The Specials
Nelson Mandela
The Specials, also known as The Special AKA, are a ska band from Coventry, England.
This song was written by Jerry Dammers and produced by Elvis Costello. It was released in 1984, as a single, and peaked at #96 on the UK charts. Of the song, Dammers said:
'I knew very little about Mandela until I went to an anti-apartheid concert in London in 1983, which gave me the idea for 'Nelson Mandela.' I never knew how much impact the song would have; it was a hit around the world, and it got back into South Africa and was played at sporting events and ANC rallies—it became an anthem.'
Free Nelson Mandela Free, free, free, free, free Nelson Mandela Free Nelson Mandela Twenty-one years in captivity Shoes too small to fit his feet His body abused but his mind is still free Are you so blind that you cannot see? I said free Nelson Mandela I'm begging you, free Nelson Mandela Pleaded the causes at the ANC Only one there in a large army Are you so blind that you cannot see? Are you so deaf that you cannot hear his plea? Free Nelson Mandela I'm begging you, free Nelson Mandela Twenty-one years in captivity Are you so blind that you cannot see? Are you so deaf that you cannot hear? Are you so dumb that you cannot speak? I said free Nelson Mandela I'm begging you, free Nelson Mandela Free Nelson Mandela Begging you, begging you please Free Nelson Mandela You've got to, you've got to You got to free You got to free You got to free Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela I'm telling you, telling you, telling you You've got to free, you've got to free You've got to free, you've got to free Nelson Mandela