Sunday, 9 May 2021

Fela Kuti - Observation is no crime lyrics

 


Whenever I get frustrated and confused at the on goings on the political front, I like to put on some Fela Kuti. I don't know a lot about his life nor agree with some of his ideas and lifestyle, but my dad enjoyed his music with some of them highlighting our attitudes and behaviors in different areas of life such as politics, wealth and education. 

I decided to check out one of his albums on YouTube and came across the album Zombie. I love singing along and decided to fill in the blanks of some of the lyrics for Observation is no crime that auto generation could not find the words for... here is my version, corrections are welcome.


Nah oil na dey carry, da oil na dey on top
Sansa man no come spoil na oil (na oil ne dey carry)
Sansa man no come spoil na oil (na oil ne dey carry)
Tell me, tell me my brother (Tell me, tell me) Why not?
Tell me, tell me if not (Tell me, tell me) Why not?
Tell me, tell me if not (Tell me, tell me)
Tell me why I go get eye, I a no go see (Tell me, tell me)

Tell me why I go get to nose, I know the smell (Tell me, tell me)
Tell me why I go get ear I no go hear (Tell me, tell me)
Tell me why I go get your mouth a no go tok (Tell me, tell me)
Tell me why I go get  ear an I go hmm (Tell me, tell me)
Tell me why I go get your heart an I go home (Tell me, tell me)
Aha
I no be mogul my brother
Na mogul dem dey beat
Na mogul dem dey cheat
Na mogul dem dey dabgaruwa dollar, dollar yegba 
(Tell me, tell me)
I get the hand to fight if I want fight (Tell me, tell me)

I get the leg to run if I want run (Tell me, tell me)


Well dey take the eye to see oppression every day (For left, for right, for up and down)
Well dey take the nose to smell anomalities everywhere (Around, around, around, around)
Well dey take the ear to hear corruption every day (For left, for right, for up and down)
We go take the mouth to talk the things we see, hear and smell (Around, around, around, around)
As for my me and my home I go put them for reserve
When they lock me for cell, I want and dey shout
To say observation may no be crime now (Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
Na oil na dey on top (Tell me, tell me) 
Na oil na dey carry 

Sansa man no come spoil na oil (na oil ne dey carry)

Tell me, tell me my brother (Tell me, tell me)
Tell me, tell me (Tell me, tell me)
Ah!
Chchchchchch Ah!


(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
(Tell me, tell me)
One, two, three

Any suggestions always welcome