Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Song of the Day: Sudan Archives - Selfish Soul

Heard about this song on Song Exploder.  Worth a listen to hear the story behind the song.
She told me the idea for this song started when she asked her boyfriend, James (who is the rapper Nocando) to shave her head. Cutting off her hair made her reflect on her whole hair story, from experiences she had as a kid, to the cultural and racial issues that have historically surrounded Black women’s hair.
I don't have hair anything like this, as I'm not a black woman (!).  And yet I can't help but wonder: Why would anyone give a shit?  Completely mystifies me.  Why would we say some hair is okay and other hair is not?  Humans are weird, and not in a good way in this case.  :(


Sudan Archives - Selfish Soul (Official Video)

Lyrics from Genius.com:

Sudan Archives
Selfish Soul Lyrics

If I cut my hair, hope I grow it long
Back long, back time like way before
If I wear it straight will they like me more?
Like those girls on front covers

Long hair make ’em stay little longer
Stay hair, stay straight though we feel ashamed
By the curls, waves and natural things
Curls, waves and natural things
Okay, one time if I grow it long
Am I good enough, am I good enough?
About time I embrace myself and soul
Time I feed my selfish soul

It’s been so long since I had a sew in
With a frontal and some color
If I cut it all off, will it even grow?
It’ll grow back real long
Gotta prove them all wrong

I don’t want no struggles, I don’t want no fears
I don’t want no struggles, I don’t want no fears
I don’t want no struggles, I don’t want no
Does it make sense to you
Why I cut it off?
Okay, one time if I grow it long
Am I good enough, am I good enough?
About time I embrace myself and soul
Time I feed my selfish soul

Met a nigga last year, Jimmy Mac was his name
And he told me that he wanna go and ride
I was worried about the clip-ins in my hair coming out
Couldn’t even catch a vibe
Hope he still loves me if he knows that this weave is getting old
The extension that I had to offer
He said, baby, don’t you bother
But when it’s gone just don’t act surprised

‘Cause I don’t want no struggles, I don’t want no fears
I don’t want no struggles, I don’t want no fears
I don’t want no struggles, I don’t want no
Does it make sense to you
Why I cut it off?
Okay, one time if I grow it long
Am I good enough? Am I good enough?
About time I embrace myself and soul
Time I feed my selfish soul




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