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not black enough

not black enough is a song in guru vasist’s debut album rise 8 times...click here for the album overview...

in Durban, South Africa, a man looks at his neighbor, unable to explain why they are packing to move from their home and their forefathers’ home, to an unknown, far away land...once called a ‘coloured’ man, he had the opportunity to live a dignified life, and fight a dignified war...but now, he is not black enough to survive the freedom he won...

 

this song is dedicated to the people of indian origin in south africa

song lyrics:

 

re­mem­ber we played to­geth­er

un­der the bao­bab tree?

re­mem­ber we fought for­ev­er

to shed our slav­er­y?

re­mem­ber how we re­joiced?  

we were fi­nal­ly free!

it was our vic­to­ry!

 

from where we came, we had to be tough

not wield a gun, when oth­ers were rough

it’s my con­vic­tion, that’s what I’m made of

coz I’m not white, not black e­nough!

 

now why d'ya tell me to go home?

I wish I had an­oth­er!

now why d'ya ask me to step down?

I thought you’re like my broth­er!

don't you tell me I'm a stran­ger!

can’t you see my name on eve­ry wall?

 

from where we came, we had to be tough

not wield a gun, when oth­ers were rough

it’s my con­vic­tion, that’s what I’m made of

coz I’m not white, not black e­nough!

 

in the thick and thin of life,

we stuck to­geth­er

now don’t you lose that very thing

we fought so hard for!

when you tell me, I have no right,

re­mem­ber who gave you your voice!

 

from where we came, we had to be tough

not wield a gun, when oth­ers were rough

it’s my con­vic­tion, that’s what I’m made of

coz I’m not white, not black e­nough!

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