Well Jo'anna she runs a country She runs in Durban and the Transvaal She makes a few of her people happy, oh She don't care about the rest at all She's got a system they call apartheid It keeps a brother in a subjection But maybe pressure will make Jo'anna see How everybody could a live as one Gimme hope, Jo'anna Hope, Jo'anna Gimme hope, Jo'anna 'Fore the morning come Gimme hope, Jo'anna Hope, Jo'anna Hope before the morning come I hear she makes all the golden money To buy new weapons, any shape of guns While every mother in black Soweto fears The killing of another son Sneakin' across all the neighbors' borders Now and again having little fun She doesn't care if the fun and games she play Is dang'rous to ev'ryone Oh, gimme hope, Jo'anna Gimme hope, Jo'anna Gimme hope, Jo'anna 'Fore the morning come Gimme hope, Jo'anna Gimme hope, Jo'anna Hope before the morning come She's got supporters in high up places Who turn their heads to the city sun Jo'anna give them the fancy money Oh, to tempt anyone who'd come She even knows how to swing opinion In every magazine and the journals For every bad move that this Jo'anna make They got a good explanation Oh, gimme hope, Jo'anna Gimme hope, Jo'anna Gimme hope, Jo'anna 'Fore the morning come Gimme hope, Jo'anna Gimme hope, Jo'anna Hope before the morning come