The song reflects on the prevalence of depression and loneliness, highlighting the importance of caring for others.
Rwandan conscious music
Benjamin Byiringiro uzwi nka Ben B the Brave ni umuraperi w’umunyarwanda, umwanditsi w’indirimbo, n’umuhanzi mu bubyutse bw’umutimanama mu njyana ya Hip hop (conscious music). Yavutse ku itariki 05 Werurwe 1995 kuri Pierre Celestin SIMUGOMWA na Laurence NYIRAMINANI. Ni uwa gatatu ma bana bane.
Uretse gukunda kumva indirimbo zitandukanye kuri radiyo akiri umwana, Ben B yatangiye kuririmba yiga mu mashuri abanza aho yabarizwaga mu matsinda atandukanye nka Club anti Sida. Ubwo yari ari mu mwaka wa kabiri w’amashuri yisumbuye muri College Saint Jean Nyarusange nibwo yatangiye kwiyandikira indirimbo ze maze zikundwa cyane n’abanyeshuri ndetse n’abayobozi bituma abikomeza. Yatsinze amarushanwa atandukanye ahagarariye ibigo yigagaho kuko yakomereje icyiciro cyisumbuye muri Ecole Secondaire Saint Joseph Karuganda, kugeza ubwo yajyaga muri Kaminuza nkuru y’u Rwanda i Butare ari naho yamenyekniye cyane.
Ben B wemera ko Eminem ariwe muraperi w’ibihe byose ku isi ngo anamwigiraho byinshi muri Rap cyane cyane mu buryo bwo gukurikiranya amagambo ndetse no kujyana n’injyana mu buryo bwuzuye. Nyuma yo gushyira hanze indirimbo ze nka: “Kuva ku isi”, “Umukono”, yagiye agaragara mu bitaramo bitandukanye byabereye muri Grand Auditorium ya kaminuza y’u Rwanda ishami rya Huye arinako ashimangira ubuhanga bwe mu njyana y Hip hop. Yagiye agaragaza ubudasa kandi binyuze mu marushanwa azwi mu gihugu nka AFRIFAME VOX Season 1 na I CAN BE YOUR VOICE.
Mu buzima bwe busanzwe akunda gukora ibintu bishya, kwerera imbuto abandi. Yarangije icyiciro cya kabiri cya kaminuza muri Kaminuza y’uRwanda i Huye mu ishami ry’Igenamigambi ry’imijyi (Urban and Regional Planning).
Story behind the song
The song reflects on the prevalence of depression and loneliness, highlighting the importance of caring for others. It emphasizes the need to confront ones fears and take time to address personal issues, while also acknowledging the solace that can be found in simple places like a park bench.
Park Bench by Ben B the Brave captures the themes of introspection, connection, and the struggles individuals face with mental health, particularly depression and loneliness. The song encourages listeners to take a step back from their busy lives, to reflect on their emotions, and to seek genuine connections rather than relying solely on technology or superficial relationships. Amidst lifes challenges, the park bench serves as a symbol of refuge and a place of comfort where one can find peace away from troubles.
In the first verse, the lyrics prompt listeners to meditate on their well-being, indicating a desire for self-care and the recognition of mental health issues. Lines like Depression is real, that is true / Loneliness kills, caring is a virtue encapsulate the harsh realities many face but also advocate for empathy and kindness towards others. The metaphor of the truth is bitter signifies that facing ones problems can be tough but necessary, akin to taking medicine that may not taste good but is ultimately beneficial. The imagery of people escaping to parks to find friends highlights a common human experience: the search for solace and connection in nature as a way to cope with internal struggles.
The second part of the song weaves in cultural elements by incorporating a different languageKinyarwandaillustrating a sense of community and shared experiences, particularly in a familial context. The verses describe individuals who have faced hardships but find solace in familiar places like the park bench. This dual-language approach broadens the songs relatability across different cultures, suggesting that the themes of love, remembrance, and connection are universal. The lyrics also touch on the idea of vulnerability and trust, as the bench becomes a metaphorical gathering spot where people can open up about their experiences, regardless of their backgrounds.
Overall, Park Bench serves as a powerful reminder that amidst the chaos of life, its essential to prioritize mental health and to nurture relationships with others. The park bench symbolizes a safe havenan opportunity for reflection and reconnection. Through its relatable themes and rich metaphors, the song encourages listeners to confront their fears, embrace vulnerability, and find comfort in shared human experiences, ultimately suggesting that its through caring connections that one can navigate lifes challenges more effectively.
Lyrics
Ever took a time to meditate?
Over the weekends, do you take some rest?
Depression is real, that is true
Loneliness kills, caring is a virtue
So sad to see, people choose to trust nonhuman things
Too much deception among the friends
Conflicts made the young ones desperate
Just like medicine, the truth is bitter
But it saves the world better face your fear
We arе busy exploring, no time to waste
Can't wе take time to fix what we possess?
See some people are going outside
To escape their problems and issues of any kind
It is in that way many found new friend
You will find them sitting alone and away
Where peace belongs call it a park bench
Nta neza iba mu muryango we
Yakuze abe bamwambura ibye
Ntiyanduranyije ngo agawe
Guhangana ntibimubazwe
Yahisemo kwigira iyo
Kure ngo ahunge ibibazo
Mu busitani ahorayo
Yisanga kenshi kuri park bench
Iyo babara uko iminsi ihita
N'urukundo rwabo rukura
Urubyaro rubatera ishema
Bashima impano yo kurera
Bibukiranya ahahise
Bahura bakumburanye
Ntibibagirwa yantebe
Yabahuje kenshi ya park bench
Ntitwavuga amabanga ibitse
Izi byinshi inabirusha uwize
Ni inshuti igoboka uwayizeye
Yakira buri wese uko aje
Abapanga n'abamakuru
Ab'imari n'abarinda ibihugu
Bemera gusiga ibiro
Umugambi ukemerezwa kuri park bench
