Johannesburg!
Johannesburg (Lyric)
Johannesburg
Johannesburg
I’m here and starting to shine
Like a chandelier
You spark the atmosphere
Come on! Let our talents combine.
Pink satin tights
Bright city lights
Oh wow! But I’m doing fine
I feel so lyrical
And it’s a miracle
To see these gumboot feet of mine just fly.
Chorus:
There is this big band sound
That’s playing all around
A carousel of hope
for both the lost and the found.
I want the whole big world to know
you’re my home town…
You’re good as gold – Johannesburg.
You’re good as gold - Johannesburg.
© Margaret Kollmer
poem by Margaret Kollmer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Oliver's Army
I could talk all night
my mind was sleep walking
While I'm putting the world to rights
Call careers information
Have you got yourself an occupation ?
Oliver's Army is here to stay
Oliver's Army is on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
There was a Checkpoint Charlie
He didn't crack a smile
But it's no laughing party
When you've been on the murder mile
If you're out of luck or out of work
We could send you to Johannesburg
Oliver's Army is here to stay
Oliver's Army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
than here today
Hong Kong is up for grabs
London is full of Arabs
We could be in Palestine
Overrun by a Chinese line
With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne
But there's no danger
It's a professional career
and it could be arranged
With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear
If you're out of luck or out of work
We could send you to Johannesburg
Oliver's Army is here to stay
Oliver's Army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
but here today
And I would rather be anywhere else
but here today
song performed by by Ok Go
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Arthur Ashe had been the first black athlete to play Johannesburg at the time of apartheid.
quote by Yannick Noah
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Now that we have a democracy and you can go back and the airport air is not laden with evil any more, you can actually breathe oxygen when you land in Johannesburg.
quote by Janet Suzman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I lived at home and I cycled every morning to the railway station to travel by train to Johannesburg followed by a walk to the University, carrying sandwiches for my lunch and returning in the evening the same way.
quote by Sydney Brenner
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You Got Me Twisted
27 september 2012, south africa south of johannesburg
poem by Nozipho Makhubu
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Red Ants...
The red ants are not red...
They are blacks hired
To mow down their own
Out of sinkholes
Onto pavements
The red ants are not ants...
They are human beings reduced
To machines that bulldoze
Those whose plight they share
For a meal
Note: In the City of Johannesburg, the poor occupying the innercity's delapidated buildings (so-called sinkholes) are forcefully evicted by armies of men in red overalls (popularly known as the red ants) , clearing the buildings as part of the inner city regeneration programme...
poem by Moses Mtileni
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The Beayty Of Gauteng
Auto shining on the street
The TelkomTelecommunication tower
The CellC tower container at southwest of Johannesburg
Vodacom tower a night shining
With the shine light of the nation tour attraction.
The Lucs flats my hero,
The beauty of my soul,
Standing behind Parktonain hotel,
My so called hotel.
Attraction of the roaming lights
Of the cockroaches traffic cars.
Ooh, the wonderful song
In the soul of my heart,
Fabulous bell of traffic alert
Through Rissik & Smith Street.
The nice place Gold Reef city,
The ultimate king of holidays.
Soweto the rainbow
Thembisa the promise of legend
Alexander Looting of natural people.
Mine dump aside the road
Proving Gauteng a place of gold,
A Precious metal of death.
Prostitution on every corner
Two meter is a longest distance.
Everyone seems to be a hero
Hero of dying and surviving.
Thai is Gauteng the place of happiness,
The place of sorrow
And the place of death and surviving.
I love to hate Gauteng.
poem by Murendeni Mulaudzi
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Jacaranda's and nuts
First you are and the other is me.
In Johannesburg the spring.
In Belgrade is the fall.
You paint jacaranda's.
I pick the walnuts.
You are Jacaranda I am Nut.
You are the Spring and I am the Fall.
poem by Jankovic Zoran
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Olivers Army
Dont start me talking
I could talk all night
My mind goes sleepwalking
While Im putting the world to right
Called careers information
Have you got yourself an occupation?
Olivers army is here to stay
Olivers army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
There was a checkpoint charlie
He didnt crack a smile
But its no laughing party
When youve been on the murder mile
Only takes one itchy trigger
One more widow, one less white nigger
(chorus)
Hong kong is up for grabs
London is full of arabs
We could be in palestine
Overrun by a chinese line
With the boys from the mersey and the thames and the tyne
But theres no danger
Its a professional career
Though it could be arranged
With just a word in mr. churchills ear
If youre out of luck or out of work
We could send you to johannesburg
(chorus)
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Beautiful Brown Eyes by Meena Mustafa
Beautiful brown eyes like myriad of stars that gleam
Telling stories of my life is now an open book it seems.
You can see the world in my eyes, there is beauty everywhere
Exotic places I have travelled is reflected in my stare.
From Dubai to Australia, my memories take me there
Longing to be in Johannesburg (Sun City) a penny I didn't spare.
The white sandy beaches (Maldives) the scorching sun and heat
Diving in the ocean it was such a lovely treat!
Then the drive to Monte Carlo and the lavish French cuisine
From Singapore to Jakarta…now it's just a dream
My eyes reflect my spirit, for adventure far afield
And deep within their depths …mysteries are revealed.
poem by Meena Mustafa
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A Free State sojourn
I have taken a much needed break
From my husband and his constant nagging
And his boring political manifestos and uninspiring speeches
At last I am free of the bondages
Of my husband's Johannesburg and
The boring conversations of his cronies
I am free in the Free State
And yesterday I took in this
Tall charmer of a toy boy to remind
Myself of what I have been missing
After all that chafing under the tyranny
Of my husband and his godless nyabzen
Glossary
nyabzen-a lover
poem by Ngaka Motaung
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People Everywhere: Social Music (Original 11 03 2009)
PEOPLE EVERYWHERE: SOCIAL MUSIC
Original 11 03 3009
People everywhere over here over there people
In poor bread lines people in pony drawn carriages
People on a chariot with a rumble seat people on a
Climb on a mountain steep people on a dime on a
Corner on Wall Street –street people -people everywhere
Everywhere there’s a drummer. Where you going?
Everywhere you go you go with a beat you go with
Where the music is… where the music is “social man
What’s jazz? ” People everywhere just social that’s all
New Orleans people social all the way up river to
Kansas City on up to Chicago don’t make no difference
If your name is Santiago Obama Bergson Rothschild
Bush just social People -Montrose New York City
People social all the way to Rio Paris Johannesburg
Brazil Belize over all the bridges –London Suez
Toronto Montreal people in a dim café -social
People in church every weekday and everyday
Everywhere there’s a temple play -Joe’s Place
People social man -music social don’t make no
Difference where you get together whoever is playing
Just playing so you keep on playing with everybody
Playing -people play social music man –man or
Woman don’t understand just don’t stop playing
People everywhere want to be there to see it -up here
You playing social music -understand -just don’t
Stop playing -people everywhere get hungry lose
Patience -people everywhere not playing social music
When you stop playing social music people every-
Where stop –trying to figure out why everybody
Stop playing social music -nothing social about
Playing a whole lot of music -nothing truly social
In a lot of music -the next thing you know a short
Spell and before long you got wars breaking out
Stop playing and its hell -that’s not social any more.
Lee Mack copyright 2009. ISBN # 0615318347. Do not reproduce without permission.
poem by Lee B. Mack
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Kwela (the S.A. Penny Whistle Sound)
A moment in time captured in a simple wind
Of a simple pipe
By a simple folk
I see black boys standing in a corner somewhere
In the middle of Johannesburg
Long before the ’76 Uprising
I see them blowing and swinging
Blowing and swinging
The crowd gathering, listening, moved!
Throwing coins in a hat
And then a yellow police vehicle
Would always come too quickly
KWELA, KWELA, KWELA!
Was all that THEY could say
In the city
In the township,
Purple notes
Purple tunes
A purple moment in time
I see happiness and sorrow entwined
Like strands in the loom
I see a people going on because life goes on
KWELA, a moment in song
Your dream has come to life!
poem by LLM Mbatha
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Sown Home Town
The world outside don't like us much,
'Cos they ain't got our classy touch,
But they ain't good enough to breathe,
This towns good air we make 'em leave
CHORUS
But it's no, no, no,
you really can't do that,
No, no, no,
down home town
No monkey business in this town,
Well who do you think you're pushing 'round,
This towns respectable and clean,
Just look around you'll see what I mean
CHORUS Repeat
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
CHORUS Repeat
We got the best town band around,
Just listen to their crazy sound
When they get hot they gonna blow,
You see them running every show
(I wish I was in the land of Dixie
Look Away...)
Down home town,
Gotta get down
Down home town
Gotta get down
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
CHORUS
(I wish I was in the land of Dixie
Look Away...)
song performed by by Electric Light Orchestra
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Muckleneuk Ridge
We sat between packed boxes
in a sold house
and I made some tea
and while we drank
the hot liquid
I told you that I
cannot afford the mansion
in Muckleneuk Ridge
near Unisa University
of which the rent included
water and electricity.
The two boys
were playing outside
with the dogs
throwing a tennis ball
for them
and we could hear
their laughter and excitement
coming in.
It was a really grand place,
with five bedrooms, a study,
a very big lounge
and had a great modern kitchen.
It had huge rooms
with private entrances,
yellow wood floors,
pine ceilings,
a braai aria at the back
and sprinklers
in a huge garden.
You didn’t want to take
no for an answer,
started crying
and went on you knees
begging me please
and embraced my legs.
That house had caught
your heart,
spoke to something
in your soul
and made you truly
feel like a lady.
I helped you to your feet
drawing you up
by you hands
and we embraced.
There wasn’t much
that I could do, but to agree
and although we cut the finances,
I had to make a plan.
That house was like palace,
it was near to the highway
to Johannesburg
(where I worked) ,
right for the children’s school
right for your work
and just the place for you.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Where Ever You Are, Xholile Or Xholisile
I happen to me her in R55 and Heidelberg road
Miles away from Alberton City
Xholile or Xholisile
Uncertain and certain she is from Kwa-Zulu Natal
Some men are useless
Unable to provide basics
And help the needy
She looks more like prostitute
I judged a book by its cover
She told me her misfortune
Her humiliation Harassment and discrimination.
By her step mother, women do that to other women?
Don't blame me for not folding the conversation as it should
Bare with me, i am not a Zulu
She now has disorganized sexuality
Sores in valobian tubes
Sometimes painful and Ichy
Genuine, no expectation for future
And she started crying
Ku'zo lunga sisi' my first attempt to comfort her'
It was more like transplantation of emotions
As I felt the pain she was in
I hold her in my arm trying to comfort her
I remember something she said
About a lady in Paulpetersburg
And Z.C.C priest
Their intention and attention to help
But without success
She went to city of Johannesburg
Through the aid of truck driver
I don't know her whereabouts and her survival
It was first time and last time I see her
Well Lady, wherever you may be
You deserve gentle balance life
And a helping hand
poem by Jacques Sprenkie Mateya
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Queen of tango
I swap ten of my stories for one letter from you.
Letter and gingerbread heart with a mirror in it.
I want to do the tango, I'm tired of chess.
We can: Hidalgo, guitar and Argentina are close
for the souls that fly across the ocean.
Chess is better: a game in which the queen checkmates the king.
But the queen wants to dance, not play.
Make a move and dance, and I'm going to watch.
The queen goes to the dance floor with a pawn.
Here is my castle shooting at your pawn.
The pawn falls; the queen is going for a new one.
The king resigns: Do not go for a new pawn, we will do the tango.
Renku poetry: Tanja Bulovic Johannesburg
Zoran Jankovic Beograd
poem by Jankovic Zoran
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Coldest Day
No I never heard through the grapevine
How you left long before your time
But in france on the radio
I could not understand a word
But I felt you go
We waited all night for the midnight lovers calling
It was the coldest day of the year
And Im still thawing
I didnt sleep a wink
But while radio played
I was day dreaming
Of what might have been
While the cold night air was freezing
The coldest night
The coldest day of the year
What is happening mother father please
Who will save us from the autumn breeze
Shivering to a halt no one wants to speak too soon
Although we all knew under the pale blue moon
The pale moon
The pale blue moon
What happens then when the sun goes down
Tell me whats the word johannesburg
When the rent goes up and the lights go down
On the coldest day outside the coldest town
We waited all night and Im still falling
I didnt sleep a wink
But while radio played
I was day dreaming
Of what might have been
While the cold night air was freezing
The coldest night
The coldest day of the year
The coldest night
The coldest day of the year
The coldest night, day, year.
song performed by by Madness
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Down Home Town
The world outside dont like us much,
cos they aint got our classy touch,
But they aint good enough to breathe,
This towns good air we make em leave.
Chorus:
But its no, no, no, you really cant do that,
No, no, no, down homw town.
No monkey business in this town,
Well who do you think youre pushing round,
This towns respectable and clean,
Just look around youll see what I mean.
Chorus: repeat
Down home town, down home town, etc.
Chorus: repeat
We got the best town band around,
Just listen to their crazy sound.
When they get hot they gonna blow,
Ucedemwinnin** every show.
Down home town, down home town, etc.
Chorus: repeat
Look out.
song performed by by Electric Light Orchestra
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I fly away from Tanzania
I fly away from Tanzania
and as the plane turns
over Dar es-Salaam,
I see the statue
of the black man
breaking his chains
and I wonder
who is really free
in a land of poverty?
The sea is dark blue
and a flotilla of small boats
are carrying tobacco, coffee
and cotton to ships
in the deeper water.
The great country
stretches out under the plane
and the massai mara planes
looks as if it goes on
into infinity
and I plan to visit
the Serengeti National Park,
to go to Zanzibar
and to climb mount mount Kilimanjaro
when I return
Three weeks of erecting cell phone towers
flew past in a blink of a eye
and I am going home again
and the Nyasa Lake
passes like a blue sea
under the plane.
Johannesburg international is hot
and it’s the beginning of spring
and the Wimpy has got
cheap burgers
and bottomless Coke
and I drink
as if coming out of the desert
and it’s great to be back
in my own country again.
poem by Gert Strydom
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