With “Soso,” the eleventh track of his Boy Alone album, Omah Lay shares secrets about his current state of mind — mental health — at the time. He used fine undertone statements to “hide” what made him stay in the dark place for a very long time. Read along to understand the meaning of the “Omah Lay Soso” song.
Omah Lay Soso Meaning, Review
“Soso take my pain away” is some sort of mantra chanted repeatedly with the hope of getting rid of demons, depression, or general life problems. Lay could be seen in the visual of Soso crying to an African river god to help him get rid of his life problems because he had tried on his own, so was tired, dejected, and weak, and could no longer help himself.
Meanwhile, he would later reveal in an interview with Apple Music that “Soso” for him could be “money and sometimes, a very fine girl; Uniport babe or Unilag babe, those ones(sic) their head dey(sic) touch.” For Omah Lay, Soso does not have much spiritual significance.
Yet, it seems as though “Soso” could mean more than just money or fine babe. Although they may seem undertone, Lay was particularly spiritual about most of the visual statements he made in the music video for Soso.
From Black African dancers in black dancing around him while painting him different colors of paints, to him kneeling down in front of “an African masquerade” sort of pleading to IT to do something about his problems.
Then, there is the chorus. From the first verse all through to the outro of the song, the Soso take my pain away crooner tried to make people understand that he was haunted by his demons, which he couldn’t get rid of, as much as he had tried.
Now, Omah Lay isn’t worshiping a deity in the real sense of it. Instead, the visual statements he made in the music video represent his life problems which had pulled him down for so long. He tried to explain that he had prayed to God for help, taken some pain relievers (shots), cut his dreadlocks, and even tried to kill himself (take his own life).
Omah Lay Soso’s representation was undertone, yet very loud and clear. Take a look at his statements and all he said about his journey to trying to free himself from his demons.
“Ten shots, high rise…
Touch God, I cry…
Offshore, cut my
Dreadlocks
Girlie, me I don pray, maami…
One mind dey tell me to disappear, ‘pear…”
With Omah Lay Soso, he was convinced that only God (represented as Soso and the African River God & African Masquerade in the visual) could understand and take his pains away. Hence the lyrics;
“Shibiri, shibiri, shibiri
They are talking shit shibiri
Water no get enemy
‘Til you fall for Oshimiri
I poto, poto my eyes
Ten shots, high rise
Touch God, I cry
Offshore, cut my
Dreadlocks
Girlie, me I don pray, maami
I don break, commandment
I can’t stay for one place
For God’s sake, my bae
Come and ginger me
Only you dey feel my pains
Give me vitamins wey go take these pains away
Soso, oh, Soso, Soso, oh…”
By and large, “Soso” could mean “that Uniport babe and UniLag babe” Omah Lay talked about during his interview with Apple Music. Yet, it could still — also — mean God (a deity, god, or goddess) whom Omah had prayed to for so long and implored to help relieve him of his pains and anguish.
Soso is a spiritual song, highly spiritual. But, not in a bad way. Hence a lot of people were able to connect to the story the song was intended for. Talk about people going through depression, mental health problems, loneliness, helplessness, and suicidal thoughts. Omah Lay says you are not alone, he says Soso is for you and that you would win over your demons, eventually.
Meanwhile, Omah Lay Soso does not imply that Omah Lay has lost his way (sold his soul to the devil) nor does it imply that he now worships a deity or a god/goddess. Rather, Lay was trying to represent his state of mind at the time he recorded his Boy Alone album. Because sharing a piece of himself would help others going through the same phase in their lives understand that they are not ALONE.
Songwriting, sequencing, production, delivery, relatability, enjoyability, and play value are top-notch. So, keep streaming Soso by Omah Lay and keep living. You’re not BOY ALONE, Omah dey for you.
Now tell us what “Soso” means to you. Who do you think Omah Lay was referring to in the song to take away his pains? Share your thoughts about all those in the comments section.
