Weeping (1987)

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Weeping is an anti-apartheid protest song written by Dan Heymann in the mid-1980s, and recorded for the first time by Heymann and the South African group Bright Blue in 1987.[1] The song was a direct response to the 1985 State of Emergency that was declared by President P.W. Botha, which immediately resulted in "large-scale killings of unarmed and peaceful demonstrators against racial discrimination and segregation in South Africa."[2] The song took in part of the melody of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, the anthem of the anti-apartheid African National Congress. "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" was banned at the time, thus Weeping was also concluded as violated the law. Now, "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" is part of the national anthem of South Africa. The formerly illicit lyrics—"Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo"—are now often chanted when "Weeping" is recorded or performed.[3]

Key Lyrics

I knew a man who lived in fear

It was huge, it was angry, it was drawing near

Behind his house, a secret place

Was the shadow of the demon he could never face


He built a wall of steel and flame

And men with guns to keep it tame

Then, standing back, he made it plain

That the nightmare would never ever rise again

But the fear, the fire, and the guns remained

Reception

In 1999, "Weeping" was voted as "All-time favorite South African Song" by the readers of the South African Rock Encyclopedia.[4]

Reference

  1. http://www.tomorrowtoday.co.za/2007/01/01/weeping-by-josh-groban-errr-actually-bright-blue. Graeme Codrington. 1 January 2007. Tomorrow Today. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  2. http://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/state-emergency-south-africa-1960-and-1980s. www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  3. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weeping_(song). Wikipedia. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  4. http://www.rock.co.za/files/sarock_pollwinners.html. SA Rock Digest. Retrieved January 22, 2021.