African Homeland

Dear Celie Oh, I love you Years go by and still you're with me All we share is one big sky I pray for your reply When Mister threw me out that day I was so mad I ran straight to the church But when the reverend's wife opened the door She had two little children with her And something about those children Made my mad go away So, I asked them If they needed help with those children And they told me they were going to Africa as missionaries And maybe I could come with them Nettie a missionary And then one day On that boat over here The reverend asked me about my family So, I told him about you And everything that happened to you And he told me, Celie He's the one pa gave your babies to Adam and Olivia are right here with me My babies I teach your children ABCs For a missionary family These babies sent by God are yours Adam and Olivia Alive, alive! I vibrated like a bell When I saw the African coast And I kneeled down and thanked God Thank God, thank God! For letting us see the land Where our mothers and fathers died African homeland, homeland Land of my people, people People! We are going to be working With a tribe called The Olinka Linga (linga) Oba (oba) Batuwanga Ada doon da yay Linga (linga) Oba (oba) Batuwanga Ada doon da yay Linga (linga) Oba (oba) Batuwanga (Linga) we are (Oba) happy At the center Of the universe (Linga) we are (Oba) happy At the center Of the universe Oh dee dee oo day oo day oo dadoo day doo da day Oh dee dee oo day oo day oo dadoo day doo da day Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay (oh yo oon daday) Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay (oh yo oon daday) Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay My people! (oh dee dee oo day oo day oo dadu day doo da day) Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay (oh yo oon daday) Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay (eeleeyah ooday) Oh yoo doh doo day ay ay It was like black seeing black For the first time Shiny blue black people looking real fine In brilliant blue robes That fly on the winds Like a beautiful quilt Stitched together by friends Mm, mm, mm, mm You could put everything I knew In a thimble What we're taught to be Don't resemble The kings and queens Who for thousands of years Ruled magnificent cities Washed away by tears Celie! Celie! Ee yea ahn ya Ee yea ahn ya Celie, what are you doing? Nothing Well, I ain't never seen you just sit How it look? Good morning! Y'all want some breakfast? I wish I could, but I got to go Take this on outside to the car Soon as he gets back from town I think I'm gon' kill him No, Bible says don't kill Nope, I think I'll feel better if I kill him No, you won't Nobody ever feel better for killing nothing Think of me Think of Nettie Goodbye Dear Celie I've been teaching the Olinka children to read But some of the women Have become very suspicious of me Because girls have never been taught to read here Girls have never been taught anything at all I don't understand everything they're saying But what it sounds like to me is What this mess you been preachin'? Why you tryin' to change us? They think I should be married Whoop! Girl ain't nothing with no man Why you makin' a big fuss? Whoop! Need a husband and children Or you're gonna be nothing I am nobody's mother But I am somebody Girls don't need education Sound like the white folks back home Best be knowing your station But not my Olivia! Matenga! Our village was destroyed by the soldiers So now we have walked With so many other refugees To a tent camp across the border We walk away from this ravaged land With courage deep in our hearts To face the unknown Together We'll find a place where we can be Where spirit rise and soul is free Our people (oon day unndala!) My people (oon day unndala!) I have faith that God will let us see each other again Before we die, Celie And you must have faith too I only hope when that day comes We're not too old to recognize each other We walk away We walk away We walk away