We listened to this in South Africa as non-white South Africans. We danced to it, we stomped our feet in the dust, in the dancehalls. We felt it in our hearts that the tides would turn, soon. Within a year the talks were on the news and in Feb 1990, Mandela was out of prison and the ANC was unbanned. Viva! Madiba! Viva!
Now corrupt parties and organizations after mandela and the apartheid destroying step by step there own very good economy and chasing down white landowners mostly narratives from England,Dutch,Germany who work hard for there loved SA out the land. Bravo ! 😉
@@Ka_Daver chocking on propaganda, voetsak that ANC they ruined ZA they stole my families money left them in the dust and having to move out to elsewhere
Despite what the MSM says, there's no segregation or oppression of blacks/minorities in the west. The big oppression/racism now is Neo Marxist/Identity politics racism against white people.
''I wanna know if you're blind Jo Anna If you wanna hear the sound of drum Can't you see that the tide is turning oh Don't make me wait till' the morning come'' Those words always send chills up and down my spine in regards to what this song was trying to tell the world. These sentiments are true for all of us no matter what we live with.
@@NotAGoodUsername360 It was relatively peaceful compared to what happened in other countries when whites were removed from power. I am not saying there was not revenge. Only that it could have been much worse.
Somehow I've never realized the lyrics. The song just sounds so joyful you don't even think it could be about such a serious matter. Now when I know it is an even more outstanding work of art!
same here! i’ve listened to this song for YEARS. as i’m not an english native-speaker and this is such a fun-sounding song i’ve never bothered to hear the lyrics. today i was listening to it and decided to hear the lyrics and BOOM! this song just became even better
I thought it was about something in Caribbean or Cuba, when I first heard it about a week ago in the radio. I didn't know much about the message of this song, until I search it in the net.
Hearing this song as a kid who didn't care for the lyrics of any song and to hear it now and actually pay attention to what this song is about was a complete 360. It's a song about suffering, bravery and honor. I salute those who lost so much during the reign of the european countries, mine included. The african continent is not a playground. I can only be thankful that during the war to keep the portuguese colonies my grandfathers were on the right side of the fight. I'm grateful that my family morals have always been based on seeing every human as human, no matter who they are
I'm a South African, I grew up with this song. I haven't heard it for such a long time. Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant is the only song you still hear on radio, sometimes. Thanks for a bit nostalgia. 🇿🇦
kiril1.....I'm not giving any credit to the apartheid regime whatsoever but life was very different for all South Africans back then. SA is on the brink of white genocide, apart from the average 56 murders daily countrywide, there is at least 3 farm attacks weekly where complete families are brutally murdered. If you compare the total of people murdered of over a period of 48 years under aparheid and the total of people murdered over a 26 year period under a democratic Republic the figures will shock you. 3567 deaths vs. 560 000+ deaths.
The black man is better than me. Why must I go back to Europe? I'm an African, born in Africa. Unless if you are a Khoisan, why don't you go back to North Africa?
This song was played at the end of rugby game today between South Africa and New Zealand. How could anyone back then imagine that one day, 30 years later, South Africans would sing and dance together to this iconic anti apartheid song. Tears can be turned into dancing!
I remember feasting when Mandela was elected first South-african black President, back in 1994. I had been so anxious ever since Botha's resignations that we would see a horrible bath of blood in the change. But Joanna listened to you, Eddie !!
I come from Eastern Europe; this song should have nothing to do with me at all, yet I first heard this as a child. Now, living in England, I find the message of this song so very relevant in this day and age.
So you say. The way you call it one would think you were born and bred in SA. Come to SA and see what communism is all about seeing that you grew up in eastern Europe
I’ve said it before, this is one of the most underrated but seriously talented men out there, people just need to open their ears and listen. Thanks Eddie
I heard this song yesterday in the Supermarket in Italy, after lots of years..... It brought immediately nice memories from my youth back to my mind. Then I realized that I never knew what the song was really about.... well here I am. Thanks everybody for all explainations ❤ thanks Eddie Grant for this powerful song .
I remember this song being banned in South Africa and how so...we got caught with vinyl by the Security Branch and we got a hiding of our lives, we were detained at 15 and went to trail on the suspicion of being in possession of banned material. Times were tough under apartheid but looking at the country now...sigh...sad.
@@losmilosmi1917 You do know that people like you with perpetual hatred give me more and more thoughts that would make Hitler look like a little baby. This because it seems the only way to destroy this perpetual hatred is by destroying anyone who hates a group of people because of history, rather than evaluating the current relationships and find a way to move on to a peaceful future.
Yeah right.....peaceful and so clever, tell me where do you see black, white or brown in the rainbow? Wake up and smell the coffee, he was a terrorist and a murderer who murdered many black AND white people with his cronies. The only difference is there was "war" in SA then as there is a war at any given time in the world, brush up on world history you might get a few surprises. Everybody hates adolf hitler for the holocaust but how many black and white men, women and children did the british murdered in the Boer war, not to mention all the animals they murdered with their scorched earth policy in SA then
I was a young teenager when Electric Avenue was used for a TV advert, I loved it and asked my Mum about the song. That weekend she took me to buy albums, a big mix of different stuff she thought I might like. Of course one of those CD’s was Eddy’s. The journey home was the first time I heard “Gimme Hope Jo’anna”. I was too young to know about apartheid, this song made me read up about it. This song had a huge impact on me at a young age. Hearing someone in an upbeat song longing for hope, not for himself but for a nation, made me very aware of how we treat each other over perceived differences. To take such a brutally, disgustingly unfair topic and explain it in such a brilliant, upbeat way… Eddy Grant is a legend. Absolute legend.
What I love about this song is that it is a pointed and serious message about the horrors of Apartheid and yet by clothing it in an upbeat and catchy tune it will grab the attention of more people, and it did.
In a South African white. I have heard this song in 1993 performed by the Jazz Pioneers in an open air show. I was immediately attracted to the vitality, the joyfulness of the music. Nobody could tell me anything about the song. Now I understand, why. South Africa does face huge difficulties. I wish God gives wisdom to my compatriots to get out well from these problematic times.
Lots of opportunities opened up and it shows: the average person is more intelligent, educated, has more skills. Politics is a problem, but this seems to be a problem all over the world. We have huge problems, like with electricity supply and so on. I think if the present ruling class does not improve his act, will be chased away.
This is sooo sooo soooooo deep. You want to understand, sing, cry , dance, clap and cry altogether with this song. Those who ‘ve experienced it will feel and understand and they will know. The morning will come.
Give me hope Joanna! Oh how we danced to this song as young children in South Africa, not even knowing that we were being represented in the world, nor did we know the full lyrics😂 Thank you Mr Grant🙏🏽
Well oh my goodness. I've only just learnt now. Aged 43 the real meaning of this song. Always thought was about a lady called Joanna. Still love it though.
Having heard this song in my childhood I never followed the lyrics Now it casually popped up and I played it, and paid attention Christ they are dark and political, it's a genius concealment of a serious message
I heard this song first time as a kid, now it's 2024 and I'm happily married. Can never forget the rhythm and joyful beats of this song and just today this song came to my mind, I searched for it and here I'm!!!😅😂 To whoever is reading this comment I just want to say don't loose hope in life, whatever happens keep going on to the next morning! Stay strong people, Love from India!❤🙏😌
@@thunder_claw The "love song" part isn't explicit and can be drowned out by the protest message but it's there. He "personifies" the capital of Johannesburg into a sort of "loose female" and the "song" is basically trying to get her to change her ways so that he can "love" her, hence the "give me hope" and "don't let me wait till morning" lyrics. It's there but it's very easily overlooked with the extremely explicit protest message in front. It is a very interesting artistic touch.
@@danielc2701 Right you are Daniel! I used to work in RSA in the Seventies of last century, and I know what Eddy is singing about. After my return to Germany I joined the Anti Apartheid Movement here ihn my home country, and now all South Africans are free. It will always be my former home from home, and I wish everybody there only the every best!!!
@@karindickinson7993 vielen Dank, ja ich kann gut ueber mich selbst lachen. Finde ich auch wichtig, viele Menschen trauen sich das nicht, weil sie denken, dass es als Schwäche angesehen wird. Ich bin auch ein lustiger und humorvoller Kerl 😃
German, listening to the lyrics for the first time. Jesus, we used to dance to this as children. Still feeling the urge to dance, but in the future I'll be more aware of what I am moving for/about! So, not only a great song, but also a superb message!
"She even knows how to swing opinion In every magazine and the journals For every bad move that this Jo'anna makes They got a good explanation" That line is sadly so true today for many in the world
Praying for every human in the middle east with this song. Every Muslim/Jew/Christian that opposes this current tyrant evil unfolding before our very eyes, at the cost of innocents on all sides.
I love how crystal clear the lyrics are. Just straight in your face, like this is how it is and deal with it and do something about it. I still have high hopes that one day we all don't look at colors but look at the person. The only thing we all have in common is that we are all different. Embrace the differences and live by eachother happiness instead by eachother mysery. Love is the answer.
Me too. Heard this song as a kid and liked it but wasn't old enough to understand the concept. My heart almost stopped when I revisited the song and it's lyrics as an adult and it was a very sobering moment. The last verse gets me every time and hits me hard: I wanna know if you're blind Johanna If you wanna hear the sound of drum Can't you see that the tide is turning oh.. Don't make me wait till' the morning come
I think it came out back in 87 or 88 I was aged 7 and used to dance on it almost every weekend, without really weighing the power and meaning of the lyrics certainly it was my innocence it was 13 years later that I realized the true meaning of the words, a true true hidden gem❤️❤️💎💎
It was a South African freedom song at the end of apartheid, we all sang it with the fist, it was banned and we still played it. For us it always carried meaning
Well Jo'anna she runs a country She runs in Durban and the Transvaal She makes a few of her people happy, oh She don't care about the rest at all She's got a system they call apartheid It keeps a brother in a subjection But maybe pressure can make Jo'anna see How everybody could a live as one Gimme hope, Jo'anna Hope, Jo'anna Gimme hope, Jo'anna 'Fore the morning come Gimme hope, Jo'anna Hope, Jo'anna Hope before the morning come I hear she make all the golden money To buy new weapons, any shape of guns While every mother in black Soweto fears The killing of another son Sneakin' across all the neighbors' borders Now and again having little fun She doesn't care if the fun and games she play Is dangerous to everyone She's got supporters in high up places Who turn their heads to the city sun Jo'anna give them the fancy money Oh to tempt anyone who'd come She even knows how to swing opinion In every magazine and the journals For every bad move that this Jo'anna makes They got a good explanation Even the preacher who works for Jesus The Archbishop who's a peaceful man Together say that the freedom fighters Will overcome the very strong I want to know if you're blind Jo'anna If you want to hear the sound of drums Can't you see that the tide is turning Oh don't make me wait till the morning come
I'm a Samoan living in NZ but when this great hit song land our shores, we were all behind the Black African struggle for Freedom. And this song has been playing in every Bus in Sàmoa as a support for the natives African against the racism. PEACE!!!!
Amazing song, for a great cause such as the struggle against Apartheid. The song is so actual for now, when Apartheid is replaced by its "brothers" such as fascism, intolerance, state sponsored Genocide and hate. Thank you Eddy for this timeless song.
Societal control is excessive all over the world. I could say something that sounds a bit wrong about modern South Africa, about genocide, black or white.
Initially this song was banned in South Africa 1989. At one of my Disco Gigs @ The Butterworth Hotel (Durban Central) cops raided the club and confiscated my only bootleg Cassette version of this hit. Totally gutted. Got off with a warning. Awesome memories of club scene in Durban. Thanks for sharing
I use to jam to this as a kid nor understanding the true meaning of the song. Then my pops told me it was a protest song. Till I grew up and became concious and told my self this is as good as the best of the protest songs can be. Dirrect and frontal. Thank you uncle Eddy Grant for the good works.
I was on a bus travelling from Sofia to Bansko, Bulgaria. The radio started playing this song( the only English song), and it took me right back to the days when the schools in Guyana taught us about Apartheid. You see, Eddie Grant is a Guyanese, although he was living in England. Listening to it now, he sang about things still in force.
Como pegó fuerte este temón en las radios de Lima, a finales de los 80s. Grande Eddy Grant, como no recordarlo, cuando era la voz principal de the Equals y sus temazos para ,1970: Hold me closer y Soul Brother Clifford. Saludos desde Lima.
This song gives me the greatest inspiration, hope, and strength to pull everything in the right mood and direction ... It kind of reminds me of Nelson Mandela - The greatest glory in life, lies not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall ... Thank you very much teachers of the world for the respect and peace towards each other ...
Freedom song...my favourite of all Eddie Grant music, followed by " hold on it" Gimme hope Joana must be played on every of my day😅 ...love the music so much. From a grateful heart from Nigeria
EDDY GRANT- I BELEIVED WE HAVE THE SAME AGE NOW.CAUSE WHEN YOU SING THIS MUSIC IM ON MY YOUNGER YEARS.EVEN THOU IS OLD TAPE BUT I LIKE IT SO MUCH.THANKS FOR THAT
I recall this song as a youngster. But today, i really heard. I listened to the Lyrics. Yes, a real serious apartheid song. Definitely the consciousness of Eddy Grant. Music to convey message.....Dec 31st 2022 ...Lagos
I literally grew up to this song. Being born in 1991 meant I would not miss out on the song. I have edited music for an online radio and I have always loved it. I have been looking for songs to sing during Kareoke.. And the lyrics have just blown me away... I rank it as one of my best songs today.
I still remember loving this song, when I was small, because I didn‘t understand English and it sounded so happy. Then my English got better, I understood the meaning, and since then, I love it even more!
Never fade away from my favorites hit songs. Thank you Eddy. Grant 👍👍 for the great music you makes everyone dancing with hope of Peace and Unity. Cheers from NZ.
We listened to this in South Africa as non-white South Africans. We danced to it, we stomped our feet in the dust, in the dancehalls. We felt it in our hearts that the tides would turn, soon. Within a year the talks were on the news and in Feb 1990, Mandela was out of prison and the ANC was unbanned. Viva! Madiba! Viva!
Now corrupt parties and organizations after mandela and the apartheid destroying step by step there own very good economy and chasing down white landowners mostly narratives from England,Dutch,Germany who work hard for there loved SA out the land.
Bravo ! 😉
The dream came true, South Africa is great now...
@@Ka_Daver And now they’ve kicked out the ANC. the circle of life
im glad you got freedom theres no room for tyranny in this world
@@Ka_Daver chocking on propaganda, voetsak that ANC they ruined ZA they stole my families money left them in the dust and having to move out to elsewhere
National anthem of Africa..Respect from Serbia
I Crne Gore 😊
I hercegovine💙
I Makedonija
I hrvatske💪❤
From Turkey, respects…
God Bless Africa. Nkosi Sikeli Africa !
¹¹¹11¹¹¹¹1¹1111111111¹11¹¹1111
This song is probably the most powerful and rousing and not only speaks for South Africa but anywhere oppression and segregation takes place today.
+1
I totally agree, great lyrics.
Despite what the MSM says, there's no segregation or oppression of blacks/minorities in the west. The big oppression/racism now is Neo Marxist/Identity politics racism against white people.
And it seems like America (amongst a few other places), might be where this song is the most relevant, now.
@@retrogamelover2012 Bullshit.
''I wanna know if you're blind Jo Anna
If you wanna hear the sound of drum
Can't you see that the tide is turning oh
Don't make me wait till' the morning come''
Those words always send chills up and down my spine in regards to what this song was trying to tell the world. These sentiments are true for all of us no matter what we live with.
👏👏👏🎯
It gives me chills knowing this movement turned genocidal the moment they took power.
@@NotAGoodUsername360 ...It was genocidal during white rule. Don't be ignorant!
@@NotAGoodUsername360 It was relatively peaceful compared to what happened in other countries when whites were removed from power. I am not saying there was not revenge. Only that it could have been much worse.
The power of a good beat + catchy vocals..He knew this was the best way to spread his message. Amazing!
🫶🏻🫶🏻💯💯💯💥💥💥💫💫💫💫
Yup no violence
Bob Marley style!! They were great at what they did... Spread love n awareness...
The song is catchy l like it
@@admondnathan9434 Oh there absolutely was violence, it just didn't happen until they'd won...
Even the preacher that works for Jesus.... The Archbishop is a peaceful man.... Rest well Desmond Tutu.
Somehow I've never realized the lyrics. The song just sounds so joyful you don't even think it could be about such a serious matter. Now when I know it is an even more outstanding work of art!
ua-cam.com/video/Ic4V38rdBoI/v-deo.html
so am I, it was just my fav song in the 80-ties, but now I like it even much much more. Thanks to Lord JESUS who just showed it again to me:)))
same here! i’ve listened to this song for YEARS. as i’m not an english native-speaker and this is such a fun-sounding song i’ve never bothered to hear the lyrics. today i was listening to it and decided to hear the lyrics and BOOM! this song just became even better
I thought it was about something in Caribbean or Cuba, when I first heard it about a week ago in the radio. I didn't know much about the message of this song, until I search it in the net.
Especially, I like this : hey hey at the last couplet
Hearing this song as a kid who didn't care for the lyrics of any song and to hear it now and actually pay attention to what this song is about was a complete 360. It's a song about suffering, bravery and honor. I salute those who lost so much during the reign of the european countries, mine included. The african continent is not a playground. I can only be thankful that during the war to keep the portuguese colonies my grandfathers were on the right side of the fight. I'm grateful that my family morals have always been based on seeing every human as human, no matter who they are
But it's a complex hope
keep the cycle going and fight the good fight homie
I'm a South African, I grew up with this song. I haven't heard it for such a long time. Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant is the only song you still hear on radio, sometimes. Thanks for a bit nostalgia. 🇿🇦
Do you remember the apartheid regime? Is the life better for you today than was back then?
kiril1.....I'm not giving any credit to the apartheid regime whatsoever but life was very different for all South Africans back then. SA is on the brink of white genocide, apart from the average 56 murders daily countrywide, there is at least 3 farm attacks weekly where complete families are brutally murdered. If you compare the total of people murdered of over a period of 48 years under aparheid and the total of people murdered over a 26 year period under a democratic Republic the figures will shock you. 3567 deaths vs. 560 000+ deaths.
@@DuchalvanWyngaard Who's to blame?
Go back to Europe.
The black man is better than me. Why must I go back to Europe? I'm an African, born in Africa. Unless if you are a Khoisan, why don't you go back to North Africa?
This song was played at the end of rugby game today between South Africa and New Zealand. How could anyone back then imagine that one day, 30 years later, South Africans would sing and dance together to this iconic anti apartheid song. Tears can be turned into dancing!
How far we have come as a nation.
I know right!! So profound
Beautiful song of peace ❤ from an indigenous brother from Australia 🦘😘♥️
The real owner of Australia
I remember feasting when Mandela was elected first South-african black President, back in 1994. I had been so anxious ever since Botha's resignations that we would see a horrible bath of blood in the change. But Joanna listened to you, Eddie !!
I come from Eastern Europe; this song should have nothing to do with me at all, yet I first heard this as a child. Now, living in England, I find the message of this song so very relevant in this day and age.
So you say. The way you call it one would think you were born and bred in SA. Come to SA and see what communism is all about seeing that you grew up in eastern Europe
@@rudinieuwenhuis4700 Does everything have to be an idiological war, da***it?
@@rudinieuwenhuis4700 Wut?!?!??!!
@@olafweyer859 I don't know what thee heck they're on about......
I woke up this morning with this song in my head. Kept wondering why it was in my head. Played it over and over again. Catchy song
HAHA WAY COOL AWESOME SONG 😃😃😃😃❤❤❤❤👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Same here.
I woke up with the song in my head.
That,s why I am here listening to it
I was watching a show where someone mentioned Johannesburg and I went "the place that had a system they call apartheid" and off I went to watch this.
I am a "born-free" (1994) and this song makes me cry 30 years later.
I’ve said it before, this is one of the most underrated but seriously talented men out there, people just need to open their ears and listen. Thanks Eddie
It's Eddy thank you 🤣😉
He dont wanna dance lol
I can see your point, tell you the truth the only thing I've heard from him before this, was electric Avenue
The bob Marley of Africa
@@jojo3007 yeah...
I heard this song yesterday in the Supermarket in Italy, after lots of years..... It brought immediately nice memories from my youth back to my mind. Then I realized that I never knew what the song was really about.... well here I am. Thanks everybody for all explainations ❤ thanks Eddie Grant for this powerful song .
I remember this song being banned in South Africa and how so...we got caught with vinyl by the Security Branch and we got a hiding of our lives, we were detained at 15 and went to trail on the suspicion of being in possession of banned material. Times were tough under apartheid but looking at the country now...sigh...sad.
Can you relate?
*Accidentally realizes true meaning of this song, reads up on South African history for hours, because of it*
What did u learn about our people?
Listen to David Rudder Banana death song and learn some more about the west Indies economics
@@tiktoklover5216 ippi
@@LogiForce86 I can't imagine how possibly afrikaners can be punished enough for all their nice treatment of blacks
@@losmilosmi1917 You do know that people like you with perpetual hatred give me more and more thoughts that would make Hitler look like a little baby. This because it seems the only way to destroy this perpetual hatred is by destroying anyone who hates a group of people because of history, rather than evaluating the current relationships and find a way to move on to a peaceful future.
In 2023 , still listening and feel still there are black soweto mothers worrying about their sons and yet Johanna to give them the hope😢
I simply love this song n the beat and the lyrics etc etc❤
RIP Desmond Tutu - the archibishop who’s a peaceful man.
Never forget ✊🏾
Yeah right.....peaceful and so clever, tell me where do you see black, white or brown in the rainbow? Wake up and smell the coffee, he was a terrorist and a murderer who murdered many black AND white people with his cronies. The only difference is there was "war" in SA then as there is a war at any given time in the world, brush up on world history you might get a few surprises. Everybody hates adolf hitler for the holocaust but how many black and white men, women and children did the british murdered in the Boer war, not to mention all the animals they murdered with their scorched earth policy in SA then
I was a young teenager when Electric Avenue was used for a TV advert, I loved it and asked my Mum about the song. That weekend she took me to buy albums, a big mix of different stuff she thought I might like. Of course one of those CD’s was Eddy’s. The journey home was the first time I heard “Gimme Hope Jo’anna”. I was too young to know about apartheid, this song made me read up about it. This song had a huge impact on me at a young age. Hearing someone in an upbeat song longing for hope, not for himself but for a nation, made me very aware of how we treat each other over perceived differences.
To take such a brutally, disgustingly unfair topic and explain it in such a brilliant, upbeat way… Eddy Grant is a legend. Absolute legend.
drinkable yogurt? Yop?
What I love about this song is that it is a pointed and serious message about the horrors of Apartheid and yet by clothing it in an upbeat and catchy tune it will grab the attention of more people, and it did.
You definitely ain't from South Africa go check it out
@@anthonielegrange8688 lol good luck out there!
Yes. let Africa be pillaged by her own people :))
Total nonsense. You weren’t there, so keep your media precipitated comments to yourself.
Apartheid wasnt so horrible , it was just a system of segregation laws, which sucked
Lifted my mood completely one sunny day...was about 11/12 when my dear aunt passed...it made the day a bit better...
hi maria
Always love ❤️ this song greetings from South Africa 🇿🇦
In a South African white. I have heard this song in 1993 performed by the Jazz Pioneers in an open air show. I was immediately attracted to the vitality, the joyfulness of the music. Nobody could tell me anything about the song. Now I understand, why. South Africa does face huge difficulties. I wish God gives wisdom to my compatriots to get out well from these problematic times.
How's South Africa doing now? Is it more prosperous, safer, less corrupt, all-round a better country to live in for the average person?
Lots of opportunities opened up and it shows: the average person is more intelligent, educated, has more skills. Politics is a problem, but this seems to be a problem all over the world. We have huge problems, like with electricity supply and so on. I think if the present ruling class does not improve his act, will be chased away.
@@akoskiss786 Okay, that's good to hear.
@@akoskiss786 but this seems to be a problem all over the world....the only thing you said that is factual, the rest is a bunch of idiotic puke
@@akoskiss786I guess you're not in agriculture, huh?
This is sooo sooo soooooo deep.
You want to understand, sing, cry , dance, clap and cry altogether with this song.
Those who ‘ve experienced it will feel and understand and they will know.
The morning will come.
I'am brazilian and love African Continent!! Love From San Paulo Brazil South America!! God Bless Africa!! 🙏🙏🤝🤝❤❤❤Beautiful song
Na na na 😂😂😂 whoop whopp ❤❤❤
I remember as a child watching this in the 80s in Liberia on MTV. Didn’t understand it then just loved the beat and the colours. Great song.👏
Me too
Give me hope Joanna!
Oh how we danced to this song as young children in South Africa, not even knowing that we were being represented in the world, nor did we know the full lyrics😂
Thank you Mr Grant🙏🏽
Eddy you give me hope!
Greetings from Sweden 🇸🇪
Well oh my goodness. I've only just learnt now. Aged 43 the real meaning of this song. Always thought was about a lady called Joanna. Still love it though.
One of the very best songs of the last century. A truly great entertainer ❤️
Having heard this song in my childhood I never followed the lyrics
Now it casually popped up and I played it, and paid attention
Christ they are dark and political, it's a genius concealment of a serious message
His lyrics are not dark ,his lyrics shed light on the darkness of apartheid
Can’t believe I never heard of this song till now, what a powerful song. Thank you for the post!
I heard this song first time as a kid, now it's 2024 and I'm happily married. Can never forget the rhythm and joyful beats of this song and just today this song came to my mind, I searched for it and here I'm!!!😅😂
To whoever is reading this comment I just want to say don't loose hope in life, whatever happens keep going on to the next morning! Stay strong people, Love from India!❤🙏😌
🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🙏
Non ce ne frega un cazzo
From Philippine-This is the most ultimate ever created by most talented singer and writer.Eddy Grant.I really love this sounds.THANK U MR.GRANT
Electric avenue Eddie grant
Why did you have to mention the Philippines
@@steveboy7302 Maybe it's because that's where he's from and it proves what a loved song this was around the World.
I love how mild and yet how clear his protest message is. And how he manages to disguise the song as a love song.
...Okay, not to be disrespectful, but how is this in any way disguised as a love song? These lyrics are pretty damn explicit.
@@thunder_claw The "love song" part isn't explicit and can be drowned out by the protest message but it's there. He "personifies" the capital of Johannesburg into a sort of "loose female" and the "song" is basically trying to get her to change her ways so that he can "love" her, hence the "give me hope" and "don't let me wait till morning" lyrics. It's there but it's very easily overlooked with the extremely explicit protest message in front.
It is a very interesting artistic touch.
Steinbach1984 love is the ultimate protest and weapon we have against the evil we face. For real his lyrics are blinding....✊🏾
@@danielc2701 Oh my word, Thank you for the explanation, very interesting. It never dawned on me!
@@danielc2701 Right you are Daniel! I used to work in RSA in the Seventies of last century, and I know what Eddy is singing about. After my return to Germany I joined the Anti Apartheid Movement here ihn my home country, and now all South Africans are free. It will always be my former home from home, and I wish everybody there only the every best!!!
This man is still alive, sweet. Love!!
Final a great artist that once I find them they have died
wahaha
recognizable. It started with me as a kid with Roy Orbison 😂@@Finn_sail
Masterpiece by Eddy Grant fabulous song with a strong message attached to it
ua-cam.com/video/Ic4V38rdBoI/v-deo.html
I love this song ❤️🌍
greetings from germany
ua-cam.com/video/Ic4V38rdBoI/v-deo.html
Ich liebe den Song auch, grüße aus Hamburg
@@karindickinson7993 vielen Dank, ja ich kann gut ueber mich selbst lachen. Finde ich auch wichtig, viele Menschen trauen sich das nicht, weil sie denken, dass es als Schwäche angesehen wird. Ich bin auch ein lustiger und humorvoller Kerl 😃
@@karindickinson7993 mich haktenauch viele für bekloppt, meine Frau auch! Mir aber egal. Ciao und alles Gute!!!
@@karindickinson7993 das ist sehr nett von Dir! Vielen Dank, ciao 😃
German, listening to the lyrics for the first time. Jesus, we used to dance to this as children. Still feeling the urge to dance, but in the future I'll be more aware of what I am moving for/about!
So, not only a great song, but also a superb message!
"She even knows how to swing opinion
In every magazine and the journals
For every bad move that this Jo'anna makes
They got a good explanation"
That line is sadly so true today for many in the world
I cantanti di colore? Mi piacciono e hanno una bella voce.
Praying for every human in the middle east with this song. Every Muslim/Jew/Christian that opposes this current tyrant evil unfolding before our very eyes, at the cost of innocents on all sides.
I'm from Jordan, and my daughter's name is Jowana. we send our best greetings to all the people of South Africa
The "Archbishop was a peaceful man". RIP Desmond Tutu 😢 Thank you Arch. Your freedom fight is over. Go well...
I love how crystal clear the lyrics are. Just straight in your face, like this is how it is and deal with it and do something about it. I still have high hopes that one day we all don't look at colors but look at the person. The only thing we all have in common is that we are all different. Embrace the differences and live by eachother happiness instead by eachother mysery. Love is the answer.
Bless
Well said
Born in 1988 here listening 2024
Sim ! Agora mesmo , amigo , aqui brasil ❤ que gingado maravilhoso
Birn in 91 here listening in 2024 👌👌🙏🙏
I was born in 1990 😀
87
@@Amos_Quito I was 35 when I was dancing to this song in my holidays in Kenya. Can't forget that.
Heard on the radio often as a kid but getting to know the lyric on this day brought tears to my eyes.
Me too. Heard this song as a kid and liked it but wasn't old enough to understand the concept. My heart almost stopped when I revisited the song and it's lyrics as an adult and it was a very sobering moment.
The last verse gets me every time and hits me hard:
I wanna know if you're blind Johanna
If you wanna hear the sound of drum
Can't you see that the tide is turning oh..
Don't make me wait till' the morning come
Welcome
A classic banger that was so uplifting that let’s admit most of us just danced away to it than ever relating with it. Thank you Eddie! ❤️
I think it came out back in 87 or 88 I was aged 7 and used to dance on it almost every weekend, without really weighing the power and meaning of the lyrics certainly it was my innocence it was 13 years later that I realized the true meaning of the words, a true true hidden gem❤️❤️💎💎
Sooooooooooo true. I just danced to. And never knew the meaning
It was a South African freedom song at the end of apartheid, we all sang it with the fist, it was banned and we still played it. For us it always carried meaning
@@samwebb5122and this was 2 years before Mandela was released which is also hard.
@@samwebb5122 Yes the lyrics are a political message when the song came out.
This dude is basically exposing the tyranny with a very happy beat 👍
Well Jo'anna she runs a country
She runs in Durban and the Transvaal
She makes a few of her people happy, oh
She don't care about the rest at all
She's got a system they call apartheid
It keeps a brother in a subjection
But maybe pressure can make Jo'anna see
How everybody could a live as one
Gimme hope, Jo'anna
Hope, Jo'anna
Gimme hope, Jo'anna
'Fore the morning come
Gimme hope, Jo'anna
Hope, Jo'anna
Hope before the morning come
I hear she make all the golden money
To buy new weapons, any shape of guns
While every mother in black Soweto fears
The killing of another son
Sneakin' across all the neighbors' borders
Now and again having little fun
She doesn't care if the fun and games she play
Is dangerous to everyone
She's got supporters in high up places
Who turn their heads to the city sun
Jo'anna give them the fancy money
Oh to tempt anyone who'd come
She even knows how to swing opinion
In every magazine and the journals
For every bad move that this Jo'anna makes
They got a good explanation
Even the preacher who works for Jesus
The Archbishop who's a peaceful man
Together say that the freedom fighters
Will overcome the very strong
I want to know if you're blind Jo'anna
If you want to hear the sound of drums
Can't you see that the tide is turning
Oh don't make me wait till the morning come
ua-cam.com/video/Ic4V38rdBoI/v-deo.html
Thanks 🙏 it is beautiful indeed😍
Thank you.
bravo, Georgi!
[LOVE]
This is a piece of art. This man knows he's music. Imagine having this guy a friend and performing at a function. Wow
Who's here october 2024 ?
❤
skibidi
Thinking about my lovely auntie Joanna who died from cancer in April 1981 at the age of 46❤
Jaro, she was for apartheid?
Love it...welcome back to the new old future 🎉
My first trip to London from the States. Spring 1990. This song was everywhere.
I'm a Samoan living in NZ but when this great hit song land our shores, we were all behind the Black African struggle for Freedom.
And this song has been playing in every Bus in Sàmoa as a support for the natives African against the racism.
PEACE!!!!
With you all the way bro, peace on Earth, good will to all..
Love and peace to you and yours
This song and Eddy.. Turned the tide on SA's prospects. Gimme hope South Africa... Sort it out...Please!
88? This is ingrained in me as an Englishman Love it
It was very significant in 1988
Powerful song. I merely danced to it as a boy. Now I understand better.
Happy birthday Eddy Grant.
This is the power of a great catchy beat and really great lyrics whilst still sharing the pressure of Apartheid. An actual good song.
You ever sing a song, be happy untill you realize you're not happy but have tears in your eyes.
Jjhh
Such a beautifully crafted song! LOVE IT!
Amazing song, for a great cause such as the struggle against Apartheid. The song is so actual for now, when Apartheid is replaced by its "brothers" such as fascism, intolerance, state sponsored Genocide and hate. Thank you Eddy for this timeless song.
Societal control is excessive all over the world. I could say something that sounds a bit wrong about modern South Africa, about genocide, black or white.
Was my favorite song when I was a kid 33 years ago. Became even better when I understood the lyrics.
Jo Anna = south african city of Johannesburg (for those like me who didn't get it in the first place)
Thanks for the info i never got it until today!!!
wow, thanks!
Thanks like I just needed that for school homework >~
Bbvg
Blimey it's that obvious but I never cottened onto it.
Thankyou Buddy.
Initially this song was banned in South Africa 1989. At one of my Disco Gigs @ The Butterworth Hotel (Durban Central) cops raided the club and confiscated my only bootleg Cassette version of this hit. Totally gutted. Got off with a warning. Awesome memories of club scene in Durban. Thanks for sharing
Something about this song is purely TIMELESS!! Someone bring back my childhood
Still Love It. Greetings from Austria
I use to jam to this as a kid nor understanding the true meaning of the song. Then my pops told me it was a protest song. Till I grew up and became concious and told my self this is as good as the best of the protest songs can be. Dirrect and frontal.
Thank you uncle Eddy Grant for the good works.
still brings tears to my eyes. after so many years... absolute genius
I’m all emotional too
South Africa is far worse than aparthied. Its the stark truth; thousands of blacks are killing each other each year by other tribal blacks.
Not an emotional song at all tho
@@Darwaxion? it certainly is, it may not be a sad sounding song but the message behind the lyrics is definitely enough to move people.
Powerful song , Gives me chills
this remind my teenage days....now 55 years old yet still play this while driving.really good vibes and just now read the lyrics.just amazed!
I was on a bus travelling from Sofia to Bansko, Bulgaria. The radio started playing this song( the only English song), and it took me right back to the days when the schools in Guyana taught us about Apartheid. You see, Eddie Grant is a Guyanese, although he was living in England. Listening to it now, he sang about things still in force.
i used to hear this song when i was still very young but didn't understand the lyrics and thought it was a love song heart touching
I heard that song many times. But don't understand the message. And this was 2 years before Mandela was released. So depressed back then.
This song puts over righteous anger without hatred, just with an appeal to reason.
@EdMcF1....you are obviously not a South African are you?
My college day favourite when I was idealistic and well naive. Great song anyday
Rest in peace Archbishop Desmond Tutu - I can see him dancing to this. A great man with humour and heart. Tawel cwsg.
This is classic and still sounds good. Reminds me of the 80's.Great lyrics
Sure does
Como pegó fuerte este temón en las radios de Lima, a finales de los 80s. Grande Eddy Grant, como no recordarlo, cuando era la voz principal de the Equals y sus temazos para ,1970: Hold me closer y Soul Brother Clifford. Saludos desde Lima.
no encuentras que la de Yuri de "hombre al borde de un ataque" se parece mucho , sobre todo el coro
Yes...2022 and this song still amazes me...I love the beat and the message resounds....Give me hope...Washy and Otta and Londy etc.
🇬🇷♥️🇿🇦♥️ LOVE MUSIC AFRICAN FROM GREECE.
This song gives me the greatest inspiration, hope, and strength to pull everything in the right mood and direction ...
It kind of reminds me of Nelson Mandela - The greatest glory in life, lies not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall ...
Thank you very much teachers of the world for the respect and peace towards each other ...
eddy grant on of the greatest and most successful artist from the caribbean!!!!!!!
This was randomly recommended to me and I'm so glad,i had totally
forgotten about this song,brings back memories
ua-cam.com/video/Ic4V38rdBoI/v-deo.html
Freedom song...my favourite of all Eddie Grant music, followed by " hold on it"
Gimme hope Joana must be played on every of my day😅 ...love the music so much.
From a grateful heart from Nigeria
Swear to God I had never understood the meaning and actual lyrics of this song till today...this was a strong song..and all we did was dance to it...
The double entendre with morning and mourning - powerful!
Eddie Grant is my man anytime T. Loved his songs as a young woman and now in my late forties I still love him, even more. Real African man symbol.
EDDY GRANT- I BELEIVED WE HAVE THE SAME AGE NOW.CAUSE WHEN YOU SING THIS MUSIC IM ON MY YOUNGER YEARS.EVEN THOU IS OLD TAPE BUT I LIKE IT SO MUCH.THANKS FOR THAT
I was today years old when I discovered the Yop Me Mama song was actually a parody of this song for a commercial….. what a great song Eddie.
I recall this song as a youngster. But today, i really heard. I listened to the Lyrics. Yes, a real serious apartheid song. Definitely the consciousness of Eddy Grant. Music to convey message.....Dec 31st 2022 ...Lagos
One of the most important and powerful songs ever written
For those people who dislike this music.
Have a "stone heart."
This music is a time treasure.
Peace.^^)...
I literally grew up to this song. Being born in 1991 meant I would not miss out on the song. I have edited music for an online radio and I have always loved it. I have been looking for songs to sing during Kareoke.. And the lyrics have just blown me away... I rank it as one of my best songs today.
I still remember loving this song, when I was small, because I didn‘t understand English and it sounded so happy. Then my English got better, I understood the meaning, and since then, I love it even more!
Never fade away from my favorites hit songs.
Thank you Eddy. Grant 👍👍 for the great music you makes everyone dancing with hope of Peace and Unity. Cheers from NZ.
As a white South African- what a song with such beautiful meaning🇿🇦
Timeless classic song still fresh today..
yes
Because africa is still corrupted?
Yes, great song.
It certainly is Jason!
@@bogdanpostole7251 Yeah,,, same like India