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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
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Comments/Interpretations
This song is another reminder of the true nature of human beings, brilliantly written. This is music with substance.
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
One of the best songs ever!!!!
Talks about human power in their beliefs and thoughts
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.
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!
Hard to believe that this song is from 1980.
It is still ahead of todays music.
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.
look up Steven Biko, and you'll see what this song is about for those who dont know...
I cry to the song. RIP steve biko
This song had a big impact on the growing anti apartheid movement in 1980. Thanks Gabe!
Thank you Peter, thank you... please come back and play for us.... we really need you now
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. Así nunca nos olvidaremos de las verederas hazañas de los grandes heroes. Gracias Peter Gabriel
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.
just a few words for a song o powerful and in the same time so full of love, mercy, anger, wrath, but also hope for a better world without distinction of any kind, religion or skin color.
not thanks to Peter Gabriel but sorry for all the pain, suffering, outrage, abuse, and misery we have caused to African people in the name of progress preached from white people.
eduardo.mereu@libero.it
this song is an amazing symbol, through well-written analogies you can really see the important meaning. thank yyou Peter Gabriel
One thing i will never forget in my life. The brutal death of Steve Biko.
Viva to all South Africa heroes and Congratulations to Peter Gabriel. The song is great. Many thanks
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.
"With our matches and our necklaces we will free South Africa." - Winnie Mandela
For those unaware, necklacing was a method of murder used exclusively by black South Africans against other black South Africans who would not get with the ANC/Communist program. They would fill a used car tire with gasoline, shove it over their opponent's head, pinning the arms of their enemy down, then light them on fire. Nelson Mandela was a terrorist, imprisoned for possessing explosives and plans for government buildings he planned on blowing up.
Strange and disgusting to have heroes like Nelson and Winnie Mandela, Che Guevara, Chairman Mao, etc.
This is not to say that South African apartheid was a correct political system; only to say that what replaced it was worse and that the heroes who rose up in opposition to it were repulsive sub-humans.
How does this song go for 7 minutes!!
My teacher showed this to my class and now everyone is isnging..'Biko..biko! Because Biko' (:
Awesome song:D
@D Jones, you arrogant and ignorant fool! What are you talking about? Do you know what you are saying! Foolish.
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.
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.
Inspired writing from Gabriel, simple minds do a fantastic cover of this brilliant song, check it out you won't be dissapointed
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
This is a wonderfuf song,we are studying it ta school, it brings everyone in peace.
Bravo
From Paris with love
He was my friend. Just heard the song for the first time. Many tears. Can still see him clearly in 1975 in the house to where he was banned. Believe the room was blue. My wife and I drove 700 miles from Pretoria to Port Elizabeth. I was an American diplomat. I especially wanted him to know he was not forgotten by the US (although he mostly was).