A raw and haunting commentary on the struggles faced in Africa—war, poverty, and oppression. The song challenges the harsh realities of life while reflecting on how things ‘didn’t have to be like this,’ offering a voice to the voiceless.
Burning sun
On empty plains
Bleeding wrists
In biting chains
Tribal chants
On distant hills
Mosquito bites
That always kill
It didn’t have to be
Like this
It didn’t have to
Be like this
Tribal wars that
Keep you down
Elders vying
For the minor crown
Conspired to keep you
In poverty
End your life
Despondently
It didn’t always have to
Be like this
Always money
To buy more guns
Always time
To kill more sons
No money
To feed the poor
No Beds
Just a dirty floor
It didn’t’ have to be like this
It shouldn’t have to be like this
Wars
Everyday
Refugees looking for
Some Place to stay
Life’s too cheap everyday
Life means nothing to you anyway
It’s just the African way
Of life
Dictators come
Dictators go
Always take
Leave nothing to show
Always stop
Education
Easy to keep you
In your station
It didn’t have to be
Like this
It didn’t have to
Be like this
Never any
democracy
Just bloody
Hypocrisy
Some Chattel
To push around
Object and get
Put in the ground
It didn’t always have to
Be like this
Always money
To buy more guns
Always time
To kill more sons
No money
To feed the poor
No Beds
Just a dirty floor
It didn’t’ have to be like this
It shouldn’t have to be like this
Wars
Everyday
Refugees looking for
Some Place to stay
Life’s too cheap everyday
Life means nothing to you anyway
It’s just the African way
Of life
