Fela’s saxophone brings to life a magical blend of Afrobeat and Highlife music genres on the second track of his 1975 Expensive Shit album. Fela was renowned for speaking against ruling and past governments of Nigeria, and this side B record provides a slight deviation from those hard hitting lyrics...
[Fela Kuti]
T'o ba fe lo we omi l'o ma'lo
If you want go wash, a water you go use
T'o ba fe se'be omi l'o ma'lo
If you want cook soup, a water you go use
T'o ri ba n'gbona o omi l'ero re
If your head dey hot, a water go cool on
T'omo ba n'dagba omi l'o ma'lo
If your child dey grow, a water he go use
If water kill your child, na water you go use
T'omi ba p'omo e o omi na lo ma'lo
Ko s'ohun to'le se k'o ma lo'mi o
Nothing without water
Ko s'ohun to'le se k'o ma lo'mi o
Omi o l'ota o
[Chorus]
(Water, him no get enemy!)
Omi o l'ota o
(Water, him no get enemy!)
Omi o l'ota o (Water, him no get enemy!)
If you fight am, unless you wan die (Water, him no get enemy!)
I say water no get enemy (Water, him no get enemy!)
If you fight am, unless you wan die (Water, him no get enemy!)
Omi o l'ota o (Water, him no get enemy!)
I dey talk of Black man power (Water, him no get enemy!)
I dey talk of Black power, I say (Water, him no get enemy!)
I say water no get enemy (Water, him no get enemy!)
If you fight am, unless you wan die (Water, him no get enemy!)
I say water no get enemy (Water, him no get enemy!)
I say water no get enemy (Water, him no get enemy!)
Omi o l'ota o (Water, him no get enemy!)
Omi o l'ota o (Water, him no get enemy!)
Water No Get Enemy was written by Fela Kuti.
Water No Get Enemy was produced by Fela Kuti.
Fela Kuti released Water No Get Enemy on Wed Jan 01 1975.