Biko

"Biko" is a protest song by British rock musician Peter Gabriel. The song was included on Gabriel's third album, Peter Gabriel (1980). It is about Steve Biko, a noted black South African anti-apartheid activist. Biko had been arrested by the South African police in late August 1977. After being held in custody for several days, he was interrogated in room 619 of the Walmer Street prison in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. Following the interrogation, during which he sustained serious head injuries, Biko was transferred to a prison in Pretoria, where he died shortly afterwards, on 12 September 1977. The album version of the song is bookended by a recording of the South African song “Senzeni Na?” as sung at Biko’s funeral. "Biko" was first released as a single in 1980, when it reached #38 on the British charts. A live version, recorded in July 1987 at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, was released later that year, reaching #49 in the UK. A newly recorded version of the song (again by Gabriel) was used to promote the Richard Attenborough Biko biopic "Cry Freedom".

[Intro: Crowd] Ngomhla sibuyayo Ngomhla sibuyayo Ngomhla sibuyayo, kophalal'igazi! Ngomhla sibuyayo Ngomhla sibuyayo Ngomhla sibuyayo, kophalal'igazi! Bakhala uVorster! Bakhala uVorster! Ngomhla sibuyayo, kophalal'igazi! Ngomhla sibuyayo Ngomhla sibuyayo Ngomhla sibuyayo, kophalal'igazi! [Verse 1: Peter Gabriel] September '77 Port Elizabeth weather fine It was business as usual In police room 619 [Chorus: Peter Gabriel] Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko Yihla moja, yihla moja The man is dead The man is dead [Interlude] [Verse 2: Peter Gabriel] When I try and sleep at night I can only dream in red The outside world is black and white With only one colour dead [Chorus: Peter Gabriel] Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko Yihla moja, yihla moja The man is dead The man is dead [Interlude] [Verse 3: Peter Gabriel] 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 [Chorus: Peter Gabriel] Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko Yihla moja, yihla moja The man is dead The man is dead [Post-Chorus: Peter Gabriel] And the eyes of the world are Watching now, watching now [Interlude] [Outro: Crowd] Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na? Senzeni na?