Mandela Day - Simple Minds

Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band has sold more than 40 million albums since 1979. The band is made by five members, Jim Kerr (Vocals) Charlie Burchill ( Guitar, Keyboard), Mel Gaynor (Drums), Andy Gillespie (Keyboard) and Ged Grimes ( Bass Guitar).


Mandela Day is a song made by Simple Minds, and it relates do the 2nd article of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights : "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.".

It was 25 years they take that man away
Now the freedom moves in closer every day
Wipe the tears down from your saddened eyes
They say Mandela's free so step outside
Oh oh oh oh Mandela day
Oh oh oh oh Mandela's free

It was 25 years ago this very day
Held behind four walls all through night and day
Still the children know the story of that man
And I know what's going on right through your land

25 years ago
Na na na na Mandela day
Oh oh oh Mandela's free

If the tears are flowing wipe them from your face
I can feel his heartbeat moving deep inside
It was 25 years they took that man away
And now the world come down say Nelson Mandela's free

Oh oh oh oh Mandela's free

The rising suns sets Mandela on his way
Its been 25 years around this very day
From the one outside to the ones inside we say
Oh oh oh oh Mandela's free
Oh oh oh set Mandela free

Na na na na Mandela day
Na na na na Mandela's free

25 years ago
What's going on
And we know what's going on
Cos we know what's going on

As we can see this song is about Nelson Mandela and how he is undeservedly arrested for the color of his skin, therefore his race. He was in prison for 25 years and his release was a victory for the human rights and discrimination based on race. A man who suffered for 25 years because of prejudice.