Let The Band Play On
Lucky Dube · Other Songs - Lucky Dube
Even though his times are hard
You can hardly see it on his face
Because of the smile
People coming in from miles away
To hear him sing and see him play
So he can' t disappoint them now
The room is full of smoke
But he can see them dancing
And he can see them crying
It doesn' t bother him at all 'Cause he knows it' s only tears of joy
[Chorus:]
Let the band play on
There' s a girl sitting by the corner there
And she looks at him with her big brown eyes
He smiles back and carries on playing
It doesn' t bother him at all
Somehow, it gives him some comfort
Police came in halfway through the night
With the good news
Neighbors are complaining
'Cause the music is so low low low low
So turn it up, now
[Chorus:]
Let the band play on
You can hardly see it on his face
Because of the smile
People coming in from miles away
To hear him sing and see him play
So he can' t disappoint them now
The room is full of smoke
But he can see them dancing
And he can see them crying
It doesn' t bother him at all 'Cause he knows it' s only tears of joy
[Chorus:]
Let the band play on
There' s a girl sitting by the corner there
And she looks at him with her big brown eyes
He smiles back and carries on playing
It doesn' t bother him at all
Somehow, it gives him some comfort
Police came in halfway through the night
With the good news
Neighbors are complaining
'Cause the music is so low low low low
So turn it up, now
[Chorus:]
Let the band play on
Let The Band Play On
Lucky Dube's 'Let The Band Play On' stands as a defining anthem of South African township rap and hip-hop. Released in the early 1990s, the track exemplifies the genre's fusion of traditional Zulu rhythms with modern beats, capturing the spirit of the era's youth culture. The song's infectious energy and socially conscious lyrics helped propel Dube to international prominence, establishing him as a pivotal figure in the genre. Its enduring popularity reflects the song's ability to resonate across generations, serving as a cultural touchstone for the township music movement that continues to influence contemporary artists worldwide.