Music Mondays - 7 Seconds by Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry

Gosh is it good to be back! Sorry I haven't posted any updates for awhile. Things were a little crazy last week with exams and assignments due at uni and a lot of reading to catch up on. I had to focus, but I'm back!

And I come bearing a peace offering. *big smile* Yes, this is bribery.

'7 Seconds' was a major international #1 in 1994 and it stayed in the chart for half that year. It later became the soundtrack for a few movies, but for me, it always reminds me of my French holidays. Back in 1994 it stayed in the French Charts as a #1 for sixteen weeks, a record at the time, so every time I'm in France it inevitably comes up on the radio. Every year, every holiday, without fail.

So you see... My gift to you isn't just sharing this amazing track, but sharing my sunny holiday song. Enjoy and have a productive and wonderful Monday!

LYRICS WITH TRANSLATIONS...

7 SECONDS

by Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry

(I'm not sure how accurate the translation is, so take it with a pinch of salt!)

(Yousou N'Dour singing in Wolof)

Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane

Don't see me from a distance, don't look at my smile

Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw

And think that I don't know what's under and behind me. 

Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw 

I don't want you to look at me and think 

mo ne si man. Li ne si mane moye dilene diapale 

that what's in you is in me. What's in me is to help them.

Roughneck and rudeness,

We should be using, 

On the ones who practiced 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 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 (x3)

(Youssou N'Dour singing in French)

J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,

I assume the reasons that push us to change everything 

J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent

I wish we could forget about their colour so they can hope

Beaucoup de sentiments de races qui font qu'ils desesperent

Too many views on rave that make them desparate 

Je veux les deux mains ouvertes,

I want the doors wide open,

Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie

(and) friends to talk about their sorrow, about their joy

Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas

so they can give'em infos that do not divide (scatter)

Changer

Change

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 (x3)

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 (x2)

To tell you what you should be thinking

So you better sober up for just a second

We're 7 seconds away

Just as long as I stay

I'll be waiting 

It's not a second

We're 7 seconds away

For 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