if I can't dance...

If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution.

~Emma Goldman

Sigh. Often I get to feelin' overwhelmed and dismayed when I think of the battles that we, and our younger comrades at arms, face. One of the best elixers for me is music.

No matter how many times I watch this video, I get massive goosebumps. Every. Damn. Time. Watch it through to the end for the full effect. The sheer joy in their sweet faces, wow, it just knocks me over!

I first heard/saw this when my nephew shared it with me some years ago. He grew up there and went to boarding school in Jo'berg. (His mother my sister, and her husband & 4 kids, lived and worked (mission work) in Lesotho for most of -I think- it was the 1980's.) I'm sure Gerrit (do I have the right person?) can come in and elaborate more (this song is also big with SA rugby fans, heh) but, for now, h/t to teh google:

"... a traditional South African mining song. The song is called “Shosholoza.” This joyful melody was once sung by South African gold and diamond miners as they worked in the dark and oppressive mines. As the miners sang, their spirits were lifted. The version below is performed by the Drakensberg Boy’s Choir, a renowned choir from a South African private school for boys.

also this from wiki:

Meaning
The song was usually sung to express the hardship of working in the mines. It expresses heartache over the hard work performed in the mines. The word Shosholoza or "chocholoza!" means go forward or make way for the next man, in Ndebele.[1] It is used as a term of encouragement and hope for the workers as a sign of solidarity. The sound "sho sho" uses onomatopoeia and reminiscent of the sound made by the steam train (stimela).[1] Stimela is the Zulu word for steam train.[1] "Kulezo ntaba!" means (At those far away mountains), "Stimela Siphume eZimbabwe" (the train come from Zimbabwe), "Wen´ uya baleka" (Because you're running away/hurrying).[1] In contemporary times, its meaning is to show support for any struggle.[5]

English Translation of "Shoshaloza":
Work, work, working in the sun
We will work as one
Shosholoza
Work, work, working in the rain
Till there's sun again
Shosholoza
Push, push pushing on and on
There's much to be done
Shosholoza
Push, push, pushing in the sun
We will push as one.

Maybe I'll try to make this a regular Sunday 'thing' here. Please share if you have uplifting or joyful tunes that work for you too!

Share
up
0 users have voted.

Comments

What a great idea for a weekly feature, please do!

up
0 users have voted.

Euterpe2

mhagle's picture

Very impressive choir!

Thanks

up
0 users have voted.

Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

FreakFlagFly's picture

Performed for the UCL Diwali Ball - 20th November 2015

Dancers - Shreeya Parulekar, Saloni Saraf

Songs:
Serpents - Nitin Sawhney
The Conference - Nitin Sawhney
La Danse du Bonheur - Shakti[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V39kp5QWDHY]

up
0 users have voted.
detroitmechworks's picture

(Sorry to pimp my own essay) Which is pretty good as far as lifting my spirits. Course I have weird taste, so YMMV.

up
0 users have voted.

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Pete Seeger included this song in his 1963 concert at Carnegie Hall.

Great song. Love this version of it too.

up
0 users have voted.
Lady Libertine's picture

thank you!

up
0 users have voted.

up
0 users have voted.

And who doesn't want to dance when they feel the reggae beat?

up
0 users have voted.

Solidarity

shaharazade's picture

up
0 users have voted.
Granma's picture

Is magnificent. Love the song. Have listened repeatedly. Thank you.

Thank you to other commenters too, for all the great music.

up
0 users have voted.