Song of the Week - 'Wavin' Flag' by K'Naan as featured on Austin City Limits

I had something else picked out for this week's Song of the Week, but after viewing K'Naan on the Austin City Limits and hearing the version of 'Wavin' Flag', I was moved.  I had to share this song.  I might be a sappy little b sometimes with movies.  Especially the scene in Good Will Hunting where the Ben Affleck character goes to pick up Will and he's not there.  It gets me every time.  However, I'm rarely moved by hearing a song, especially on the very first listen.  As the moment brewed in front of me watching K'Naan, it was definitely a great musical moment that I knew I needed to share.

I downloaded the original 'Wavin' Flag' from iTunes, back in 2009.  If I remember it correctly, it was a free song of the week via iTunes.  I liked it right away, and it started getting some heavy play in one of my best of play lists.  The lyrics for the original version are somewhat uplifting, but I didn't really get the reference of how he would be like a waving flag.

Original version of 'Wavin' Flag' by K'Naan


So, last night, watching the Austin City Limits  version at first I was stumped.  K'Naan seemed off, seemed shy, and the track was just not starting too well.  Then after getting the crowd into his solo intro, the song itself was started.  The intro lyrics were fantastic; you really understood some of his plight, leaving Somalia as a child and his families struggles as immigrants.

(excerpt from K'Naan - 'Wavin' Flag')

When I get older, they'll call me freedom, 

Just like a waving flag

I said When I get older, they'll call me freedom

Just like a wavin' flag

When I get older, I will be stronger

they'll call me freedom, Just like a waving flag

When I get older, I will be stronger

they'll call me freedom, Just like a waving flag

I got off the plane, in America

Feeling insane, in America

It was me & my brother, sister and mother

and then it hit me, right in the kidney

where are my friends and why aren't they with me

But I will make it, and rep you strictly

Remember how we heard about

New York City

Well that’s where I am, we moved to Harlem

Until the I.N.S. gave us a problem

We had to sneak up, unto the ? duct

Toronto eats up, police got me cuffed

that was the 90’s, I started writing

Open my 'ciphering, ‘til my skills brighten

If it wasn't bling bling, then it was N'SYNC

I started thinking, I remember singing

When I get older, I will be stronger,

they’ll call me freedom, just like a waving flag

 
'Wavin' Flag' by K'Naan on Austin City Limits

Watch the full episode. See more Austin City Limits.

After watching the interview, you really begin to understand the waving flag reference. In Somalia, without much actual writing or reading, the symbolism is so much stronger and in this case representing freedom as a waving flag!

Interview with K'Naan

Watch the full episode. See more Austin City Limits.

'Wavin' Flag' was featured with the world cup and was also remixed with Will.i.am & David Guetta




I don't know much else of the K'Naan story, so you'll have to check the links yourself!:

K'naan or knaanmusic.ning.com

For more ACL try: tools-to-enjoy-more-music-austin-city

to buy the original 'Wavin' Flag' by K'Naan try itunes
although for $7.99 you get quite a bundle with remixes and the video troubadour

Enjoy!