Jack Parow’s latest music video showcases South Africa’s true heroes

Jack Parow’s latest music video is a wonderful tribute to all the workers in South Africa…and instead of using models or actors he features some of the country’s very real working heroes (see below).

This is a song that’s for anyone who works to make ends meet, who may hate their job but needs to pay the rent, who feels “a hand on your throat and it’s holding tight”. It’s for all South Africans who work hard, “whether you’re sweeping streets or you’re mowing lawns; whether jy meetings het of jy parties hou; whether jy suits aantrek of jy klere vou; whether you’re washing cars or washing clothes.”

Jack explained in a recent interview that he can relate to these workers and that they play a vital role in keeping the country together.

“I also come from working horrible jobs I hated, and when you are stuck in those jobs you always feel like you will never get out of them and it always feels so draining and difficult, so that’s why it’s an ode to the people who do those jobs, because without them this whole country would fall apart,” he said.

He confessed that making this video was “the hardest I’ve ever worked on a music video in my life!”

The video was filmed, directed and edited by Paul Ward and features Nonku.

Watch the video below as well as Jack’s conversations with the various workers who appear in the video (some of whom actually appreciate and enjoy their jobs).

Watch Video: Jack Parow – ODE TO YOU ft Nonku (OFFICIAL)

Watch Videos: Meeting the working class stars of the video…and South Africa

Jack Parow and Nonku met up with these working class heroes to find out more about their lives and jobs. Watch the behind-the-scenes segments here:

Lyrics from Ode to You – Jack Parow:

this is an ode to you, hate your job but the house needs food
you wanna quit, you wanna kill but the rent is due
push on through, hold on tight, fight the fight
there’s a hand on your throat and it’s holding tight

9 to 5, jy try, jy druk, jy hou styf vas
but you work for a boss and you hate his guts
jy voel stuck, maar onthou, ek’s hier vir jou

whether jy numbers punch of jy huise bou
yster klou, days too long, nights too short
you just went to sleep, then you’re back at work
if you’re up at night or you’re up at dawn

whether you’re sweeping streets or you’re mowing lawns
whether jy meetings het of jy parties hou
whether jy suits aantrek of jy klere vou
whether you’re washing cars or washing clothes

this is an ode to all the working class heroes

BTW – Jack Parow will be in Amsterdam next month!

After completing some gigs in South Africa, Parow will be heading over to Amsterdam:

– Doornroosje, Nijmegen on 12 September
– Smeerboel Festival, Utrecht on 13 September
– Patronaat, Haarlem on 14 September