Free Nelson Mandela (1984)

From blackwiki
Revision as of 14:30, 21 January 2021 by Caezaraa (talk | contribs) (→‎Music)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
AAA7DBCE-EFA6-4DEC-AE0B-9CF6154DD811.jpg

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]

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

  1. 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.
  2. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/dec/09/jerry-dammers-free-nelson-mandela. Dave Simpson. 9 December 2013. The Guardian. Retrieved January 21, 2021.