From the recording Emperor in Exile
As Italian forces closed in on Addis Ababa in 1936, Haile Selassie left Ethiopia to seek support from the League of Nations rather than surrender to invasion.
Never Give Up captures his determination and belief that justice would prevail, despite the odds stacked against him. The words are inspired by the written accounts of Haile Selassie's time at Fairfield House in Bath.
Earl Sixteen vocals recorded by Nick Manasseh at his London Studio. Backing track was recorded at Crossleaze Studio in Bath.
Mixed and mastered by Uri Green at Yam & Banana Studio, Bristol.
lyrics
CREDITS
Side One
Tracks 1–5 written by Seviour and Archer.
Track 3, “My Country’s Not for Sale”:
Lyrics by Seviour and Archer.
Music by Seviour and Archer, incorporating elements inspired by “Dollar in the Teeth” by Lee “Scratch” Perry.
Track 6 Selassie I. Backing track written by A Seviour.
Lyrics written by C Powell.
The vinyl edition includes an exlusive special guest dub mix of Exile song by Nick Manasseh which in not included in the digital download album.
Side Two
All other dub tracks remixed from side one by Uri Green at Yam & Banana Studio, St Pauls, Bristol.
Original compositions by Seviour/Archer, and Seviour/Powell, except where noted.
Lyrics
Chorus
Never never never never never never ever give up
Never never never never never never ever give up
V1
We shall prevail..
We shall prevail ..yes we will
We shall prevail..
We shall prevail ..yes we will
Chorus
Never never never never never never ever give up..
We will
Never never never never never never ever give up..ever.
V2
We shall prevail..
We shall prevail ..yes we will
We shall prevail..
We shall prevail ..this one changes
Chorus
Never never never never never never ever give up..
We will
Never never never never never never ever give up..ever.
M8
‘A wise man rolls his tongue
7 times around his mouth
before speaking their thoughts.’
Take lots of time
lots of clocks
lots of chimes
my beating heart
I’m marking each hour
of my exile
I wanna to go back to Ethiopia
we want
I wanna to go back to Ethiopia
Double Chorus
Never never never never never never ever give up..
Never never never never never never ever give up..
We will Never never never never never ever never give up..
Never never never never never never ever give up..
Never never never never never never ever give up..we’ll going home
We will Never never never never never ever never give up..
Never never never never never never ever give up..
Never never never never never never ever give up..
ever
Coda
I’m Suffering..
we shall prevail
Full of my lament..
we shall prevail
I’m Suffering..
we shall prevail
Full of my lament..
we shall prevail