the crossing johnny clegg

Photo: Screenshot of Video

Johnny Clegg: SA musos colab for touching version of The Crossing [video]

Friends of Johnny Clegg have released a powerful recording of his famous song The Crossing, all for a good cause.

the crossing johnny clegg

Photo: Screenshot of Video

You know who Johnny Clegg is, right? Born in the UK, but a legend of South African music, Clegg revealed in 2018 that he was ill with cancer, but promised that he would be releasing a new album soon.

In December, a group of South Africa’s top musicians came together to record a touching version of his song The Crossing. The result? Pow, pow right to the feels.

From David Kramer to Karen Zoid and Zolani Mahola,  this version is something incredibly special. Even Kurt Darren and Patricia Lewis goois.

Zoid, who also produced this version, described it as a great honour, writing on Twitter: “It has been the greatest honour of my career to work on this track.”

The collaboration, which was recorded and filmed in September, was played to Johnny on 5 December at a private event.

According toUndergroundPass, this was the biggest ever local music collaboration, quoting, Paul Bruce-Brand, Ellerman House’s General Manager as saying:

“This was an extremely unique, powerful performance which culminated in one of our final ‘Ellerman Sessions’ of the year. These intimate sessions embrace South African talent with fervour, offering a series of personal-storytelling evenings with local icons, from platinum-selling musicians to award-winning chefs. What a story Johnny Clegg has to share – filled with emotional tales of struggle and hardship, yet characterised by an overriding sense of joy, humour, hope and passion for this country.”

All for a good cause

All proceeds will go to the ‘Friends of Johnny Clegg Fund’ for primary education.

The fund is all about changing lives of young learners all across South Africa, through literacy programmes and using technology in education to pursue outcomes-based interventions.

The Fund is managed by The Click Foundation who will distribute funds to their various centres across South Africa.

If you want to make a contribution, visit the Friends of Johnny Clegg website.

Watch: The Crossing, Johnny Clegg tribute

The Crossing was written and performed by Johnny Clegg & Savuka and appears on the album Heat, Dust and Dreams back in 1993.

You can download this version of The Crossing for free here.

Clegg, a singer, songwriter, dancer, activist and anthropologist offers an infectious blend of pop and Zulu rhythms. He rose to fame on the international scene by breaking barriers in apartheid South Africa. 

In an award-winning career spanning over three decades, he has sold over five million albums worldwide, bringing people from all backgrounds together.

The Crossing – Johnny Clegg lyrics

Through all the days that eat away
At every breath that I take
Through all the nights I’ve lain alone
In someone else’s dream, awakeAll the words in truth we have spoken
That the wind has blown away
It’s only you that remains with me
Clear as the light of dayO Siyeza, o siyeza , sizofika webaba noma
(we are coming, we are coming, we will arrive soon)
O siyeza, o siyeza, siyagudle lomhlaba
(we are coming, we are coming, we are moving across this earth)
Siyawela lapheshaya lulezontaba ezimnyama
(we are crossing over those dark mountains)
Lapha sobheka phansi konke ukhulupheka
(where we will lay down our troubles)A punch drunk man in a downtown bar
Takes a beating without making a sound
Through swollen eyes he sways and smiles
‘Cause no one can put him downInside of him a boy looks up to his father
For a sign or an approving eye
Oh, it’s funny how those once so close and now gone
Can still so affect our livesO Siyeza, o siyeza , sizofika webaba noma
(we are coming, we are coming, we will arrive soon)
O siyeza, o siyeza, siyagudle lomhlaba
(we are coming, we are coming, we are moving across this earth)
Siyawela lapheshaya lulezontaba ezimnyama
(we are crossing over those dark mountains)
Lapha sobheka phansi konke ukhulupheka
(where we will lay down our troubles)Take me now, don’t let go
Hold me close, I’m coming homeO Siyeza, o siyeza , sizofika webaba noma
(we are coming, we are coming, we will arrive soon)
O siyeza, o siyeza, siyagudle lomhlaba
(we are coming, we are coming, we are moving across this earth)
Siyawela lapheshaya lulezontaba ezimnyama
(we are crossing over those dark mountains)
Lapha sobheka phansi konke ukhulupheka
(where we will lay down our troubles)