SelahAfrik‘s head honcho, Alex Amos digs into a 10-year-old archive to deliver the Christian Hip Hop song titled “Heaven.” The song featuring the vocals of singer Tamara Ebidi, is a walk into the psyche of the average Nigerian youth, thrust into the socio-economic hardship that demarcates dreams from realities with a huge gap; put up against the backdrop of the Christian Faith.
Alex speaks of a place of escape where there are no guilt, regrets, struggles nor strive and compares such peace with what Heaven must be like. Having justified that Heaven is both a location and a state of mind, he breaks into worship as led by the voice of Tamara Ebidi.
“I wrote ‘Heaven’ at a time when I was trying to understand what true happiness really is. Is it the fulfillment of your dreams and aspirations? Is it the fulfillment of the purpose for which God put you on earth? Is it being able to secure a well paying job or just having enough money to live a good life? Or is happiness a by-product of joy, which is a state that defies the external factors, either good or bad. I tried to address these in the 3 verses of the song but I am leaving you to decide,” Alex Amos said.
The chorus of the song was adapted from the original song released in the early 90s, titled “Mimo” by The Choir, C&S Movement Church, Surulere District HQ (Ayo Ni O) as led by Pro. (Dr) Sunday Funso Korode. It was rearranged by popular producer Young D. The Trap music instrumentation was produced by Teekaywitty of Henrisoul‘s “Bad Man” fame.
Watch Lyrics Video:
Written by Alex Amos, except Chorus (Mimo), originally written by The Choir (C&S Movement Church, Surulere District HQ – Ayo Ni O)
Chorus Vocal: Margaret Tamara Ebidi
Produced by: Teekaywitty
Arranged, Mixed & Mastered: Young D
Originally written and recorded in 2010.
LYRICS IN LETTERS:
Intro:
I had a dream last night God spoke to me)2x
(Imma tell you what He said real quick)
Verse 1:
He said happiness
That word is so underrated
But at times it can be so overrated
Livelihood
Means the hood where you are lively
Exist in your mind or the hood you inhabit
Means your job may not really make you happy
Especially if you make money through crime habit
State of mind
Come take a walk in mine
It’s Beautiful – Beautiful
Be-You-Till-Full
It’s beautiful making money off what you are build to do
You can be all you want to be don’t let no one belittle you
Get to you, get into you, Get into your head
Love is gonna get you, Yes! KRS said
Especially whhen you base success on material wealth
Had a dream last night but I wasnt close to sleep
I was wide awake, yet had a dream like Martin
Cos where my mind goes, it don’t go with my body
Bridge:
Must be what Heaven feels like
No guilt, no stress, just peace of mind
Must be what heaven feels like
No guilt, no stress, just peace, no strive
And I heard them singing
Chorus:
Won Korin mimo
Mimo, mimo
Mimo Lori ite
Olorun, orun aiyeraye
Verse 2:
Where my mind goes is far from JK
Where my mind goes, only I understand when I explain
Where my mind goes, from this world its lost
Come take a walk in the streets made from thoughts
Here I can escape, here my heart don’t hurt
Sky so blue I just soak up the sun
No 10 to 9 waiting for the next pay at my shop
I’m there when the hood wakes, I’m there when the doors are shut
The birds don’t sing no more in JK
It’s been replaced by hustle noise as buses take people away
Where are they going? When will they be back
When they get back will they come back with some cash
Or at least some happiness or next day repeat the past
It’s why, every day I leave too
But not on those buses
I go to a place with angels and winged horses
My pain and my joy, here finds justice
Bridge:
Must be what Heaven feels like
No guilt, no stress, just peace of mind
Must be what heaven feels like
No guilt, no stress, just peace, no strive
And I heard them singing
Chorus:
Won Korin mimo
Mimo, mimo
Mimo Lori ite
Olorun, orun aiyeraye
Verse 3:
Lord where am at is far from where I target
And where am at is far from where I started
But I ain’t gone trade value for music they can dance to
Maybe when I’m gone they’ll understand what I do
Cos for you, I’m a bury all my idols
All I once held there, all I gave life to
Know I’m a work in progress so this bible
Beyond the sky-cloud is where I look
Reprise:
Awon Agbagba merin lelogun
Won juba won yi itereka
Won ko mimo sio oluwa
Olorun orun aiyeraye
Bridge:
Must be what Heaven feels like
No guilt, no stress, just peace of mind
Must be what heaven feels like
No guilt, no stress, just peace, no strive
And I heard them singing
Chorus:
Won Korin mimo
Mimo, mimo
Mimo Lori ite
Olorun, orun aiyeraye
