Sade Apologizes to Transgender Son in “Young Lion,” First Song in 6 Years

Garden is back with her first song in six years, and it’s a touching apology to her transgender son. Isaac Adu.

On Friday, October 25, AIDS nonprofit Red Hot published Trance: Chooses, EP of selected songs from the upcoming Trancea large collection of songs aimed at bringing awareness to the transgender community, written by both allies and LGBTQ+ talent. Sade’s touching song “Young Lion” is a direct message to her son, who came out like a trance in 2016.

“Young man/ It was so hard for you/ You must have felt so alone,” she sings to her 28-year-old son on the track. “Anguish and pain/ I should have known/ With such a heavy burden/ You had to carry it all yourself.”

Sade, 65, convincingly asks for Isaac’s forgiveness, singing that she “should have known” who he was before.

In an interview with Rolling StoneAdu shared his reaction to the song. “Even though I had nothing to forgive her for, the words ‘Forgive me son, I should have known’ struck a chord,” he said. “My mother never tried to oppress the boy; I silently always knew that this was so. She always let me be myself.”

The song is an adaptation of a letter Sade gave to Adu on his 21st birthday. Although he considered the letter “personal,” he said “the world needs to hear it.”

“I think a song where a parent apologizes for misunderstanding their child could have a huge impact on the trans community,” Adu explained. “This song can serve as a beacon of hope and a reminder that parents can learn, grow and ultimately accept their children for who they truly are. I hope this can provide a sense of comfort, acceptance and a feeling of being seen and understood.”

According to the publication, Sade intervened after producer Massima Bell sent her a letter thanking her for supporting Isaac. “The support you publicly gave your son made a difference. I know that I would be able to cope with my own coming out easier if my family could see examples of support like yours,” Bell wrote, telling Sade that she was in a difficult situation. “uniquely positioned to help shape a narrative that supports and empowers transgender people.”

Full version Trance comes out November 22 and contains content from Andre 3000, Sam SmithSharon Van Etten, Fay Webster, Clairo, Julien Baker and others. The album will be divided into “chapters”, each of which will be dedicated to a song.

“We hoped to create a narrative that positions trans and non-binary people as leaders in our society as they do the deep inner work to affirm who they are in our current climate,” album producer Dust Reed wrote in a statement. “We felt it was something everyone should do. Whether you identify as transgender, non-binary, or something else, if you took the time to explore your gender, get in touch with the sensual side of yourself, perhaps our future would be centered on the values ​​of community, collaboration, caring, and healing “