Intro:
Africa, It’s you that I need and you that I want
Home here I come

Verse 1:
I’m lonely, down and depressed
Feels like the world’s stress sits on my chest
Can’t think, I’m running out of breath
Dazed and confused I await the next step
Where to go when there’s nowhere to hide
De-emasculated I’ve been robbed of my pride
Need a way out before my soul dies
See Babylon shitstem I’m wary of your lies
Can’t take it, aufwiedersehen, goodbye
Got my one-way ticket and a place to reside
Yeah I’m ready to fight all the powers that be
Look over your shoulders this ain’t the last of me

Chorus:
Ilé l’àbọ̀sí oko
It’s a long way from Africa
Ilé l’àbọ̀sí oko
It’s a long way from Africa

Verse 2:
The journey’s been long, our sacrifices plenty
Callouses on our hearts, bear testimony
To the pains endured in unbearable cruelty
Soul survivors connecting bloodlines
From Garvey to Nkrumah, Martin and Malcolm
DuBois, Mandela, Jaja of Opobo
Thomas Sankara, the battle continues
But hope lives on from daughter to son

Chorus:
Ilé l’àbọ̀sí oko
It’s a long way from Africa
Ilé l’àbọ̀sí oko
It’s a long way from Africa

Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Africa
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Africa
All my people in the Durban, Kampala, Accra, Dafur

Verse 3:
Grateful, that I made it back home
It’s the son of the king returning to claim his throne
Many years have gone, many rains in-between
Here to clear the air, blow the smoke off the screen
Elevate my people reaching out for my brother’s hand
Comforting my sister while we heal the land
Yeah there’s work to be done but I know we can make it
As long as we’re real and we don’t try to fake it

Chorus:
Ilé l’àbọ̀sí oko
It’s a long way from Africa
Ilé l’àbọ̀sí oko
It’s a long way from Africa
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Africa (X2)

HOOK (rpt) & Oh oh oh (rpt).

Outro:
This one goes out to:
Amilcar Cabral
Steve Bantu Biko
Franz Fanon
Ambroise Boimbo
Samora Machel
The Enugu coal miners
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
Miriam Makeba
Wangari Maathai
Mariama Ba
The Ogoni 9

Home they say is not too far away
You’re so close
I need your warmth
I need your love
I need you

Ilé l’àbọ̀sí oko
It’s a long way from Africa
Ilé l’àbọ̀sí oko
It’s a long way from Africa

Oh oh oh, Oh oh oh oh
Africa
Oh oh oh, Oh oh oh oh
Africa
(rpt till fade..)


They say
Freedom is a road
Seldom travelled by the multitude.

Aaro ile n sọ mí púpọ̀, sùgbọ́n ọ̀nà ilé jin, ó jìnà réré