"me no big chief …

I have spent days, and hours watching
the moves, the passes, the dribbles,
the shots, the goals, the misses,
the joys and the agonies.
every four years.

I have been searching for a reason to put myself through it all again.
and I have found it, just in time, in this anthem;
in the words of the song

Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)

You’re a good soldier, Choosing your battles
Pick yourself up; And dust yourself off; Get back in the saddle

You’re on the front line; Everyone’s watching
You know it’s serious; We’re getting closer; This isn’t over

The pressure’s on; you feel it, But you got it all; believe it

When you fall get up oh, oh
And if you fall get up eh, eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa; Cause this is Africa

Tsamina mina eh, eh; Waka waka eh, eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa; This time for Africa

Listen to your god; this is our motto
Your time to shine; Don’t wait in line; Y vamos por todo

People are raising their expectations
Go on and feel it; This is your moment; No hesitation

Today’s your day, I feel it, You paved the way, Believe it

If you get down; Get up oh, oh
When you get down; Get up eh, eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa; This time for Africa

Tsamina mina eh, eh; Waka waka eh, eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa; Anawa ah ah
Tsamina mina eh, eh; Waka waka eh, eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa; This time for Africa

Awela Majoni Biggie Biggie Mamma
from A to Z
Athi sithi LaMajoni Biggie Biggie Mamma
from east to west

Bathi . . .
Waka Waka Ma Eh Eh
Waka Waka Ma Eh Eh
Zonke zizwe mazi buye O Mazize Africa

Tsamina mina mina; Waka waka ah, Tsamina mina,
Tsamina mina mina; Waka waka ah,

Tsamina mina eh, eh; Waka waka eh, eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa; Anawa ah ah
Tsamina mina eh, eh; Waka waka eh, eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa; This time for Africa

Zambo eh eh; Zambo eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa; Anawa ah ah

This time for Africa, This time for Africa,
For all africa

originally sung by Golden Sounds, a makossa group from Cameroon.
did she steal the song?

with versions of the song from far flung places
with cover versions by umpteen artists,
does it matter?

… and so once again,
I will be cheering the Netherlands,
the land of Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Dennis Bergkamp ….

Shakirawaka wakaworld cup 2010

it will be 40 years tomorrow,
two men went to the moon

and returned safely back to earth

I was a young boy in Calcutta then
Calcutta had no TVs – no stations no broadcasting
I was forbid from tuning in on the radio late at night
but it could not keep me away from
the excitement
the enthusiasm
the anticipation tinged with fear
I had to wait sleepless nights to read expedition news in the morning papers

my world could no longer be the same
my mind could only look up and beyond,
my mind had embarked on an adventure of my own
to explore the wonders of space, the universe
wonders of the unknown

I was so very young when I heard this song
I loved the tune

Written by John Stewart
I heard the version sung by the American singer Lobo
I could not find either of their versions on youTube – so I give you this

ARMSTRONG

- Words By John Stewart © Bug Music, INC. / Burgle Publishing (BMI)

Black boy in Chicago, Playing in the street
Not near enough to wear, Not near enough to eat
Don’t you know he saw it,
On a July afternoon
He saw a man named Armstrong, Walk upon the moon

Young girl in Calcutta, Barely eight years old
The flies that swarm the market place, Will see she don’t get old
Don’t you know she heard it,
On that July afternoon
She heard a man named Armstrong, Had walked upon the moon

The rivers are getting dirty, The wind is getting bad
War and hate are killing off, The only earth we have
But the world all stopped to watch it
On that July afternoon
To watch a man named Armstrong, Walk upon the moon

And I wonder if a long time ago, Somewhere in the universe
They watched a man named Adam
Walk upon the earth

tomorrow
the world will look back 40 years to that day

no longer the young boy,
now I will look all around me before I look up and beyond
on earth
we are still divided, prejudiced and intolerent
we are yet to find unity; find peace for all mankind

for 40 years we have failed to live up to the promise we left behind on the moon.

Apollo11neil+armstrongmoon landing

where the heart takes me

to question the unexplained wrongs
beliefs blinded by aeons of
superstitions
prejudices
and religions

Faith of the Heart

a song written by Diane Warren
originally performed by Rod Stewart for the soundtrack of the 1998 film Patch Adams
also the opening soundtrack for “Enterprise” – the Star Trek prequel

sung here by Russel Watson.

It’s been a long road
Getting from there to here
It’s been a long time
But my time is finally near

And I can feel the change in the wind right now
Nothing’s in my way
And they’re not gonna hold me down no more
No they’re not gonna hold me down

‘Cause I’ve got faith of the heart
I’m going where my heart will take me
I’ve got faith to believe
I can do anything
I’ve got strength of the soul
And no one’s gonna bend or break me
I can reach any star
I’ve got faith, I’ve got faith, faith of the heart

It’s been a long night
Trying to find my way
Been through the darkness
Now I’ve finally have my day

And I will see my dream come alive at last
I will touch the sky
And they’re not gonna hold me down no more
No they’re not gonna change my mind

I’ve known the wind so cold, and seen the darkest days.
But now the winds I feel, are only winds of change.
I’ve been through the fire and I’ve been through the rain.
But I’ll be fine.

It’s been a long road.