Prisoner

Lucky Dube · Life & Times [2012]

Somebody told me about it



When I was still a little boy



He said to me, crime does not pay



He said to me, education is the key, yeah



As a little boy I thought I know



What I was doing, yeah, man



But today, here I am in jail



I'm a prisoner



I'm a prisoner



I'm a prisoner



I looked all around me



But to see nothing



But four gray walls staring at me



The policeman said to me, "Son



They won' t build no schools anymore



All they' ll build will be prison, prison



All they' ll build will be prison, prison



All they' ll build will be prison, prison"



'Cos today, yeah



I am a prisoner



I am a prisoner



I'm a prisoner, dear Lord



I asked the policeman and said



"How much must I pay for my freedom?"



He said to me, "Son



They won' t build no schools anymore



They won' t build no hospitals



They won' t build no hospitals"



"All they' ll build will be prison, prison



All they' ll build will be prison, prison



All they' ll build will be prison, prison



All they' ll build will be prison, prison"



I'm a prisoner



I'm a prisoner



I'm a prisoner



I'm a prisoner



I'm a prisoner



I'm a prisoner



I'm a prisoner



I'm a prisoner



I'm a prisoner



...

Prisoner - Lucky Dube

Lucky Dube's 'Prisoner' stands as a defining anthem of South African township rap, released on the 2012 album 'Life & Times.' The track exemplifies the genre's fusion of gritty storytelling with infectious rhythms, capturing the resilience and daily struggles of urban life in the region. As a cornerstone of Dube's discography, the recording showcases his signature ability to blend social commentary with melodic hooks that resonate across generations. The song remains a vital representation of the genre's evolution, reflecting the cultural identity and political consciousness that characterize much of his work from the early 1990s through the 2010s.