Mandinka lyrics
Sinead O'Connor
I'm dancing the seven veils
Want you to pick up my scarf
See how the black moon fades
Soon I can give you my heart
Oo - heh - heh
Heh - heh
I don't know no shame
I feel no pain
I can't see the flame
But I do know Man-din-ka
I do know Man-din-ka
I do know Man-din-ka
I do
They're throwing it all this way
Dragging it back to the start
And they say, "See how the glass is raised?"
I have refused to take part
I told them "drink something new"
Please let me pull something through
I don't know no shame
I feel no pain
I can't
I don't know no shame
I feel no pain
I can't see the flame
But I do know Man-din-ka
I do know Man-din-ka
I do know Man-din-ka
I do
I do - oo... oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I do - oo... oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I said I do - oo
Soon I can give you my heart
I swear I do - oo
Soon I can give you my heart
I do Man-din-ka
Soon I can give you my heart
Soon I can give you my heart
Song Details
“Mandinka” is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor, released in 1987 as the second single from her debut album, The Lion and the Cobra (pictured). The song is inspired by the Mandinka, a West African tribe with rich musical traditions, and by the mini-series "Roots", based on the book by Alex Haley.
The song expresses O’Connor’s journey of self-realization and empowerment, and her desire to live a life free from manipulation by others.
