THE OLD STORY
This song is written from the point of view of a man who has just extinguished life of another. He has the authority to do so as a licensed officer of the law, nonetheless the extent of his powers do not sit easy with him. He asks philosophical questions of the society that gives him the power of life and death over his fellow human beings and he ponders the historical context that allows him to wield said authority. He comes to the conclusion that he is fulfilling a pre-ordained role determined by history rather than one defined by his own personal choices.
lyrics
The Old Story
Ola Onabule 2018
Owo pupa, O wo aso dudu
Oju fun fun, Oso kun morun
Every night, tormented by apparitions,
In forms that moved like an ancient masquerade,
Bloodied vizards whisper: "These are not delusions, No...
Just the just deserts of past deeds that overstayed"
I Hear them cry
We don't do scot free.
No checking out, doubting what will be
The dance presages all of we
Cursed generations will repeat
till in lock step with history's beat...
We'll tell the old story:
Owo pupa, O wo aso dudu
Oju fun fun, Oso kun morun
As I dim his lights, they shine a dawning,
This promised land of beginnings, delivered his end
And from that revelation I divined a meaning, I...
Nurture a truth starved of meaning, A lie that pretends
He heard me cry
I don't do victim but why
Must I exist, just to tell a man
I must prepare him to die
I planned to live, not live the plan
I try, but never do all I can
Trapped in the old story
Owo pupa, O wo aso dudu
Oju fun fun, Oso kun morun
As I dim his lights, they shine a dawning,
This promised land of beginnings, delivered his end
And from that revelation I divined a meaning, I...
Nurture a truth starved of meaning, A lie that pretends
He heard me cry
Owo pupa, O wo aso dudu
Oju fun fun, Oso kun morun
Ad Libs out…
credits
from Point Less,
released August 30, 2019
Drums - Chris Nickolls, Bass - Phil Mulford, Guitar - Guillermo Hill, Piano - John Crawford, Percussion - Will Fry
Ola’s new album, POINT LESS has been critically received worldwide. The new
album is on the DownBeat list of Best Albums of 2019. .
Onabulé is a rugged individualist, a deeply soulful musician. Possessing an emotional intensity and vocal virtuosity, a poignant storyteller and capacity to cross cultural and musical boundaries with an unflinching lyrical pursuit of truth and justice. ...more
The opening track on Maulawi’s 1974 LP for the legendary Strata Records gets its funky grooves turned inside-out in these remixes. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 19, 2021