Difference between revisions of "Free Nelson Mandela (1984)"
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Revision as of 14:30, 21 January 2021
Nelson Mandela, known in some versions as Free Nelson Mandela, is a song written by British musician Jerry Dammers, and performed by band The Special A.K.A. – with lead vocal by Stan Campbell – released on the single "Nelson Mandela"/"Break Down The Door" in 1984. It was a protest against the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela by the apartheid South African government, and is considered a notable anti apartheid song.[1]
Contents
Key Lyrics
Free Nelson Mandela
Twenty-one years in captivity
Shoes too small to fit his feet
His body abused but his mind is still free
Are you so blind that you cannot see?
I said free Nelson Mandela
I'm begging you, free Nelson Mandela
Pleaded the causes at the ANC
Only one there in a large army
Are you so blind that you cannot see?
Are you so deaf that you cannot hear his plea?
Free Nelson Mandela
I'm begging you, free Nelson Mandela
Twenty-one years in captivity
Are you so blind that you cannot see?
Are you so deaf that you cannot hear?
Are you so dumb that you cannot speak?
I said free Nelson Mandela
I'm begging you, free Nelson Mandela
Free Nelson Mandela
Music
The backing vocals were performed by Molly and Polly Jackson, two girls the band's drummer John Bradbury had "met in a bar in Camden", while the chorus was performed by session singers including Claudia Fontaine and Caron Wheeler, who later went on to appear with Soul II Soul.[2]
Reception
Reference
- ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/2013/dec/05/entertainment/la-et-ms-nelson-mandela-dies-music-ten-essential-antiapartheid-songs-20130627. Randall Roberts. 5 December 2013. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/dec/09/jerry-dammers-free-nelson-mandela. Dave Simpson. 9 December 2013. The Guardian. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
