he's had bicycles and sons
he's had salted fish and dark rum
now his days are almost done
in the lagos slums
he was a farmer for a while
growin' plantains by the coastline
and some said he had a smile
like a movie star
la ah la ah ah ah
(he) met his wife one friday night
at a dance hall near the train tracks
and his heart soared like a kite
in the evening light
(he) worked the oil fields once
saved some money for his family
built a house near eden's point
where they raised their boys
la ah la ah ah ah
he says it's hard to be a man
who works and still can't feed his children
but he does the best he can
in the new world plan
we're all forgotten
this road leads nowhere
he's had salted fish and dark rum
now his days are almost done
in the lagos slums
he was a farmer for a while
growin' plantains by the coastline
and some said he had a smile
like a movie star
la ah la ah ah ah
(he) met his wife one friday night
at a dance hall near the train tracks
and his heart soared like a kite
in the evening light
(he) worked the oil fields once
saved some money for his family
built a house near eden's point
where they raised their boys
la ah la ah ah ah
he says it's hard to be a man
who works and still can't feed his children
but he does the best he can
in the new world plan
we're all forgotten
this road leads nowhere