Seven seconds against racism

The Galsen Boys

"7 Seconds" is a song composed by Youssou N’dour, Neneh Cherry, Cameron McVey and Jonathan Sharp. It was released in 1994 as a single performed by Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry and reached the top three in several countries, including Italy. All instruments on the track were produced and arranged by the Swedish music producer Christian Falk, who also played bass on the track.The song also appeared on N'dour's album "The Guide" and in 1996 it was included on Neneh Cherry's album "Man". The song was also included in two movies: "Northern Skirts" and "Alone in the Dark".

The song focuses on racism and how people judge the others. The singer says we shouldn’t look at somebody else from top to bottom, because the pain we feel is the same everybody feels. He talks about judging people by how they look like: you can't tell somebody is good or evil from the colour of his or her skin. He says we are all equal without any difference and we all have been created by the same God. It is a song against war, hunger, violence and poverty. The song is performed by a black singer and a white one just to suggest the idea that if we are united we can create wonderful things such as this song. It also talks about a newborn baby who is innocent and not aware of what the colour of its skin concerns, but growing up he or she will be told how to behave. The song suggests that sometimes we should be like that bay, forget what we’ve been taught, go back to the first 7 seconds and start over again.

Lyrics - 7 seconds

Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale

Roughneck and rudeness,
We should be using, on the ones who practice wicked charms
For the sword and the stone
Bad to the bone
Battle is not over
Even when it's won
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin is living in

CHORUS
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting (x3)

J'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
Beaucoup de sentiments de race qui font qu'ils desesperent
Je veux les portes grandements ouvertes,
Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
Changer

CHORUS

And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone of the skin he's living in
And there's a million voices
And there's a million voices
To tell you what she should be thinking
So you better sober up for just a second

Glossary 
 
Roughneck: someone who behaves in a rough, rude, or aggressive way
Rudeness: the quality or state of be deliberately impolite
Wicked: morally bad
Charm: something that is believed to have magic powers and especially to prevent bad luck; an attractive quality
Sword: a weapon, typically having a long, edged blade attached to handle or hilt
Suber: a submarine
Boul ma sene: don't look at me
Khamouma ak thi guinaw: you don't know my "background" 
Li neka si yaw : what is my inner self
Dilene diapale : I'll help you