Hello everybody on HIVE, and especially the AFRITUNES Community. My name is Jasper, and I'm writing (and singing) to you from Cape Town, South Africa! Welcome to Week 112 of AFRITUNES.
I love South Africa and some of the special flavours of music we get here, and I look forward to doing a few posts on AFRITUNES to bring you music from South Africa, or to show you my original songs that have South African inspiration…
Today I would like to sing “Paradise Road”, a song released by a group called “Joy” in 1980. Although this song was not an official anti-Apartheid song written to protest against the government and its enforced racial segregation limiting the freedoms of most South Africans immensely, it definitely seems to spark hope for a better future in the country with the lyrics: “There are better days before us, and a burning bridge behind us…”. For me these lyrics just conjure up an image of leaving an apocalyptic fiery Hell behind you, as you walk towards something more like Heaven. Because of this, the song became a bit of an unofficial anthem in South Africa, and is still played on the radio often for nostalgia’s sake.
Give a listen to the original here:
Lyrics for “Paradise Road” by Joy
[Verse 1]
Come with me down paradise road
This way please, I'll carry your load
This you won't believe
Come with me to paradise skies
Look outside and open your eyes
This you must believe
[Chorus]
There are better days before us
And a burning bridge behind us
Fire smoking, the sky is blazing
There's a woman waiting weeping
And a young man nearly beaten all for love
Paradise was almost closing down
[Verse 2]
Come with me to paradise days
It'll change your life
It'll shorе change your ways
This you won't believе
Take my hand down paradise lane
Away from heart ache without any pain
I know 'cause I have been
[Chorus]
There are better days before us
And a burning bridge behind us
Fire smoking, the sky is blazing
There's a woman waiting weeping
And a young man nearly beaten all for love
Paradise was almost closing down
[Break]
[Chorus]
There are better days before us
And a burning bridge behind
Fire smoking, the sky is blazing
There's a woman waiting weeping
And a young man nearly beaten all for love
There are better days before us
And a burning bridge behind
Fire smoking, the sky is blazing
There's a woman waiting weeping
And a young man nearly beaten all for love
[Outro]
You must believe (You must believe this)
You must believe (You must believe this)
You must believe (You must believe this)
SOURCE: https://genius.com/Joy-sa-paradise-road-lyrics
▶️ 3Speak