Wake Me When I’m Free
Please, wake me when I am free
I cannot bear captivity
Where my country
I am told
“Hold no significance”
I waited and died in ignorance
But my inner eye can see
A race, who reigned as king
In another place
The green trees were rich and full
And every man
Spoke of beautiful men and women
Together as people
War was gone
Because all was at peace
But now
Like a nightmare
I woke to see
That I live
Like a prisoner of poverty
Please
Wake me when I am free
I cannot bear captivity
For, I would rather be stricken blind
Than to live without expression of mind
[ speaking in Yoruba ]