Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Navy
Performer
Melinda Ulysses
Lead Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Melinda Ulysses
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Joseph Daniels
Producer
Marco Wolff
Mastering Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Oh mama, baba
Tout sa yo ja fè nous les noires
Oh ancestor
Vini gadé nous ka mandé sa
[Verse 2]
Oh mama, baba
Tout sa yo ja fè nous les noires
Oh ancestor
Vini gadé nous ka mandé sa
[Verse 3]
Diamonds on the wristwatch bling the time away
Diamonds on your ear so you're not hearing what I say
Diamonds for the price of the African slave
Shiny things deciphering the dark and the shade
Diamonds in the system, empty be the plate
Bruised hands and feet of the child in the trade
Diamonds on the menu swipe a life away
Plenty in revenue for the state
[Verse 4]
Oh mama, baba (Diamonds, diamonds)
Tout sa yo ja fè nous les noires
Oh ancestor (Outrageous)
Vini gadé nous ka mandé sa (Mines yes, mindless)
[Verse 5]
Oh mama, baba (Diamonds, diamonds)
Tout sa yo ja fè nous les noires
Oh ancestor (Outrageous)
Vini gadé nous ka mandé sa (Mines yes, mindless)
[Verse 6]
Diamonds of a people, sitting on the crown
Faces of the ugly trade burdened with a frown
Diamonds in a wedding ring you show it to the town
While the escalating trade requires suffering
Keep it to yourself then, I don't want to hear
Maybe you can help them, see then you can tell
Diamonds for submission, a dollar for the wage
Mercy for the soul born a slave
[Verse 7]
Oh mama, baba (Diamonds, diamonds)
Tout sa yo ja fè nous les noires
Oh ancestor (Outrageous)
Vini gadé nous ka mandé sa (Mines yes, mindless)
[Verse 8]
Oh mama, baba (Diamonds, diamonds)
Tout sa yo ja fè nous les noires
Oh ancestor (Outrageous)
Vini gadé nous ka mandé sa (Mines yes, mindless)
[Verse 9]
Diamonds in your memories, tuck' em all away
Citing all the emptiness for the price you paid
Calling on the motherland to wash away the pain
Waiting on another one to end up in a cage
Ignorance and envy, sacrifice a life
Running up a track and field of who could get it twice
Surplus and vanity you put up on the price
Just another number in the line
[Verse 10]
Oh mama, baba (Diamonds, diamonds)
Tout sa yo ja fè nous les noires
Oh ancestor (Outrageous)
Vini gadé nous ka mandé sa (Mines yes, mindless)
[Verse 11]
Oh mama, baba (Diamonds, diamonds)
Tout sa yo ja fè nous les noires
Oh ancestor (Outrageous)
Vini gadé nous ka mandé sa (Mines yes, mindless)
[Verse 12]
Oh mama, baba (Diamonds, diamonds)
Tout sa yo ja fè nous les noires
Oh ancestor (Outrageous)
Vini gadé nous ka mandé sa (Mines yes, mindless)
[Verse 13]
Oh mama, baba (Diamonds, diamonds)
Tout sa yo ja fè nous les noires
Oh ancestor (Outrageous)
Vini gadé nous ka mandé sa
Written by: Melinda ‘Navy’ Ulysses