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When the King Leaves

from Ownership by Mthakathi

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lyrics

they came, with outstretched hands
spread fingers, sifting the sand
"there's treasure locked in the land"
the keys are at our command

"if they buy into it we got it made
all we need is to continue the charade"

"and if the natives get restless, you blacken the sun
let in enough light to show that you're the one
and that life as they know it ceases when you're gone
for sure they'll keep singing along..."

what happens if the king leaves?
we all fall down!

the fields are fertile and lush
the coffers teeming and flush
keep it coming control or crush
the dissident is made to hush

all it takes is one light bulb to go on
next thing you know a new line has been drawn

and then the natives get restless and the soldiers get scared
the ministers warn that "we are not prepared"
a change is occuring and dissent grows strong
and the aristocracy's wrong, when they sing:

what happens if the king leaves?
they all fall down!

the harbor is stained with tea
the fruit rots in the factory
now burning the embassy
reclamation and sovereignty

the blunted regents cry "savages gone wild"
but no one wants to be someone else's bastard child

and when the natives get restless and the village gets wise
the sleeping giant will open its eyes
expell the intruders and their sophistry
calling "everyone come out and see..."

what happens when the king leaves?
WE ALL STAND UP

credits

from Ownership, released August 1, 2008
drum kit › ian herman
bass › bakithi kumalo
sabar, djembe › mar gueye
congas, timbales, tamborines, shakers › joe cardello
shekere › tiye giraud
blues harp › chris dawson
umuz’omncane harmony vocals › seipati masango, presilla majodina,
sepenati magqabi, nosiphiwo magqabi, stella khumalo, faith kekana,
tiye giraud, ayanda bacela, ralph schmitt, ema
guitars, synths, programming and lead vocal › ema

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Mthakathi New York, New York

WORLD MUSIC ON JET FUEL! Singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer Mthakathi (pronounced m-TAA-gaa-tee) takes the rock/world fusion movement into the realm of Safro-Rock. His music, drawn from a lifelong immersion in South African culture, is a fiery mutli-culti rock mashup with a dose of world world elements.
An innovative songsmith and arresting performer, Mthakathi is the definitive "Safro" rocker ... more

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