter Gabriel came to Argentina. thousands of voices rise as one for Steve Biko. Forgive my English.

by Josh Lam on 10/3/2010 6:43pm
How does this song go for 7 minutes!!

by mo on 9/12/2011 1:56am
@D Jones, you arrogant and ignorant fool! What are you talking about? Do you know what you are saying! Foolish.

by Liandro on 1/9/2012 7:48pm
Biko's history made me see red this night, but i am happy to know that today there are people that cares to human rights and its doing something real for Africa. This man dont died for nothing. He lives in our memory and guide some of us whom build this lovely and respectable world... so dreammed and expected.

by df on 2/5/2012 2:22pm
As relevant,inspiring and moving today as in 77 and a strong reminder for the need for us all to relentlessley fight injustice and oppression in our daily lives.

by dave r on 8/21/2012 5:07am
Inspired writing from Gabriel, simple minds do a fantastic cover of this brilliant song, check it out you won't be dissapointed

by Dave R on 8/21/2012 5:15am
Inspired writing from Gabriel. Simple Minds do a really good cover of this genius song. Check it out I know you wont be dissapointed. RIP Steve B