Profoundly moving songs

This morning I was singing “Weeping” by Bright Blue while working in the kitchen, I then found it on our SA compilation CD and played it. As I listened, tears pricked my eyes. The protest song ‘Weeping’ was written by Dan Heymann during the mid ’80’s while South Africa was still under apartheid government. The song includes haunting strains of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika which was banned at that time and is now our National Anthem.

These are the 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 and the fire and the guns remain

It doesn’t matter now
It’s over anyhow
He tells the world that it’s sleeping
But as the night came round
I heard its lonely sound
It wasn’t roaring, it was weeping

And then one day the neighbours came
They were curious to know about the smoke and flame
They stood around outside the wall
But of course there was nothing to be heard at all
“My friends,” he said, “We’ve reached our goal
The threat is under firm control
As long as peace and order reign
I’ll be damned if I can see a reason to explain
Why the fear and the fire and the guns remain”

But rather listen to the song, which has since been covered by many artists including Josh Groban.

‘Weeping‘ got me thinking of other songs which move me deeply, you can click on the links to listen to them.

‘Asimbonanga’ was written and performed by ‘Johnny Clegg’ but my favourite version is this one by Joan Baez.
These are the lyrics, the song is about Nelson Mandela
Asimbonanga (We have not seen him)
Asimbonang’ uMandela thina (We have not seen Mandela)
Laph’ekhona (In the place where he is)
Laph’ehleli khona (In the place where he is kept)

Oh the sea is cold and the sky is grey
Look across the Island into the Bay
We are all islands till comes the day
We cross the burning water

Chorus….

A seagull wings across the sea
Broken silence is what I dream
Who has the words to close the distance
Between you and me

Chorus….

Steve Biko, Victoria Mxenge
Neil Aggett
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang ‘umfowethu thina (we have not seen our brother)
Laph’ekhona (In the place where he is)
Laph’wafela khona (In the place where he died)
Hey wena (Hey you!)
Hey wena nawe (Hey you and you as well)
Siyofika nini la’ siyakhona (When will we arrive at our destination)

The other two songs which give me goosebumps are ‘Dust in the Wind‘ by Kansas and ‘Don’t give up’ by Peter Gabriel.

Which song’s do you find profoundly moving?