On “How Far”, Falz and Sir Dauda deliver a sobering reflection on Nigeria’s long and uneasy journey since independence. The song fuses soulful vocals with sharp social commentary, asking questions every Nigerian has asked at some point about why things remain the same despite endless promises of change. It speaks to hunger, corruption, poor leadership and the quiet frustration of citizens who keep hoping life will get better.
Someone told me long ago say life go better
Still we dey under the weather
Someone tell me how far?
And since 1960, we don dey waka
And even now sef we still dey the matter
How far?
How far?
I pray tell me how far?
Ah, why?
Why life for here just dey somehow?
Why some people no fit get food when dem wan chow?
Yet some people fit land jets for them compound, ha
Why that money no fit come round?
So when I need me sef I'll have some, on ground
Why children no fit go school, why dem dey unsound?
Why dem no fit fulfill their dreams as dem for like to?
And this rate of poverty lo ṣí high jú
(How far?)
Ha, dem say oil dey, o yẹ ká lowó gáan
But our leaders dem wise pass Solomon
Dem mismanage everything, wọn kàn dá'lú rú
Hey, giant of Africa, àwọn gàan ti wá ṣúbú
Poor man dey hustle, he dey find work
But the elites dey okay, dem dey buy stock
All man see, me sef no be say I shock
But I get questions, I need follow some guys talk
Someone told me long ago say life go better
Still we dey under the weather
Someone tell me how far?
And since 1960, we don dey waka
And even now sef we still dey the matter
How far?
Una tell me, how far?
Abeg tell me how far?
Someone explain to me, abeg, 'cause I no know how
To dey blow up towns don dey in vogue now
Abeg gimme the gist, gimme the low down
Shey na like this things suppose go down?
She don turn 53 but look am head to toe
Wetin she don achieve, wetin she get to show?
We still no get light, we still dey use gen
We still need more schools for the children
(How far?)
Area boys plenty, dem no see job
Why dem no go carry gun and begin rob?
Meanwhile Naija police, dem still dey beg for pay
Dem need deliverance, carry dem come pray
We don dey wait make things change but no show
We no progress, be like we dey for go slow
I for no talk like this if bomb no blow
If people no fight, if blood no flow
Someone told me long ago say life go better
Still we dey under the weather
Someone tell me how far?
And since 1960, we don dey waka
And even now sef we still dey the matter
How far?
Una tell me, how far?
Abeg tell me how far?
Crystal clear, everybody dey see
My people gbádúrà, my people réti
Some people don go, nítorí t'èmi and nítorí ti e, ah
So if fire no dey, walahi ko le si a fame
Mo ni crystal clear, everybody dey see
My people gbádúrà, my people réti
Some people don give up, sef
'Cause when we dey primary one, dem say make we lead and not to follow
Say when we grow up, we go be leaders of tomorrow
Shey tomorrow go come?
Shey dem go leave us, when?
'Cause the same set of people wey dey lead us then
Are still the same damn people wey dey lead us, mehn!
Dem say we go write the future, dem no give us pen
Give it up for VIPs, dem be our problem
Vagabonds in power, as Fela call them
But change go come, yeah, right, I know
Dem say dem dey lead but dem just dey do us wayo
Hunger dey waya guys for here, sotey their eyes red
Hunger show this guy pepper, sotey the guy shed
O ṣhi wa lojú títí all day, dey find bread
Na only hustle he know, na struggle dey inside him head
Guys try hard, dem dey hold tight for here
But condition's too harsh, e cold pass oye
Someone told me long ago say life go better
Still we dey under the weather
Someone tell me how far?
And since 1960, we don dey waka
And even now sef we still dey the matter
How far?
Una tell me, how far?
Abeg tell me how far?
