7 seconds is all it takes for most people to establish an opinion on other person upon meeting them, the initial perception that usually endures and goes beyond that initial exchange at times creating rifts of misunderstanding...
Classic rock cover
Hello World!, I say WELCOME. I'm a 57 years old classic rock fan and musician. For the most part I only do covers of classic rock and folk songs but am known from slipping in an occasional ballad or instrumental here and there too.
Story behind the song
This was one of those runaway hits when released in 1994 as a single (then on the '96 "Man" album). I didn't hear much airplay on the Mexican FM and AM radio stations but did on the US airwaves. The use of multiple languages: English, French & Wolof captured me the first time I heard this. One of the few songs that I say the video matches perfectly the lyrics and the artists: Neneh Cherry and Youssou N'Dour.
Lyrics
Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
Khamouma li neka thi sama suuf ak thi guinaw
Beugouma kouma khol daldine yaw li neka si yaw
Mo ne si man li ne si mane moye dilene diapale
TRANSLATION:
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Don't see me from a distance
Don't look at my smile
And think that I don't know
What's under and behind me
I don't want you to look at me and think
What's in you is in me
What's in me is to help them
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Roughness and rudeness, we should be using
On the ones who practice wicked charms
For the sword and the stone, bad to the bone
Battle's 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 is living in
It's not a second, seven seconds away
Just as long as stay, I'll be waiting
It's not a second, seven seconds away
Just as long as 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'un dublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beacoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les portes grandement ouvertes
Des amis pour parler de leur peine
De leur joie pour qu'ils leur filent
Des infos qui ne divisent pas changer
TRANSLATION:
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I assume the reasons that push us to change everything
I would like us to forget about their color
So they can try to be optimistic
Too many views on race that make them desperate
Let's leave the door wide open
So they can talk about their pain and joy
Then we can give them information
That will bring us all together
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Seven seconds away
Just as long as stay, I'll be waiting
It's not a second, seven seconds away
Just as long as 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 is 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
Seven seconds away
Just as long as stay, I'll be waiting
It's not a second, seven seconds away
Just as long as stay, I'll be waiting
It's not a second, seven seconds away
Just as long as stay, I'll be waiting
It's not a second, seven seconds away
Just as long as stay, I'll be waiting
It's not a second, seven seconds away
Just as long as stay, I'll be waiting
