Deep Forest

I fell in love with the music of Deep Forest when I heard their debut album in 1993, Deep Forest. I bought that album on cassette and wore it out from playing it so much and years later bought the CD. Their best album to me was their first one, though I have liked some of the singles I have heard from their later albums too.

The first album always put me in a spiritual place and made me contemplate the world and its conditions. The Earth's splendor and beauty. Yet this music also made me more aware of the struggle of people all over the world oftentimes not even mentioned in the news at all. From Africa, to Australia, to Asia, to India and beyond. Even small little islands we never hear about.

The first album made me think of the "modern world" i.e technology, industries, drilling, mining, the cutting down of numerous rainforests worldwide and the way it has pushed its way into the "old world" and its indigenous people. Yet the album ends in such a positive way, it also gave me hope, joy, peace and sometimes bittersweet sadness, yet faith. At the end of the day it is One World. Here's a sampling:

Sweet Lullaby (1st Version)


Sweet Lullaby (2nd version)


From deepforestmusic.com:

The lyrics are from the Solomon Islands (small islands north of Australia).

(Solomon Dialect Based on English)
Sasi sasi o to aro aro
O angi si nau boroi amu
Ni ma oe e fasi korona
Dolali dasa na, lao dai afuimae
Afuta guau mauri, Afuta wela inomae

Sasi sasi ae o angisi nau
Boroi nima oe e fasi koro na
Dolali dasa na, lao dai afuimae
Afuta guau mauri, Afuta wela inomae

Young brother, young brother you be quiet
Although you are crying to me
Your father has left us
He has gone to the place of the dead
Protect the head of the living, Protect the orphan child

Young brother, young brother hey? Although you are crying to me
Your father has left us
He has gone to the place of the dead
Protect the head of the living, protect the orphan child

Interpreting the Song:

This interpretation and lyrics come from one very old lady, living in Fataleka (one of the Solomon Islands), as translated by her grandchildren. The song is said to be very old and hence the new generation does not understand every word.

The song is about a young child crying because he does not see his father with the family. In response his elder sister sung this song to comfort as well as tell him the reality, with an appeal for their deceased father to protect this child in the land of the living (local ancient belief is that the dead care for loved ones they left behind).

The old woman also said that the sample, if listened to carefully, used some words and sounds that were added to make it sound more melo. Expression of some words twice, as well pronounciation of most of the words are different from that of normal conversation. Eg. 'O' should be OE', Angiangi should be angisi. This is very common with local traditional songs.

Deep Forest


Deep Forest (A Mini-Film by Don Letts)


"Somewhere,
Deep in the jungle,
Are living some little men and women,
They are our past,
And maybe,
Maybe they are our future... "

These words have stayed with me to this day.