Sade’s tender home movie music video for ‘Young Lion’ celebrate her transgender son
The recent TRAИƧA Compilation is a 46-track 8 chapter Red Hot charity album that took took over 3 years to produce and features over 100 artists, including Sam Smith, Hunter Schafer, Clairo, Andre 3000, Anohni, Faye Webster, Adrianne Lenker, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Yaeji, Bill Callahan, Jeff Tweedy, Claire Rousay, Kara Jackson, Moses Sumney, Julien Baker, SOAK, and many many more.
Sade’s contribution is the reclusive soul artist’s first song in six years, and the project, song ‘Young Lion’ and the newly-released video is highly personal, unusual for an artist normally so private.
‘Young Lion’ is a tribute to her trans son Izaak Adu’s journey, set to family home movies through the years to present day, as Sade sings of regret, an apology from the mother and artist, who did not full comprehend the journey her son has been. She sounds very supportive and understanding now though.
It’s very sweet, and a bit of a tearjerker, taken together with the video, directed by Sophie Muller.
Izaak thanked Sade for the song and video on Insta saying
“Mumma, thank you for doing this… It is so important to me, and I believe it will be to many others, too. Thank you for always giving me the freedom to be ME and fiercely loving me through it all. I couldn’t do it without you. You’re incredible. I Love you more than words can say.”
Sade announced her contribution to TRAИƧA with the words:
Trans people have always existed, with many different names across time and culture, often as spiritual healers and leaders. As global systems continue to fail humanity and all life on Earth, the journey taken by trans people – and all peoples who have been oppressed – is a blueprint of possibility. May this be a glimpse of our collective liberation, and the light inside all of us.
Lyrics:
Young man
It’s been so heavy for you
You must have felt so alone
The anguish and pain
I should have known
With such a heavy burden
You had to carry all on your own
Forgive me son
I should have known
So close your eyes
Arms open wide
And feel the light
Arms open wide
You shine like a sun
Shine like a sun
Young gun
See how far you’ve come
You were hiding down
Where you almost drowned
Then a light like yours
We can’t put out
You shine like a sun
Shine like a sun
Young gun
So run down the mountains
Run down the hills of your dreams
You are everything
You have everything you need
So run down the mountains
Arms open wide
Run down the hills of your dreams
Arms open wide
Feel the light
Shine like a sun
Young gun
See how far you’ve come
