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
...
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.
