Let's all sing Big Man by Antibalas

[midnight armadillo]

SOng lyrics seem more lounge-related than GD.

So let's all sing...Big Man by Antibalas seems rather appropriate these days. From the Who is This America? album:

Class!
We are here to teach you a lesson on the dance floor
But this song is not a dance
I will tell you a story
Brothers and sisters
This story is about a big big man
And a small small man that made him
Small man says, "Oh big man, in all your greatness
What can I do for you?
I beg o, give me job now
Let me work eighty hours a week to make money
So I can give the same money back to you, big man
When I buy your beautiful products"

This is the system


Small man!

How to make big man big
How to make small man small
Make themselves small man helpless
Too weak to carry power
Making your big man better
Making your big man smarter
Making your big man deserve
Small man go clean yansh for am


Big man!

Making him be politician
Big man he be business business
Control the bank plenty money
Him offer you credits and credit
Him offer you mortgage payment
Or make you indentured servant
Deserve to pay back my money
And deserve more than you


Small man!

Big big man in corporation
Big big man in corporation
You scattered by corporation
Go ask am for unemployment
Go now to politician
Go for help for your family
You fight for that social service
His son is business president

This is the system
But still the small man believes in the system
So him say to the big man:

What can I sing for you?
What can I buy from you?
Who can I fight for you?
What can I carry for you, big man?


Nothing is too heavy!

I'll carry your gun
I'll carry your gold chain
I'll carry your wine
I'll carry your flag o
I'll carry your gun
I'll carry your gold chain
I'll carry your wine
I'll carry your flag o
Nothing is too heavy, yeah
Big man

The small man is so happy to work for the big man
That all he can say is "thank you"

For all that you do for me
For all that you do for me
For all that you do for me
Thank you, thank you


Thank you!

For truth and justice freedom
You just serve the alliances
For liberating Iraq
I beg you give me the bill
A million dollar missing
When my child is hungry o
I make us safer safer
Safe from democracy
For your deregulation
Deregulate yourself
For all your plastic bottles
You bake me plastic food
Replace my gut with science
I throw my thoughts and dreams
I build am big man buildings
So you can do big man things

For all that you do for me
For all that you do for me
For all that you do for me
Thank you, thank you


Big man!
Thank you, thank you!

Oga patapata eh-eh
Who can I kill for you?
What can I carry for you?
What else can I do for you?
How can I slave for you?
Who can I kill for you?
What can I carry for you?
What can I do for you?
How can I slave for you, big man o?
Thank you, thank you, thank you, big big man

Slave for you
Kill for you
Carry for you
Kill for you, big man o

[unpossibles]

1. I love Antibalas!

If you like them, check out one of their main influences, Fela Kuti.

[midnight armadillo]

2. His catalog is HUGE

I have no idea where to begin - any suggestions? I do like Aphrodesia as well.

[unpossibles]

3. I love the album "Expensive Shit"

"Buy American" is also good. Much of his material is released as double album CDs now too, so it's a bit easier to hear more stuff.

Tony Allen's "Home Cookin" is also quite choice, and the Daktaris are fun too.

I don't know Aphrodesia but will check them out - thanks for the tip!