[Slow melancholic country ballad in the style of Kenny Rogers. Warm husky male voice (Kenny Rogers style) on the English verses and choruses.
On the Arabic chorus only: female harmony duet with a high, emotional, crystalline voice like Dolly Parton. Very slow tempo (65-70 BPM), acoustic guitar, weeping fiddle, soft steel guitar, gentle desert atmosphere. Deeply sad, reflective and cinematic. Pure emotion and storytelling.]
[Structure:]
[Verse 1]
Born in Sidi Ifni where the Atlantic winds blow cold
A town that time forgot, with dreams that turned to stone
No jobs on the horizon, no projects coming through
Just young men waking up to skies of endless blue
[Chorus - English]
This is the life of Takoumba, son of a wounded land
Where hope gets swallowed by the sea and by the sand
He stayed behind with his old guitar and a heart full of rain
While all his friends took to the water, chasing life in vain
Oh Takoumba… my Takoumba
[Arabic Chorus]
تَاكُومْبَا
شَمْسُ الْمَسَاءِ تَأْبَى الْغُرُوبَا
قَدْ نَسِيَهَا الزَّمَانُ وَهِيَ تَسْكُنُ الْقُلُوبَا
وَبَقِيتَ وَحْدَكَ كَحَجَرِ الْوَادِي
وَحِيدًا تُغَنِّي الْجُرْحَ الَّذِي لَا يُشْفَى
إِلَّا إِذَا غَنَّى إبْنُ الْجَنُوبِ
تَاكُومْبَا
[Verse 2]
His whole generation packed their bags in the dead of night
Climbed on fragile boats beneath the pale moonlight
Searching for the work, the hope, the future they never knew
Some never reached the other shore, lost beneath the waves
But Takoumba stayed, singing what the ocean couldn’t save
[Chorus - English]
This is the life of Takoumba, son of a wounded land
Where hope gets swallowed by the sea and by the sand
He stayed behind with his old guitar and a heart full of rain
While all his friends took to the water, chasing life in vain
[Arabic Chorus - repeat, more emotional]
تَاكُومْبَا
شَمْسُ الْمَسَاءِ تَأْبَى الْغُرُوبَا
قَدْ نَسِيَهَا الزَّمَانُ وَهِيَ تَسْكُنُ الْقُلُوبَا
وَبَقِيتَ وَحْدَكَ كَحَجَرِ الْوَادِي
وَحِيدًا تُغَنِّي الْجُرْحَ الَّذِي لَا يُشْفَى
إِلَّا إِذَا غَنَّى إبْنُ الْجَنُوبِ
تَاكُومْبَا
[Bridge]
The Tuareg know his name, the Songhai hear his call
But back in Ifni the streets stay silent, nothing changes at all
[Final Chorus - mix, very slow and emotional]
This is the life of Takoumba, a man who chose to stay
Holding the broken heart of Ifni every single day
Every note a quiet prayer for the brothers who sailed away
تَاكُومْبَا
شَمْسُ الْمَسَاءِ تَأْبَى الْغُرُوبَا
إِلَّا إِذَا غَنَّى إبْنُ الْجَنُوبِ
تَاكُومْبَا
[Outro - fading]
Oh Takoumba… Takoumba's Evening Sun…
Style: Extremely melancholic, heartfelt, storytelling country ballad like Kenny Rogers. Warm husky voice, emotional delivery, sad and reflective atmosphere, slow tempo around 65-70 BPM, acoustic instruments only, no upbeat elements.
TACOMBA
