“Biko” pays homage to South African anti-apartheid activist Stephen Bantu Biko who died in 1977 while in police detention. In 1980, the song reached the top 40 in the UK and almost did the same in New Zealand.
[Intro: Crowd]
Ngomhla sibuyayo
Ngomhla sibuyayo
Ngomhla sibuyayo, kophalal'igazi!
Ngomhla sibuyayo
Ngomhla sibuyayo
Ngomhla sibuyayo, kophalal'igazi!
Bakhala uVorster!
Bakhala uVorster!
Ngomhla sibuyayo, kophalal'igazi!
Ngomhla sibuyayo
Ngomhla sibuyayo
Ngomhla sibuyayo, kophalal'igazi!
[Verse 1: Peter Gabriel]
September '77
Port Elizabeth weather fine
It was business as usual
In police room 619
[Chorus: Peter Gabriel]
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla moja, yihla moja
The man is dead
The man is dead
[Interlude]
[Verse 2: Peter Gabriel]
When I try and sleep at night
I can only dream in red
The outside world is black and white
With only one colour dead
[Chorus: Peter Gabriel]
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla moja, yihla moja
The man is dead
The man is dead
[Interlude]
[Verse 3: Peter Gabriel]
You can blow out a candle
But you can't blow out a fire
Once the flames begin to catch
The wind will blow it higher
[Chorus: Peter Gabriel]
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla moja, yihla moja
The man is dead
The man is dead
[Post-Chorus: Peter Gabriel]
And the eyes of the world
Are watching now
Watching now
[Interlude]
[Outro: Crowd]
Senzeni na? Senzeni na?
Senzeni na? Senzeni na?
Senzeni na? Senzeni na?
Senzeni na? Senzeni na?
Senzeni na? Senzeni na?
Senzeni na? Senzeni na?
Senzeni na? Senzeni na?
Senzeni na? Senzeni na?
Senzeni na? Senzeni na?
Biko was written by Peter Gabriel.
Biko was produced by Steve Lillywhite.
Peter Gabriel released Biko on Fri May 23 1980.