PANOS BIRBAS AND THE NILE BEAT ARTISTS – THE FIGHTER

‘’The Fighter’’ is the first single from the upcoming album “Big House.”
" The album was recorded mostly — and under very special circumstances — in the city of Jinja, Uganda, together with a group of local musicians called the “Nile Beat Artists.” It was completed in Athens with a little help from my fellow musicians - compañeros
I spent 16 months in Uganda, during the process of adopting my child.

Through the lyrics and melodies of these songs, you can hear my child’s story, but also the voices and struggles of millions of other children.
This album is dedicated to my son Konstantinos and also to Alex, Iasonas, Maria, Ioanna, Alexandros, Danny and to all the little fighters — the children who, in the face of hardship, never stop fighting, never stop smiling and survive ."

C R E D I T S


Lyrics & Music: Panos Birbas


Produced / Arranged / Recorded by Panos Birbas at the core (Jinja, Uganda) and Big House Studio (Athens, Greece)


Mixed and mastered by Yiannis Christodoulatos at Sweetspot Productions
Edited by Panos Birbas


Published by Hidden Track Records 2025


Vox / Classical Gtr / Synth / Djembe / Congas / Shaker : Panos Birbas
Vocals : Lola Giannopoulou, Konstantinos, Ioanna and Maria
El. Bass : Yoel Soto
Trumpet : Sotiris Pepelas
Violin : Charalampos Paritsis
Accordion : Dasho Kurti
Washboard / Shaker / Tambourine : Daphne Svania


The Nile Beat Artists:


Long Drum : Walusimbi Haruna
Long Drum : Baliraine Joseph
Small Drum : Okikor Kussama
Embuutu Drum : Kalogo Wilson
Low Pitch Drum : Takubyaku Cosmas
Metallic Shakers : Mpiina Robert
Tamenhaibuga Drum : Namansa Mawazi

Footage provided by Waiswa Kevin Muzaale
Video edited by Alkis Dadinopoulos

Special Thanks to Giolanda Pierrakea and pexels.com (additional footage)


Lyrics

On the corner where the dirt meets the concrete glow
I played with a smile, I healed all my wounds
Every scrape on my knees, told a story of fight
In the silence of hope, I’m ready to shine

I’m more than a fighter in this hard dusty land
with the strength of my heart, I’m learning to stand
in the jungle of dreams, I swing from the trees
with the roar of the lions, I dance in the breeze

Every scar tells a story, in a world so unkind
with every little bruise, I lit up the night
through the battles I fought, I’ve learned how to love
when the skies are grey, I’m a star up above

I’m more than a fighter in this hard dusty land
with dreams in my pocket and stars in my eyes
every tear I’ve shed like rain on the ground
I’m a flower growing, I’ll never back down

Lalala, Lalala...

I’m a child from the land, where the sun always shines
with a heart full of hope, I can weather the times
In the fields of green where the wild rivers flow
I chase down the sunset where I’ve always belonged

I’m more than a fighter in this hard dusty land
in the jungle of life my race just began
I’m a flower growing strong in the heart of storm
in this desert world where my dreams were born

Lalala, Lalala...

So here’s to the fighters, the lost and the brave
together will rise , we’ll learn love and save
From the dirt of the street to this life that I lead
my heart is a fighter and love is my creed.

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/album/28FQU3...