Johnny Clegg

Talk To The People

Johnny Clegg


There's a brawl in a lonely whites only bar
A lekker groove in a classy shebeen
Someone betrayed in a government car
A silent movement on the stock market screen
A watchman playing on a Zulu guitar
A white soldier's blues in camouflage green
A migrant worker who's come too far
A sailor aground in a submarine

Chorus
Phendula wendoda
(Answer, Mister)
Lendlela sizofika kanjani
(This way, how will we arrive?)
Talk to the people
Walk through the country
Listen to the children
Do you know the dreams they dream at night
Only you, only you can see me
Only you, only you can free me
Only you breathe life into the land
Touch me with your healing hand

There's a township mongrel on the scrounge
A tribal feud in a municipal 'pound
A squatter with an ox but no land to plough
A shipment of A.K.s on the underground
A throw of the dice on a Soweto train
A waiting knife if you should win the game
A human rights lawyer with a torture claim
A union activitist never ever seen again

Chorus

Phendula wemadoda
(Give the answer...)
Talk to me

God hear the children
God save the country
God hear the people
God bless the dreams they dream at night

Chorus