"Biko"
Peter Gabriel, arr. by Colin Jacobsen
This song appears on the Silkroad Ensemble EP Phoenix Rising, out Nov. 3, 2023.
Musicians:
Jeffrey Beecher, Bass
Sandeep Das, Tabla
Haruka Fujii, Marimba, Caxixi, Djembe
Rhiannon Giddens, Banjo, Voice
Maeve Gilchrist, Celtic Harp
Mario Gotoh, Viola
Joseph Gramley, Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Cymbals, Shime-Daiko
Wu Man, Pipa
Karen Ouzounian, Cello
Mazz Swift, Violin, Voice
Francesco Turrisi, Frame Drum
Kojiro Umezaki, Shakuhachi
Kaoru Watanabe, Japanese Flute, Percussion
Reylon Yount, Yangqin
Lyrics:
September '77
Port Elizabeth weather fine
It was business as usual
In police room 619
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
The man is dead
When I try to sleep at night
I can only dream in red
The outside world is black and white
With only one color dead
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
The man is dead
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
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
The man is dead
And the eyes of the world are
Watching now
Watching now