Streets Lack Love

Album: No Longer At Ease (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a track from Nigerian-German roots singer/songwriter Nneka's second album, No Longer At Ease. Nneka was born and grew up in the town of Warri in the Delta region of Nigeria and the album references experiences and observations of her native country before she relocated to Germany at the age of 18. Nneka returned to live in Nigeria in 2007.
  • On this song Nneka names and shames oil-producing companies that have caused pollution, which she says has led to the illness of many Nigerians in the Niger Delta for many years. An inspiration for the singer was Ken Saro-Wiwa, a Nigerian writer and environmental activist who campaigned against the oil companies. He was hanged in 1995 along with eight other activists on charges of "incitement to murder." The charges were widely believed to be politically motivated and unfounded.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.