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| Songwriter Tony Bird. |
Tony Bird was born in Nyasaland (now Malawi), a country and political structure that doesn't exist anymore. With the collapse of the government there, he moved to South Africa, touring with Ladysmith Black Mambazo (whom some may know for their contribution to Paul Simon's "Graceland") in the 1980s. As we see in the title song from his 1990 debut album, "Sorry, Africa", apartheid was not to Tony's liking. And vice versa. He emigrated to London and, ultimately, New York, where he lives to this day.
Like John Prine (minus the prosody) or Buffy Sainte Marie (plus the Muppets), there is a childlike quality to most Tony Bird songs, including his hit song, "Mongo Time":
...and tributes to African life and societies, including "Zambezi-Zimbabwe", "Out on the Tango", and "Tssik Tssik Tsa". (This lightness can intrude when Tony addresses serious subjects.)
While they don't appear so disproportionately large in the performance videos, Tony Bird's hands would be the envy of most basketball players.
Quipped one critic: "The guy could palm a planet."
When Bird was afflicted with a weakness that arises when he bends the fingers of his right hand, many folk singers would seek a new profession. Tony compensated by adopting a unique, upright picking style.
"His wrists are in one zip code," continued the critic, "his guitar in the next."
Speaking from experience, I can tell you: no one forgets a Tony Bird concert.
Lyrics:
Oh, Africa, nobody ever apologized
for when your blood ran red
and your country was stolen by the whites.
They took your land and your home
and shut you down when you tried to refuse
but I'm sorry, Africa,
I'm sorry for my people.
I'm sorry what they did to you.
And Africa, nobody ever said it was wrong
though you cried long and loud,
in your pain when your life was gone.
But no one cared. They took you as slaves
and changed your life and your culture, too.
But I'm sorry, Africa,
I'm sorry for my people.
I'm sorry what they did to you.
Chorus:
Oh, sorry, Africa, oh, sorry, Africa,
Oh, sorry, Africa, oh, sorry, Africa,
Oh, sorry, Africa, I'm sorry for my people,
I'm sorry what they did to you.
Oh, Africa, history's scolds are blind and mute.
Your wars and past still cry
but today just began anew.
Now they're your friends but the tears still linger
and, of course, my song cannot undo.
But I'm sorry, Africa,
I'm sorry for my people.
I'm sorry what they did to you.
And Africa, still today your blood and tears are falling
as you struggle to discover
just who you are in our world
despite the traitors who squeeze your new lands,
foreigners invade you while droughts torture you.
But I'm sorry, Africa,
I'm sorry for my people.
I'm sorry what they left to you.
Chorus
And Africa, still today the hate goes on
With South Africa, still the shooting of the racist gun,
The apartheid lie denies you life
and they jail, rob, kill and divide you.
But I'm sorry, Africa,
I'm sorry for my people.
I'm sorry what they're doing to you.
And Africa, I too am an African crying
I'm a child of a white,
born into a time so trying.
But I'm ashamed of my racist brothers
and I nearly fell by the hatred too
I'm just sorry, Africa,
I'm sorry for my people.
I'm sorry what they're doing to you.
Chorus
And Africa, because some of my people are blind
please don't think we're all the same,
all one bad white kind
for there are many who know the truth
and we find, die, cry and pray for you.
But I'm sorry, Africa,
I'm sorry for my people.
I'm sorry what they're doing to you.
And Africa, after all the fighting is done
sadly we'll see
there was no need for the blood to run,
that there's peace and caring and respect,
not illusions and fears and untruths.
But I'm sorry, Africa,
I'm sorry for my people.
I'm sorry what they're doing to you.
Chorus
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