76 (song)

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'76 is the first single off At the Bassline, the debut album from Tumi and the Volume. The title references that student protests in Soweto on June 16, 1976. Though at first considered unmarketable because of its honest and violent lyrics, the song has been widely played on radio stations in South Africa, including YFM, Metro FM, Tuks FM and Kaya FM.

[edit] Commentary

“’76 is about a real event in our history, but in the song I create a fictional incident where a student kills a policeman. We go over a line: ‘But I still got it worse’, and that’s about how the student still has it worse than the dead policeman ’cause he has to deal with the demons of killing someone. Not only that, but his reality hasn’t changed. He still has to live with oppression and all the trials that come with living in a poor community,” explains Tumi.

Talking on, he says although the ’76 uprisings are a theme for the song, the track is about more than just that. “The song is commentary on parts of the human condition, like fear, hate and violence. But people’s interpretations of it differ

[edit] Lyrics

<nowiki>It was 76, the street blew in ebony mist I’m treading it swift, and running past where Hector got hit Bullets rang, several kids ran, better not flinch I catch a glimpse of this bastard running passed us with a gas mask Chucking tear gas cans that hit you like anthrax I, carry a brick load of black wrapped in my stats Hit him with the slab he drops, his rifle and flashlight Walk towards him bleeding my face hardens Grabbed his gun, has the crowd overlooking, take if from him The place is humming, this mother is going to pay for something For chasing and gunning, and making martyrs out of young un’s We stare for a while with murder in our eyes If he's never seen it before, then he’s heard it in our cries I drift to a time when we was in a line My only dad was a prison visitor bird caged in his prime Pain ancient as time, like shells aimed at your spine My soul, waiting to find mercy Wait, but am I worthy Hate can divide early, based in divine birds We chased to find where’s we supposed to be Because the last days are close to we Eyes wide close to see Passed the smoke, scenery I drift back to see him bleed Cocked the rifle, shot him, to silence his misery Crowd dispersed, after the gun power burst Life escapes him, im well alive But I still got it worse Got it worse, got it worse, got it worse…. 76 was not a good year we were so caught up in fear But I still got it worse I still got it worse I still got it worse</nowiki>