Dave The Boy Who Played the Harp Lyrics
I sometimes wonder, what would I do in a next generation?
In 1940, if I was enlisted to fight for the nation
In 1960, if I had to fight for the rights of my people
And lay down my life on the line so my grandkids could live a life that’s peaceful
Would I be on that? Would I be frontline? That’s what I’m thinking
If I was alive inna 1912 on the Titanic and it was sinking
Who am I saving? Am I fighting women and children, or am I waiting?
I wonder, what would I do in a next generation?
Battle of Karbala, if they captured me for the sake of my father
Would I stand on my honour like Husayn did and then tell them to make me a martyr?
Would I read? Get smarter?
Forgive my oppressor, stick to the creed
If I got locked inside like Nelson Mandela, but never was freed
I see a white man dance to rhumba, ain’t studied Patrice Lumumba
But get on the stage and sing like “sun gba la ja ja ja ja, sun gba”
Fuck it
I wonder, what would I do in a next generation?
Would I fight for justice? Is it the reason my mum named me David?
How can you be king? How can you be king, don’t speak for the people?
Them man try draw me out and compare, like me and these **** are equal
I’m a black man and this bozo’s saying my music’s socially conscious
While the man dem troll in responses, this world’s gone totally bonkers
I sometimes wonder, what would I do in a next generation?
But I’m knowing the answer, ’cause what am I doing in this generation?
Afraid to speak ’cause I don’t wanna risk in my occupation
We got kids under occupation, our parents, they wouldn’t get that
The people that died for our freedom spoke on justice, couldn’t accept that
I talk ’bout the money in all my accounts, so why don’t I speak on the West Bank?
Remember growing up prejudiced, the damage 7/7 did
Extremists and terrorist, I was afraid of the Taliban
Can’t speak out on illegal settlers now, I’m afraid of a shadow ban
What would I do in a next generation?
Critiquing African leaders
For selling our country’s natural resources to the West for peanuts
If they don’t hear, they’ll feel us
I question what I’m alive for
And can you say you’re alive if you ain’t got something you’re willing to die for?
What am I willing to die for? What am I doing in this generation?
I get in my head sometimes, I feel like I’m in despair
That feeling of total powerlessness, I get that sinking feeling
That good ain’t defeating evil
I put their pain on vinyl, but feel like that shit ain’t moving the needle
Re-tweeting people, raising awareness, in all fairness
Ain’t gonna bring Chris back to his parents
But there’s no other option, it’s a process
Gotta stand and protest ’cause they want man silenced
‘Cause they want man dead or they want man hopeless
In a next generation, I spoke with my ancestors in the night and I showed them
They spoke with tears in eyes for the brothers they lost and said it was progress
“How can it be progress?” I asked them, confused, disgusted
They said, “David, just so you could fight this, you know how much suffering touched us
And you got a chance, we come from a time and a place where you couldn’t get justice
Had to find peace in the fact that we all answer to the one that we trust in
And in our generation, we did do peaceful protest just like you
Burnt buildings just like you, did boycotts just like you
Sat in a hostel powerless, did feel powerless just like you
And I know that it may sound strange, but we made some change and we’re just like you
I know that you question your character
I know that you suffer in silence
I know that it don’t feel right when you go to the club in Victoria Island
‘Cause how can you dance in the club there’s a 100 people begging outside it?
I know all the sins of you father
I know that you’re desperate to fight them
So step on your purpose
Speak for your people, share all your secrets
Expose your emotions, you might not see but there’s people that need it
Never demand it, and if God can grant it, manifest it and receive it
Your name is David, and that covenant’s sacred
You got a promise, so keep it, deep it”
Them man talk on the ting, but I bleed it
Man wanna speak on the scene but I’ve seen it
Tried in the fire by Ghetts, I’m anointed
Kano passed me the torch, I received it
God told me I’m the one, I believed it
Shout Hollowman ’cause he helped me achieve it
I’m the youngest of my brothers, Father, ease the burden on our mothers
Give these **** money, see their colours
Don’t mix me with me with them, I’m not the one
Grind and miss the summer when it comes, I’m Abraham, I sacrificed a son
Where I’m from, they sacrifice a son
Hold up, I ain’t finished, I ain’t done, my ancestors
My ancestors told me that my life is prophecy
And it’s not just me, it’s a whole generation of people gradually making change
There ain’t a greater task, shift that, make a name, make a start
They’ll know what they’re facing when they ask
With the will of David in my heart
The story of The Boy Who Played the Harp