Mickey Mouse Freedom
Lucky Dube · House Of Exile [1992]
Put his coat on his shoulders
And slowly he walked away
Behind him he could hear
Those innocent voices
Crying out so bitterly saying
We did not start the war
But we fighting now
We did not start the fire
But we burning now
They were told many years ago
That their country is free
But they didn't understand
That it's not real, they never knew it was a
Mickey Mouse freedom, independence
Me come in a you country
That is said to be free
Me come in a you country
That is said to be free
Me sight corruption
Me sight starvation
Walking like a millionaire
'Cause you think you country is free
One thing you don't know is that
Your country is being remote controlled
Mickey Mouse freedom, independence
Mickey Mouse freedom, independence
Mickey Mouse freedom, independence
...
And slowly he walked away
Behind him he could hear
Those innocent voices
Crying out so bitterly saying
We did not start the war
But we fighting now
We did not start the fire
But we burning now
They were told many years ago
That their country is free
But they didn't understand
That it's not real, they never knew it was a
Mickey Mouse freedom, independence
Me come in a you country
That is said to be free
Me come in a you country
That is said to be free
Me sight corruption
Me sight starvation
Walking like a millionaire
'Cause you think you country is free
One thing you don't know is that
Your country is being remote controlled
Mickey Mouse freedom, independence
Mickey Mouse freedom, independence
Mickey Mouse freedom, independence
...
Mickey Mouse Freedom
Lucky Dube's 'Mickey Mouse Freedom' stands as a defining track from his seminal 1992 album, House Of Exile. Released during the height of South African township jazz and the anti-apartheid movement, the song blends traditional South African musical elements with jazz and soul influences to create a powerful anthem of liberation. The recording captures the urgency and hope of its era, reflecting Dube's commitment to using music as a vehicle for social change. Its distinctive sound and message have cemented its place in the canon of South African music, influencing countless artists who followed in his footsteps to fuse indigenous sounds with global genres.