Gimme Hope Jo’anna (1988)

From blackwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
9C7D33E0-06EB-481F-B300-00B14FDF2743.jpg

Gimme Hope Jo'anna is an song written, composed, and performed by Eddy Grant in 1988. The song was originally released as an anti-apartheid anthem during the apartheid era in South Africa. The song was classsified as forbidden song by the South African government when it was released, but was massively played in South Africa nonetheless. It reached 7th position on the UK Singles Chart, marking Grant's first UK top 10 hit for five years.[1]

Key Lyrics

Well Jo'anna she runs a country

She runs in Durban and the Transvaal

She makes a few of her people happy oh

She don't care about the rest at all

She's got a system they call apartheid

It keeps a brother in subjection

But maybe pressure will make Jo'anna see

How everybody could live as one

Interpretation

The word "Jo'anna" that is used in the song title is a reference to Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa. The lyric "The Archbishop who's a peaceful man" in the 4th verse of the song is a reference to Desmond Tutu, the first black South African Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town who received the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize for his advocation and spreading awareness against apartheid.[2]

Reception

Bill Coleman from Billboard in his review described the song as "sprightly pop with a meaningful antiapartheid message".[3]

References

  1. Andrew Perry. "How Eddy Grant gave hope to South Africa". 27 June 2008. The Telegraph. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  2. Gimme Hope Jo’anna. Wikipedia. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  3. Bill Coleman. "Single Reviews" (PDF). 31 March 1990. Billboard. p. 78. Retrieved February 2, 2021.