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Amina Diallo

Carry It High

Comes from a griot family and says she is continuing the job, not changing it

style

  • mbalax
  • afropop
  • sabar drums
  • talking drum
  • female alto
  • powerful and rhythmic
  • layered percussion
  • celebratory
  • francophone west african accent
  • triumphant

the numbers

bpm
136
key
F major
energy
0.73
dance
0.94
valence
0.56
vocal at
9.1s
length
2:51
language
Fr

lyrics

(sabar roll)
(waaw, waaw!)

My mother crossed the market square
A basin balanced on her hair
Ten litres high and never spilled
That's how a promise is fulfilled
(never spilled, no)

She told me, 'Head up, shoulders wide'
('shoulders wide')
'The load gets lighter with your stride'

Carry it high! (carry it high!)
Water, worry, the wide sky
Carry it high! (carry it high!)
Walk like the drum and don't ask why
(high, high, high!)

They said my voice out-rang the bell
So I became the bell as well
Jërëjëf to every no
Each one taught my lungs to grow
(jërëjëf!)

Carry it high! (carry it high!)
Water, worry, the wide sky
Carry it high! (carry it high!)
Walk like the drum and don't ask why

The drum talks — I answer back
(answer back)
We've carried this since way, way back
(way back, way back)

Carry it high! (carry it high!)
Water, worry, the wide sky
Carry it high! (carry it high!)
Walk like the drum and don't ask why

(waaw!)
Carry it high...
(the sabar answers once, alone)