Sade Apologizes to Her Transgender Son Izaak in 'Young Lion,' Her First New Song in 6 Years

Sade is back with her first song in six years, and it's a touching apology to her transgender son, Isaak Adu.

On Friday, Oct. 25, AIDS non-profit Red Hot released Transa: Selects, an EP of select songs from the forthcoming Transa, a larger compilation of songs that brings awareness to the transgender community written by both allies and LGBTQ+ talent. Sade's moving song "Young Lion" is featured, and it's a direct message to her son who came out as trans in 2016.

"Young man/ It's been so heavy for you/ You must have felt so alone," she sings to her 28-year-old son on the track. "The anguish and pain/ I should've known/ With such a heavy burden/ You had to carry all on your own."

Sade, 65, powerfully asks Isaak for forgiveness, singing that she "should've known" who he is earlier.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Adu revealed his reaction to the song. “Though there was nothing I needed to forgive her for, the lyrics ‘Forgive me, son, I should have known,’ struck a chord," he said. "My mum never tried to oppress the boy; I silently always knew I was. She always let me be me.”

The song is an adaptation of a letter Sade gave Adu on his 21st birthday. Although he saw the letter as "personal," he said that "the world must hear it."

“I think that a song where a parent apologizes for misunderstanding their child can hold immense significance for the trans community,” Adu explained. “This song may 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 it can offer a sense of comfort, validation and a feeling of being seen and understood."

According to the outlet, Sade got involved after producer Massima Bell sent her a letter thanking her for supporting Isaak. "The support you’ve publicly given your son has been transformative. I know that I would have had an easier experience navigating my own coming out if my family could have seen examples of support like yours," Bell wrote, telling Sade she's in a "unique position to be able to help shape a narrative that supports and uplifts trans people."

The full version of Transa comes out Nov. 22 and features contributions from André 3000, Sam Smith, Sharon Van Etten, Faye Webster, Clairo, Julien Baker and more. The album will be separated into "chapters," with a song to kick off the theme for each one.

"We hoped to create a narrative that positions trans and non-binary people as leaders in our society insofar as the deep inner work they do to affirm who they are in our current climate," album producer Dust Reid wrote in a statement. "We felt this is something everybody should do. Whether you identify as trans or non-binary or otherwise, if you took the time to explore your gender, get in touch with the feeling side of yourself, maybe we would have a future oriented around values of community, collaboration, care and healing."