Archive entry · NB-0006
Backway Dafa Doy
Nubian Beats
Cinematic · 3:03 · 113 BPM
Description
The sogn highlights the plight of those taking perilious journeys from West Africa Gambia to crossing the sea with a dream of reaching Europe.
Lyrics
🪘 [Intro – 0:00 – 0:20] Sabar drums, distant crowd sounds, synth layer builds Spoken over intro: Yow, war nga déglu! They said Europe be like heaven... But this road? Dafa doy, wallahi. 🎤 [Verse 1 – 0:20 – 1:00] They said, "Go chase your dreams" “Europe dey shine with plenty things” "Get to France, you go live like king" But they never show us the sand that sting We climb truck with heavy load One brother fell, no time to hold Driver shout, “No turning back!” We prayed in silence, stayed on track 🎶 [Chorus – 1:00 – 1:30] (Call & Response, Chant Style) Backway! (Eh!) Backway! (Dafa doy!) Hot sand dey burn, the road too long Checkpoint! (Eh!) Wait again! (Dafa doy!) Still we move, just hold on strong 👩🏽 [Verse 2 – 1:30 – 2:00] (Female or harmony group voice) Some lost more than money on this path Dignity traded just to pass Sleeping five in a dusty tent Praying one day this journey make sense No name, no voice, but we still walk Just maps in head and stories we talk Mama dey pray, she still dey wait But how I go tell her it’s not too late? 🗣️ [Bridge – 2:00 – 2:30] (Spoken chant, sabar roll builds) Backway dafa doy, sama rakk! Melooy am ci jam? Nit ñi deggul ñaari bopp. Loolu la xam ne gëj naa gis. (All these things... I've seen too much.) 🎶 [Final Chorus – 2:30 – 3:10] (Full vocal, layered chants) Backway! (Eh!) Backway! (Dafa doy!) Hope na fuel, but road be slow We dey dance, but heart dey weigh Still we move, come what may Backway! (Eh!) Backway! (Dafa doy!) We no fit lie to the youth again Tell dem say: not all boats reach Some dreams need better bridge