Kwela (Listen To The Man)

Words and Music by :  Jake Holmes and S. M. Nkabinda
Arranged and adapted by:
Publisher:  Harbel Prod. and Gallo Music

Recording #1 by Harry Belafonte:
Recording date: 1988
Playing time: 4:00
45: 20-2897-7
LP : EMI-74697
CD: CD74697, CDR2029992


Recording #2 by Harry Belafonte:
Recording date: 1988 live in Harare, Zimbabwe
Playing time: 6:10
Video: KV222
vglobcarn.jpg (24498 bytes)

Recording #3 by Harry Belafonte:
Recording date: 1990
Playing time:
CD: 252723-2,

Recording #4 by Harry Belafonte:
Recording date: 1997
Playing time:
CD : CD524384-2,  
Video:  VHS 440 046 807-3,

Recording #5 by Harry Belafonte:
Recording date: March 22, 2003
Playing time: 12:27
MP3 from MP3Fiesta.com
 


Lyrics:

Here comes mister Dudo flyin' up the street
Running like a fire burning under his feet
Castin' his eye to the left and to the right
Lookin' for a place where he can duck out of sight

Interlude:
Here come the gumba, gumba rumblin' up the road
Lookin' for some bodies to fill up her load
A big fat cap he hangin' off the back
Scoopin' up the stragglers, and givin' them a whack Chorus:
Come on boy, jump inside (Ka Kwela)
Come on boy, we're gonna take you for a ride
It's an excursion where you don't have to pay (Ka Kwela)
At the end of the line you'll find a place to stay.

Kwela, Kwela
You gotta listen to the man (Yo Bo Baas)
Kibela, Kwela
Everybody jump in the van
Kwela, Kwela
You better listen to the man (Hear him talkin')
Kibela, Kwela
Everybody jump in the van

Now dudo he doin, doing pretty well
He got a private room in the blue hotel
Every day he gets a complimentary meal
Maybe, check out soon if he can make a deal
If you want to play music out on the street
Be sure you got your tackys tied on your feet
You better make sure that you stay outta sight
'cause the chacklas van 'as got a big appetite

Chorus:
Come on boy, jump inside (Ka Kwela)
Come on boy, we're gonna take you for a ride
It's an excursion where you don't have to pay (Ka Kwela)
At the end of the line you'll find a place to stay.
Kwela, Kwela, you better listen to the man
Kibela, Kwela
Everybody jump in the van