Song Lyrics

In South Africa, in a remote town,
Far from the cities you know well,
Born in poverty, Mandela was poor,
No meat and sweets that they couldn’t afford.
Resources were meager, they didn’t have many,
But had a lot of love and a big family.
This story goes in order, it’s chronological,
The first to go to school, that’s hard to do.

He was a hard-working student, diligent with the books,
Some white people on the street, giving him looks.
Here’s the context, see the background now,
Colonial Dutch ruled South Africa.
The whole country at this time
Was divided along race lines, Apartheid.
So blacks were the majority, more than half,
But couldn’t vote, now that’s some bad math.
So Mandela was treated with prejudice,
People didn’t like him, even before they met him.
His loyalty, allegiance, was to freedom,
But his college kicked him out like, “we don’t need him.”
This caused and generated a feeling in his soul,
When a dream is held back, it just might blow!
Their hatred was just an obstacle,
Something in his way, but it’s not impossible.

Mandela! Yes, Mandela is free, but what about my people? My people!

He set out to change and transform,
The whole country one mind at a time.
Joined the African National Congress,
ANC, what’s that? Y’all gonna have to wait and see.
At first he tried to talk and negotiate,
Deal with the government, start bargaining.
But his talks were met with silence,
So as a last resort he turned to violence.

But he was prosecuted and put on trial,
The judge said, “You’re going to go to jail for a while.”
So they locked him up, and threw away the key,
In jail for twenty four years in his cell.
But he possessed and had the spirit that
Was strong like his ancestors had.
And the people fought to end Apartheid,
And when Mandela was freed, yeah they went all wild.

You represent? Here’s what representing is,
When you get out of jail, you’re made President.
You represent? Here’s what representing is,
When you get out of jail, you’re made President like Mandela!

Hook

“Poverty is not natural.
It is manmade.
And it can be overcome,
And eradicated.” - Nelson Mandela