Omah Lay - soso (Afrobeats Translation: Lyrics and Meaning)

This video is to help you understand the meaning behind the song soso by @OmahLay. Afrobeats and West African music may be easier for some to understand when translated and explained. I hope you enjoy!

Refer to the official music video in the following link:

[simbihawt]

Omah Lay's personal definition of soso in an interview:

"When I was making the song, the only thing that came to my mind was Soso. I don't know why. I could have easily said alcohol, cognac, or smoke, or weed, or something that helps ease my pain but I decided to call Soso, I don't know why. And it kinda makes a lot of sense that it's Soso.

Soso most of my time is money. Honestly, I can't even lie. Soso a lot of the time is money. But sometimes too, it could be girl. Very fine girl. Uniport babe or Unilag babe. Those girls, their head dey touch. I like those girls die."

He later said:

"Soso could mean anything to you, but it's the name of a girl. It's a Port Harcourt name; a Kalabari girl's name. When I say, ‘Soso, take my pain away’, I want her to come and dance for me. Let her come and do whatever she can do for me, and take this pain away. She’s not my girl. She’s my friend's little sister, but she grew up, boom, and she started doing stuff, man. She just grew up on Snapchat and Instagram and just started doing things. The melody on ‘Soso’ is spirit; it’s Highlife. When I listen to those old highlife singers, it feels like they get their melodies from the spirit themselves. And that's where I always want to tap from. I made sure that I connected with my ancestors."

Hope this helps!!

[omotosobabajide]

This song is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard all my life, very deep, very soulful, very emotional, dude was really in another planet when he composed this .

[ip-Man-Handle]

Water doesn't have an enemy untill you get drowned by it. That's the interpretation from Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Good job dear

[magalieaugustin]

The rythme of this song is very contagious, cannot stop watching the video, depression is very deep, looking for professional help is very important before worst happens 😌

[DenisTravels]

I am a Zimbabwean 🇿🇼 and I absolutely love Nigerian music. I thought Soso is a god .

[Prince_of_Winterfell]

This song is more about him fucking up and dreading the consequences of his misstep. This song is a cry for help from a person scared of a Cult or a mafia.

[peteroluebube]

You have explained the song from your own perspective, but Darling, that song "SOSO" has a deep meaning which is above your comprehension. THANKS
Just passing and decided to comment.

[richardbritto]

Omah lay is a boss he made me take afrobeats more serious as a genre ofmusic that was never in my since this song I only listen to afro beats wizkid is my original artist but now omah lay has taken his spot

[victoribekwe]

Poto poto one’s eyes in this sense isn’t literally as you explained, it is figuratively for drinking alcohol, like getting drench or dazed by alcohol. Stuff people take when they want to forget their pain or sorrow. He also provided more info when he said ten shots, give info to the amount he drank

[Saitaga]

You've done justice to this song and really brought out the message from the depths of Omah Leys heart.
Your new follower from Kenya.

[AlphaKing-xn]

You really did justice to the lyrics of the song but to shade more light to the meaning of the lyrics, where he said I don pray oma nme actually means that I have prayed and it won't happen ( oma nma is Igbo language and oshimiri is also Igbo language which means ocean, he's literally saying that water has no enemy till you fall into ocean and potopoto in Igbo language means mud and in the Eastern part of Nigeria when you say I potopoto my eyes , that simply means I'm very high on something, it might be alcohol weed drugs on something else. Thank you

[otusamuel]

What I can say is that he is trying to pass out a massage for the deep minded people and he is telling us that he has involved in things that are deep he trying to tap from Ancestoral roots

[annetteduah]

So proud of the channel you've created to bridge the song and actual meaning to the active listener. Great idea! Long live afrobeats!🇳🇬🇬🇭

[wilsonailen]

The sense wey u take navigate this song ehnnn, I respect. At a time I de pray make u no do this song.

[MrGivesuccess]

i love this song and the dances that it created! I am 57 yo and still try my best to keep moving!

[seglord]

Wonderful, I didn't understand this song before now until you gave this thorough explanation of the lyrics....I gave thumbs up in appreciation and i subscribed to your channel as well.

[franklynimonah]

Well done my dear, you did well. But your interpretation is about 68% correct.

My dear, soso by omah lay is veeeery deep. With deep spiritual and occultic meaning. From the lyrics, to the video, to the custume and what have you.

[ronaldoguedes]

I understood that soso might be the ones who feel his pain. Like the person who knows him deeply. That's the kind of characters that can really help us through some deep problems.

[Dxtro]

Just found your page and absolutely love it. Even as a Nigerian, there's part of the songs I don't understand, so it's great to hear you talk about the meaning of these songs.

A few notes here:
- When he talks about 'oshimiri', it's not just the river goddess. He's talking about mermaids (more specifically what we call maami water). So, 'water no get enemy, till you fall for Oshimiri' is more like everyone loves water until you fall for a mermaid (maami water)'. Obviously, 'water no get enemy' is also a refrence to Fela's song of the same name.

- When he says 'I poto poto my eyes', it's a double entendre. So yes he's crying, but also, he's talking about getting drunk and high. The 'dirty eye' here is redness from alcohol/weed. That's why the next line is 'ten shots' and 'high rise' until he 'touch God'.

Other than that. Love the video and your work in general

[TatiaunahC]

It's a beautiful song and you can tell it's very emotional... now knowing the lyrics ... it makes it even more emotional and heartbreaking 💔