Album: Black Ivory Soul (2002)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Kidjo based the lyrics on a Yoruba (a group of West African people) proverb: "A bird that is burned today will not die unless the faith of the bird ceases."
  • This is a duet with Dave Matthews. Kidjo started writing the song while she was opening for Matthews on tour. In I Got Thunder: Black Women Songwriters and Their Craft by LaShonda Barnett, Kidjo says: "The last day of the tour I gave him the lyric. He took the lyric from me, and he said, 'So, where's the music?' So I gave him the music, too. Then I went on touring by myself. A few weeks later I was in Calgary recording - about to go to Seattle - when I received a call that Dave Matthews was in Calgary and wanted to come to the studio to do the song. So that's how it happened."

Comments: 1

  • Claire from Miller's, MdMy dad took me and my older and younger sister to see this movie. My brother didn't want to see it.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.