Tony

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

That night in Paris at La Bellevilloise

The master drummer was propulsive

With a skitter and a shudder and a rattle of the snare, as if a band of drummers on Brekete drums were playing in a circle

A cypher, a region

It was a militant soundtrack for rowing up river to get our names back

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

This is the ghost note and the flam

The drummer who flicks his wrist and the fluttering unfurls into islands (Into islands)

Even the stick tips are speaking a secret language

This is the mystery note

A paradiddle for Tony Allen

A map of stars to light the night path through the desert

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

In some far place

We are still riding through space, still searching for Africa

La-la-la-la

Still sending emissaries, still appearing to us now as UFOs, astronauts

La-la-la-la-la-la

They are wizards of sound, manipulating the spaces between time with laughter

Someone like Tony Oladipo Allen, who always had a smile

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Yeah, had a smile

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

I stood backstage in Marseille watching the drummer on the sly

La-la-la-la

He was duplicitous, a conjure man with seven hands swirling

And yet aware of every nuance and spell

So this is a poem for Tony Allen

A praise poem, a plea for peace

We be too, we be too, we be too

Impertinent

We be too, we be too

Impatient

We be too, we be too

Violent

Ready to jump out bus and fight

Ready to jump out car and fight

Ready to fight to death tonight

Like water, my sister

Ready to throw we life away, my sister

Like water

Like water

Throw we life away

Like water

Like it not precious

The water, the water

Like it not nothing

We used to meet in Zurich

We might've both been playing in Rome

We used to meet in Marseille every summer

And the drummer would call my name across a hotel lobby

As if he hadn't seen me for a long time

He'd say, "Peace, brother"

And he always had a smile for me

He say peace, he say peace, he say peace, he say peace, he say peace

My brother

Eh, oh gosh

We're just gonna let the band play, so we can fully sink into, so we can properly, you know, sacredly

Totally, ha-ha, sink right into the groove

Peace

He say peace, he say peace, he say peace, he say peace, he say peace

Peace

He say peace, he say peace, he say peace, he say peace, he say peace

Peace

Peace

We be too, we be too, we be too

We be too, we be too, we be too

Impatient

We be too, we be too

Impatient

Peace

We be too, we be too

We be too violent

Ready to jump out bus and fight

Ready to jump out car and fight

Ready to fight to death tonight

My brother, my sister, my brother

Ready to throw they life away

My brother, like water

Like water

Like water, like water

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

It's all about love

The spirituality of rhythm

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Secret technology, the drum

La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Peace

Peace

Peace

Peace

Peace

Peace

Peace

Peace