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biko
composer
Words and music: Peter Gabriel
publisher
© 1989 Peter Gabriel Limited
© Real World Music Ltd. (Post 2013 credit)
background
Originally written by Peter Gabriel, Biko was about Steven Biko, a South African anit-apartheid
activist, and member of the Black Consciousness Movement. "Steven Biko was a brave man. Through his
student activism and the founding of the Black Consciousness Movement, he was unafraid to make known his
beliefs and to lead the struggle for his people. His formidable intelligence, charisma and warmth inspired most of those
who witnessed them. During his trial, observers from many countries were fascinated to watch him run rings around the
prosecution with his logic, passion and wit. Many people believed he would have become a great international
statesman, a leader for africa and for young people all over the world." - Peter Gabriel - Street Fighting Years book.
"When in 1977 he was arrested, as he had been before, most people assumed that there had been sufficient international media
attention to protect him. It was a real shock to hear that he had died in jail along with so many others in
'mysterious circumstances.'" - Peter Gabriel - Street Fighting Years book.
Simple Minds planned to play the song as part of their set for the
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute, with Gabriel
singing lead vocals. "When Jim asked me about playing it on
Mandela Day, I was pleased. I wanted it to be hard by such a large
audience who would be focusing their attention on what was going on in South Africa and I knew that I would not
be able to get my own band assembled. I was a little nervous as I had had no time for rehearsal. But when I stood up
on the stage, surrounded by all those familiar faces, the song began, and I felt the strength of their
arrangement and their commitment. It is a moment I will not forget." - Peter Gabriel - Street Fighting Years book.
The band decided to record a cover for the album "When Simple Minds do a cover version, at least we do
Street Hassle or Biko. A song doesn't belong to anyone. As soon as you
let someone hear a song, you've given it to them, as far as I'm concerned - to whistle or to play or to record, if they
want. We told Peter our plans to record this and he was very encouraging.
- Jim Kerr - Street Fighting Years book.
It wasn't the only cover version being considered as they also jammed Sun City
during the album's sessions. Early monitor mixes of both tracks were recorded on the 26th July 1988 at Sarm.
"Biko we did because we loved the track, and we loved Peter Gabriel, and we
hated apartheid. We'd worked with Amnesty International and that informed what was going on."
- Charlie - Street Fighting Years Super Deluxe
"We all thought it sounded good when Jim sang it. He couldn't reach the
pitch Gabriel sang it in, so he sang it in a sort of low, monotone
voice and that gave it a completely different atmosphere." - Mick MacNeil - Street Fighting Years book.
The song was the bonus track on the Ballad Of The Streets EP, appearing
all formats except the 7". It was also the original closing song on Street Fighting Years,
before When Spirits Rise was hurriedly recorded and added to the running
order.
It was then played live during the Street Fighting Years Tour
where the arrangement matched the studio recording and Gabriel's original
version.
lyrics
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September '77.
Port Elizabeth weather fine.
It was business as usual.
In police room 619.
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko.
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko.
Hiromija, Hiromija.
The man is dead, the man is dead.
When I try to sleep at night.
I can only dream in red.
The outside world is black and white,
With only one colour dead.
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko.
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko.
Hiromija, Hiromija.
The man is dead, the man is dead.
You can blow out a candle.
But you can never blow out a fire.
Once the flames begin to catch.
The wind will blow it higher.
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko.
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko.
Hiromija, Hiromija.
The man is dead, the man is dead.
And the eyes of the world are watching you now.
They're watching you now, watching you now.
Watching you now, watching you now.
They're watching you now.
You gotta waken up, you gotta face up.
I think you gotta open up.
The eyes of the world are watching you now.
You gotta waken up, you gotta face up.
You know you can never turn away.
Never turn away.
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