Actually this thread is a tribute to the entire "Lovers Rock" album
which I've had for a while now but have rediscovered a few days ago.

Although I bought the record for "By Your Side" which I still think
is one of the most beautiful lovesongs ever, my absolute favorit song
from this album is "Slave Song". I still can't believe I didn't notice
this one as a stand-out track from the beginning.

The percussion and the flow of the beat is just crazy. I love it.
It's so bouncy yet it has this brooding unavoidable undertone that
narrates a different story. It fits the lyrics perfectly.

Lyrics:

Slave Song

i see them gathered see
them on the shore
i turned to look once more
and he who knows me not takes me to the belly
of darkness

the tears run swift and hard and when they fall
even the comfort of a stone would be a gain
there was a time
when i thought
i would have to give up
but i'm thankful that i'm
strong as i am and i'll try to do
the best i can

tears will run swift and tears will come that fall like rain
i pray that it's swift though tears will fall as cold as pain

i pray to the almighty
let me not to him do
as he has unto me
teach my beloved children
who have been enslaved
to reach for the light continually

so many times i prayed
so many times i've prayed
for you
prayed for you
the tears run swift and hard and cold as pain
even the comfort of a stone would be a gain
had i not the strength and wisdom of a warrior
i would have to give up
but i'm thankful that i'm
strong as i am
and i'll try to do the best i can

tears will run swift and tears will come that fall like rain
i pray that it's swift though tears will fall as cold as pain

i pray to the almighty
let us not do as he has unto us
teach my beloved children
i've been a slave
but reach for the
light continually

wisdom is the flame
wisdom is the brave warrior who will carry us into the sun
i pray that it's swift though tears will come that fall like rain

so many times so many times

Gotta love the talented Sade. lyrically that is my favorite song but musically I just love Lovers Rock. But the girl can really do no wrong in my book, at least not so far anyway!!

Who writes the lyrics?

Love the whole album...really very relaxing music!

CinisterCee said:

sade, sade is a poet...one of our greatest if you ask me.

nammie said:

I love LOVERS ROCK (the CD and the song). The song (Lovers rock) I especially love. There is something about it: I think it's the way she says "cling."-- as if it has two syllables instead of one. There is just something about the beat, too. Oh and this line: "Somewhere in my sadness
I know I won't fall apart completely"- what a line!!


Let me go play it now! I love it so!!! and Somebody Already broke my heart-- AH!!!! I saw her live in Boston in 2001 and I will never forget it.

Sade my favorite female singer

One of my favorite Sade songs ever.

My favourite SADE album. Every song is brilliant.

Chico1 said:

Yep, I totally agree - and with all of the above, too. It's also my favourite of all her albums, and I think the songwriting on it is really strong.

Another stand-out track, particularly lyrically, is 'Immigrant'.

"Coming from where he did,
He was turned away from every door like Joseph,

To even the toughest among us,
That would be too much.

Didn't know what it was to be black,
'Til they gave him his change,
But didn't want to touch his hand

To even the toughest among us,
That would be too much."


I think the whole structure of the songs on this album is interesting. She tends not to just go verse-chorus-verse-chorus, but often has just a verse that gets repeated, but with subtle (yet significant) changes - so she manages to say a lot, with almost a minimum of material.

I make the point not just as some muso, but because it's quite interesting, particularly if people are songwriters, to see that you don't have to follow a set structure, and you can also be quite minimalist in what you do, but still be effective through choosing carefully what you say, and what you change.

(Or maybe it's just that she's gorgeous and has a beautiful voice, so she can get away with anything.....!)

Oooooo, I made a huge mistake in my post. It's not the word "CLING" I like. It's the way she says "THAT" in the line: the rock that I cling to. The "that" is said in 2 syllables instead of one.

LittleLamb said:

Now I know what you mean! Fascinating, indeed!
Does everyone know the Lover Rock live DVD? I'm really amazed by the stage design, simple but very fitting and beautiful.

Great song from her absolute best album. It's one of those deserted island discs for me. Couldn't go without it.

IstenSzek, I think it's cool that a lot of the same songs seem to evoke very similar emotions in us.

I also LOOOOOVE this album, and "By Your Side" is indeed a gorgeous, GORGEOUS love song.

But yeah, Slave Song takes the cake, I agree.

I have some 80s shit and The Best of Sade.

I totally slept on this album!

Sade is my favorite female artist - Lovers Rock is by far her WEAKEST album

I bought Lover's Rock, but it sounds really samey to me in comparison to the stuff on the The Best of Sade, the other CD of theirs I have.

People need to open their eyes to this one, this is one of the loveliest albums...

The entire cd is great. I love Sade and I listen to her often. She definitely has a voice like an angel and has never had to act like a skank to get noticed. I think she's one of the best female singers around today.