Sage Francis - Ubuntu (Water Into Wine) lyrics

Ntokozo wants a yo yo a yo yo a yo yo
She learned about the ups and downs
The kiddies want a photo a photo a photo
I let them take my camera so
They can make their rounds
Thandiwe want's some paper more
Paper more paper she's the boss she draws
Christmas trees with snow
I'm taking 'em home all home
To the snowmen to show them what
I think they need to know
About Zinhle, Sfundo, Zakheni
Snetemba…survivor…a promise made to many
An army of old souls in
A battlefield of scattered ashes
Lost ancient wisdom
And ignored AIDS symptoms
UBUNTU what's good for me is good for you
These brave soldiers combat the
Enemies of truth
In a broken system with an open


Wound that will never heal
If we just accept the way
It is and never deal
An infection can spread to the
Head if you let it
Don't let it affect the way
You think…like "this is it"
Oh, this is it? That's all there
Is for all these kids?
These warriors? A never ending waiting
List at an orphanage?
As water drips in the bucket
I could add another drop
But I've got a feeling…that drop
Won't fix the leaky ceiling
If the leak gets fixed
What about when the roof collapses?
Six siblings sleeping on a single mattress
UBUNTU what's bad for you is bad for me
Zinhle, Sfundo, Snetemba, Zakheni
Ntokozo, Thandiwe, stay strong…be brave
I'll make sure this world knows your names
You were born on the front lines
Of a country that isn't mine
With a virus I don't have
Our family has no ties
Nevertheless, I see you
Sawubona yebo unjani? I'm fine
I'm just praying for science to
Turn water into wine
I'm just praying for science to
Turn water into wine
I'm praying we're not just left
With prayer all the time
Ntokozo wants a yo yo a yo yo a yo yo
She learned about the ups and downs
The kiddies want a photo a photo a photo
I let them take my camera so
They can make their rounds
I've seen townships stand proud in the
Freeze-frame of a motion picture
I've seen kids risk exposing themselves
To a social stigma
In the name of breaking patterns
And cycles of ignorance
Hearts full of hope, eyes full of innocence
These are heros now I call
To the heads of State
Recognize greatness when it's in your face
I traveled half the globe to
See boys and girls stuck
Without assistance you insisted on
Hosting the World Cup? That ain't love
Brother what happened to you?
You beautified the parts of the
City that tourists travel through
You built a gorgeous stadium
That can't sustain it'self
Flexing superficial muscles in a
False display of wealth
Your most important resources need major help
Think of how the medication and
Information on AIDS is dealt
Beautify the way you save yourself
For God's sake, for human sake
For the sake of public heath
One medicine drop in a
Bucket eventually evaporates
The socks I bought Zakheni won't
Fix fractures or breaks
It's not my suffering it's not
My needlessly complex infrastructure
It's not my culture nevertheless I see you
Sawubona yebo unjani how YOU
Doin'? I'm fine
I'm just praying for science to
Turn water into wine
Ntokozo wants a yo yo a yo yo a yo yo
She knows about the ups and downs
The kiddies want a photo a photo a photo
I let them take my camera so
They can make their rounds
Thandiwe want's some paper more
Paper more paper she's the boss she draws
Christmas trees with snow
I'm taking 'em home all home
To the snowmen to show them what
I think they need to know
Along with this praise poem
And every child's photo
Inspiration given by Zinhle, Sfundo
Thandiwe, Promise, Zakheni, Ntokozo
The kids call me "Big Show" -
That's better than no show