I OWE NO APOLOGY By the Mighty Sparrow I am Nelson Mandela, freedom fighter! Liberator of my people in South Africa. Then so be it Mr Koppel, I owe no apology. Interviewing Nelson Mandela on a TV show Ted Koppel was the interviewer, I want you to know He wanted Mandela to condemn Muammar Qaddafi, Fidel Castro, Yasir Arrafat right there on TV Mandela say these people help me when apartheid was on the rise I turned to them out of necessity so I do not apologise, you hear Though it grieves me to see the people suffering but... Chains of bondage have been placed on my head to impede my progress Thorns and thistles have been laid on my bed to curtail my rest I've been tortured and suffered immensely They isolate me, incarcerate me Still in spite of their barbarous cruelty I will never apologise for my identity. No apology for my color, it is part of me I'm wearing it bravely with honour, pride and dignity How can I say sorry for a birthright made proud by my forefathers? A skin that blends with the darkness of night yet distinguishes me from others? There were times I know because of it Tears of sorry had filled my eyes But the Lord made me free in spirit and I do not apologise, you hear He scratch he head and continue complaining that... Chains of bondage have been placed on my head to impede my progress And then he said, Thorns and thistles have been laid on my bed to curtail my rest They subject me to gross inhumanity Brutality, hostility But no matter how rough their tactics be I will never apologise for my identity. I owe no apology. Personally, I have done no wrong And what I have endured physically have made me more strong How could I be ashamed of a mind that refuses to be twisted? A heart as warm as the morning sunshine, a character so gifted? With these trials and tribulations, I am fulfilling destiny In my quest for emancipation, I owe no apology, you hear Sit down there, feel is joke I making... Chains of bondage have been placed on my head to impede my progress And then he said, Thorns and thistles have been laid on my bed to curtail my rest. I've had my share of pain and misery It was ghastly, downright nasty They try hard but they fail miserably 'Cause I'll never apologise for my identity. No apology for my culture for its suits me fine The folklore of all my ancestors makes me feel sublime I am not repentant of a music that expresses how I feel These sweet melodies come from deep in my soul, enriching all my ideals He say, The rhythm does give me courage and the lyrics does make me wise So in spite of all the advantage, I do not apologise, you hear Though it grieves me to see the people suffering but... Chains of bondage have been placed on my head to impede my progress And then he said, Thorns and thistles have been laid on my bed to curtail my rest. Their exercises were in futility That's when they gave me psychotherapy But they surrendered while I'm shouting, "Victory!" 'Cause I'll never apologise for my identity. And that's the way it is. Have I paralysed you, Mister Koppel? Ha ha, ha ha, ha ha!