Neneh Cherry

Songwriter: Robert “3D” del Naja Booga Bear Neneh Cherry

Producer: Booga Bear The Bubble Bunch

OK, you're on your own, it's late
Your girlfriend is on another date
With the hero in your dream
Turn around, ask yourself
So you think you're gonna win this time, manchild?

Is it the pain of the drinking or the Sunday sinking feeling?
The car never seems to work
When it's late your girlfriend's on a date
And the hero with her in your dream in your sleep seemed like you
Turn around, ask yourself
Turn around, ask yourself

Manchild, will you ever win?
Manchild, look at the state you're in

Could you go undercover and sell your brand new lover?
(Could you) be someone else for a night?
Maybe someone else will love you
You'd sell your soul for a tacky song like the ones you hear on the radio
Turn around, ask yourself
Turn around and ask yourself

Manchild, will you ever win?
Manchild, look at the state you're in
Manchild, he will make you cry
Manchild, manchild, manchild

From Monday down to Friday
You're working on another man's car
Or is it in the factory?
It doesn't matter where you are

Just turn around and ask yourself, is this communication?
Accentuate the positive to give some illustration
See, manchild, you're no one, I'll turn the microphone on
Control communication when I'm kicking it and so on
To the point where I need the air that I breathe
Into an audience that's waiting and ecstatic to receive
For the meantime another mean rhyme, I keep on saying it
I know what the time is and the crowd will keep on playing it
Through the speaker boxes. Loud's my diagnosis
'Cause I believe in miracles and words in steady doses
Enough R-E-S-P-E and C-T
Respect yourself, express, no stress, the mike is easy
Just believe that all you need is the air that you breathe
(Turn around and ask yourself)

Manchild, will you ever win?
Manchild, look at the state you're in
Manchild, he will make you cry
Manchild, manchild, manchild
He's the apple of your eye

Once bitten, twice shy, why don't you bite me again
Just take it in right and go tell your friend
Are you ready for the words? I'll turn the microphone on
A figure of speech to reach you at the back and so on
The style I'm stimulating dance floors
Raise your body temperature now and this demands for
Power in the amp, you know loud's my diagnosis
'Cause I believe in miracles, words in heavy doses

Neneh Mariann Karlsson was born in Sweden to a Swedish mother and a father from Sierra Leone. Her mother raised her in a commune with her stepfather, jazz musician Don Cherry (father of Eagle Eye Cherry).

She moved to London in the 1980s and immersed herself in the Bristol music scene (where Massive Attack and Portishead would form), getting involved with bands such as The Cherries, The Slits, New Age Steppers, Rip Rig + Panic and Float Up CP.

But it was her collaboration with the duo Morgan-McVey, who released only the one single “Looking Good Diving”, that would be the springboard to launch her into international stardom. The single’s B-side featured Cherry rapping over the A-side’s instrumental tracks with what later became the lyrics to her 1988 debut breakout single “Buffalo Stance” (its music reworked by Bomb The Bass' Tim Simenon) – which reached the top 10 in eleven countries.

more tracks from the album

Raw Like Sushi

From the albums

Raw Like Sushi (1989)
NOW That’s What I Call Music! 15 [UK] (1989)

Neneh Cherry popular songs

ManchildNeneh Cherry

Neneh Cherry

Raw Like Sushi