Published today in the British press by Young Fathers:
"Elvis wasn’t the king of rock’n’roll. Kanye played Glastonbury. You can’t keep us in the uuuuurban stations, bestial hip-hop, token crazy militant black people cupboard, under the stairs, poor-doors entrance. We have keys to the front door. We are black and white.
The story is: the drum, the rhythm, from Africa to New Orleans; rape to create white value; proximity, black to white; sounds bleeding through clapboard walls; Rock’n’roll born from pain.
Bo Diddley is rock’n’roll.
Those fences erected are puny. To keep the blacks and the whites separate. We are black and white and we pull them down. They are dust.
Commerce demands packaging. We package ourselves. And some people get it. Paul Weller gets it. He knew some in his audience would have a hard time accepting it, but the man knows where his music comes from, he knows Stevie Marriott checked for soul and R&B, he knows the Beatles checked for Motown. He knows modern music and he ain’t afraid to show it.
Here, have some of this, it tastes modern.
It’s a culture collision but open your mind and it works. Young Fathers are supporting Paul Weller – predict that.
In the midst of this UK tour, while Britain First are trying to spawn all over the internet, while politicians and press fight to expectorate the most poisonous, anti-immigrant ignorance, we give you Old Rock’n’Roll, a journey across centuries, bringing it back to Africa, to Malawi, bringing the faces and sounds of humans, migrating, because they are captured or scared or hungry, as they always have done. And we’re saying, it’s alright. In the heart of the Congo, it’s alright.
In the heart of Essex, it’s alright. Don’t be afraid. This country can afford it. If we can afford bombs we can afford blankets and a welcome.
Old Rock’n’Roll. Not what you’ve been told.”
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A text to introduce this new video:
Young Fathers - Old Rock N Roll
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Taken from the YOUNG FATHERS album 'White Men Are Black Men Too' released 6 April 2015 on Big Dada.
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http://young-fathers.com/
Thank you to Alex Chilembwe, Marumbo Sichinga, Lake of Stars, 'chipoka boys' Antony & Bakali and the people of Chipoka Village, Mangochi, Malawi.
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LYRICS:
For fuck's sake
We living life like a bubble wrapped ape
She came to mind when I treble that bass
I’m tired of playing the good black
I said I’m tired of playing the good black
I’m tired of having to hold back
I’m tired of wearing this hallmark for some evils that happened way back
I’m tired of blaming the white man
His indiscretion don’t betray him
A black man can play him
Some white men are black men too
Niggah to them
A gentleman to you
Some white men are black men too
Niggah, Ohwae Owhae
Awake
Watch your body
Wash itself
Baptise baby
I bath in blood
Dare be told
I seldom do surrender
God forsaking no good do-good-er It’s all out
Out in the open
Looking for the wild one
Boy I’m fragile
Choke on bones while choking stone
You knock me or your miss me
Or you miss me
Niggah, Ohwae Owhae
Awake
Old rock n roll
Not what you’ve been sold
Congo square is open for business
I was there as god is my witness
There you fucking go
(So there you fucking go)
For fuck's sake
We living life like a bubble wrapped ape
She came to mind when I treble that bass
I’m tired of playing the good black
I said I’m tired of playing the good black
I’m tired of having to hold back
I’m tired of wearing this hallmark for some evils that happened way back
I’m tired of blaming the white man
His indiscretion don’t betray him
A black man can play him
Some white men are black men too
Niggah to them
A gentleman to you
Some white men are black men too
Niggah, Ohwae Owhae
Awake
Watch your body
Wash itself
Baptise baby
I bath in blood
Dare be told
I seldom do surrender
God forsaking no good do-good-er It’s all out
Out in the open
Looking for the wild one
Boy I’m fragile
Choke on bones while choking stone
You knock me or your miss me
Or you miss me
Niggah, Ohwae Owhae
Awake
Old rock n roll
Not what you’ve been sold
Congo square is open for business
I was there as god is my witness
There you fucking go
(So there you fucking go)
--
See the text in the Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/17/young-fathers-if-we-can-afford-bombs-we-can-afford-blankets-and-a-welcome?CMP=twt_a-culture_b-gdnculture
