“Ire”: Goodness find people with good will

“Ire”: Goodness find people with good will

“Ire” is a word in Yoruba that translates to goodness. “Ire” could be short forms of given first names to Yoruba child, “Ireoluwa” which translates to the goodness of the lord. Ire could also be translated literally to words like good fortune, blessings, serendipitous positive outcomes. However, all are embodied in goodness!

There are norms in every relationship to family and society, with expectancy of fulfilling their responsibilities, diverse among different tribes. This could be seen clearly from different ways of greeting to a more generalized form of socialization. In Yoruba land, the phrase, “Every goodwill you do will seek you in return” expands the background of Ire by Adekunle Gold. This has become a backbone of people believing that the good would always find them in whatever situation they found themselves in. However, the ‘Ire’ song identifies that everything you are seeking is after you, it is only if you are aware of what you possess, you will find goodness.

The song is telling a story about someone who migrated in other to find better green pastures to keep up with life. Someone who wants to find his bearing of life and realize himself in trilling the ground for sustenance.

In verse 1, it could be concluded that the person was not satisfied with his state or standard of living, and he sought to migrate to a better place where could he could realize himself. Before he started his journey, he cut off all ties or relationships he had. So, they would never drag him to the dust or pull him down. Nevertheless, he did not realize that what he was looking for was with him already.

However, in verse 2, the person realized that it is only where you cultivated that you will harvest, he had migrated thinking he was going to make it in life, and soon be at the peak of his dreams only for him to realize that it was only imaginary.

Positively, the goodness of his goodwill is beckoning on him to come home and embrace his reality.

The music video shows Adekunle Gold walking back or reversing from one activity to another in slow-motion edits, performing at a party back to ministering at a church. It could be concluded that the song was all about Adekunle Gold and his journey to starting his music career.

There was a little girl that accompanied him in the music video, while at a particular scene she was no more, which explains the reason Adekunle Gold had dedicated the song to his late younger sister, who died in 2011, due to heart complications. Which implied that his sister was also part of the journey that made him realize himself to becoming a great singer.

The song story was told in melancholy mode, the song is epic that uses pastoral forms to narrate the journey of Life.

IMAGE OF ADEKUNLE GOLD

The following are communication theories that could be interpreted from the song, Ire. They include:

1. Cognitive Dissonance theory: In verses one (1) stanza five (5) and six (6), the character believes in breaking ties with people in order to avoid views that contradict his dreams of finding a green pasture after making the difficult decision.

2. Communication Accommodation theory: Adekunle sang the song in two languages, Yoruba and English. He had sung in Yoruba which could be inferred to the literal inspiration of the song lyrics, and then English language at some part for people to understand or relate to the song, who are not of Yoruba origin. This is a convergent mode of telling stories for a strong need for social approval.

3. coordinated management of meaning: The song was a story of someone’s life journey to achieve his dreams. Adekunle Gold was able to relate his songs with stories, so people could easily read meanings from the song and relate the knowledge to life activities.

4. cultural studies: It is clear that ‘Ire’ was of Yoruba cultural norm, the songs express goodness find those with goodwill.

5. narrative paradigm theory: Human beings are natural storytellers, And the story was debut in melancholy storytelling.

6. symbolic interaction theory: There were different stanza in the song lyrics that could read meaning to an actual form of interaction. In verse one (1) stanza one (1) and two (2), talks about founding a better place, verse one (1) stanza four (4), and five (5), talks about the character starting his life journey and breaking all ties, etc.

Song Lyrics:

{Verse 1} The grass is greener On the other side That’s what I thought Before I took the ride I burned my bridges So I’d never look Back But, if I had known The life I was searching for Was looking me right in the eye oh If I had known The life I was searching for Was already my own Ire nbe nile o (Goodness is at home) Ire ayo (Goodness)

{Chorus} Ire ire ire (Goodness Goodness Goodness) Ire ire ayo (Goodness) O npe mioo (Is calling out to me) O ni kin ma bo (It’s telling me to come back) O ni kin ma bo nile (It’s telling me to come back home) Ire ire ire (Goodness Goodness Goodness) Ire ire ayo (Goodness) O npe mioo (Is calling out to me) O ni kin ma bo (It’s telling me to come back) O ni kin ma bo nile (It’s telling me to come back home)

{Verse 2} The grass is greener Where you water the ground That’s what I found When I took the ride I realized the mountain I’ve been climbing Is nothing but sand I didn’t know I already had the answer No I didn’t know But, if I had known The life I was searching for Was looking me right in the eye If I had known The life I was searching for Was already my own

References:

i. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/music/260119-adekunle-gold-eulogises-late-sister-new-song-ire.html

ii. http://discoverafricanews.com/adekunle-gold-tells-life/

iii. https://thenativemag.com/adekunle-golds-ire-everything-need-hear-feel-better/

iv. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/music/260119-adekunle-gold-eulogises-late-sister-new-song-ire.html

v. https://www.yorubaname.com/entries/Ireolúwa#:~:text=Extended%20Meaning&text=To%20fully%20understand%20Ire%2C%20one,outcomes%20all%20wrapped%20in%20goodness

vi. https://www.indifferentlanguages.com/translate/yoruba-english/ire

vii. https://natirovibe.com/lyrics/adekunle-gold-ire-english-meaning/

viii. https://africangospellyrics.com/2018/02/26/ire-goodness-lyrics-by-adekunle-gold/

ix. https://talkglitz.media/download-mp3-adekunle-gold-ire/