1. |
Mtoni
01:59
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Mother of the living waters,
Carry our troubles away,
Take all of those who would harm us,
Smile upon us as we pray.
See how they took from our land,
They even took you away.
Come back to us Mami Wata,
Take all our troubles away
Come back to us Mami Wata,
Let it flood let it rain.
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2. |
Fireplay
02:45
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Don't look in the fire too long,
Or else you might see him,
He will sing you his sad song,
You won't resist it.
Don't play with fire my dear,
I've always told you,
Seems like you never learn,
He'll come for you.
Don't give him a name my darling,
He won't let go of you,
If he should stay my darling,
He will take hold of you.
If only,
(playing with fire)
You could see what I see,(you could see what),
(playing with fire)
If only you could see what I see,
(playing with fire)
If only ,You could see what I,
(playing with fire)
See.
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3. |
Macheo
03:30
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Usishangae unavuna ulichopanda shauri yako.
(Don't be surprised you are reaping what you sowed. Woe unto you)
Mbona macho, macho mapana, hapo awali mlijifanya popo.
(Why are you wide eyed, when you previously pretended to be bats)
Rinaika Jogolo, Nairobi nahula mizinga ha!
(find a Giriama person to translate this for you properly. This verse alludes to the cock crowing at dawn and the start of a journey and psyching up for the journey ahead )
Acha nyumbu avuke Mara hata mamba wakitazama.
(Let the wildebeest cross the Mara even if the crocodiles are watching)
Achaneni na mitandao nenda kavune mlichopanda.
(stop going [gossiping] on the internet and go reap what you sowed.)
Rinaika jogolo, rinaika jogolo. Nairobi nahula mizinga ha!
Haiya rero haiya, na zilale koma ha!
Haiya, kuna mwana wa simba ,
nahirika mizinga sijali.
(for proper translation reach out to a Giriama person. this section is paying homage to the ancestral spirits before embarking on a journey and singing self praises to psyche one self for the journey ahead)
Kavikale!
Huo hahe huo!
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4. |
Mwana wa Gorofa
03:22
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Don't Keep me waiting,
Just give me what belongs to me.
And I'll be on my way,
I will return to the ocean.
You stick to red and I'll stick to blue,
Just be sure to tell yourself the truth.
Nitarudi kwangu Baharini, (I will go back to my ocean)
Nikizama huku mi sitoki, (Once I submerge I will not leave)
Unalia nini, (What are you crying for)
Machozi sipendi, (I don't like tears)
Wewe mwana wa gorofa (You child of storey buildings)
Yes I can smell a storm again.
It's time to chase a hurricane.
This feels like home, it feels like . . .
You kept me waiting,
Now I must return to the ocean.
Nitarudi kwangu Baharini,
Nikizama huku mi sitoki,
Unalia nini,
Machozi sipendi,
Wewe mwana wa gorofa
Nitarudi
Kwangu baharini
Machozi sipendi mimi.
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5. |
Retrograde
03:02
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Vulcan,
Father,
Don't let me down don't let me down,
Make it, hotter, let's burn it all down to the ground.
If it's war you want,
War is what you'll get.
You can't take the crown,
From a ram's head.
Vulcan, don't let me down.
Make it hotter, let's burn it all down.
Yemoja,
Our mother,
Don't let me down don't let me down,
Take me , to water,
When every thing is said and done.
If it's war you want,
War is what you'll get.
You can't take the crown,
From a ram's head.
If it's war you want,
War is what you'll get.
You can't take the crown,
From a Aries' head.
Vulcan,
Father,
Don't let me down don't let me down,
Yemoja,
Our mother,
Don't let me down don't let me down,
Make it, hotter,
Let's burn it all down to the ground.
Take me , to water,
When every thing is said and
done.
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6. |
Cry me a river
04:31
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You told me you want my love oh
and it's what you turned your back on
cry me a river.
cry me a river.
You thought you would have your fun
then run back into my arms
cry me a river.
cry me a river.
Maybe you should make yourself useful to me one last time and
cry me a river.
cry me a river.
Baby boy oh
cry me a river
Like the Amazon
or the Great Nile
like the Volta.
Cry me a river.
Lia machozi nipikie chai. (Cry tears so I can brew tea)
Lia machizi niende shambani. (cry tears so I can go farm)
Lia machozi nitateka maji. (cry tears I'll fetch the water)
Lia kama mvua ya Budalangi. (cry like the rain from Budalangi)
You told me you want my love oh
and it's what you turned your back on
cry me a river.
cry me a river.
You thought you would have your fun
then run back into my arms
cry me a river.
cry me a river.
cry me a river.
Baby boy oh
cry me a river
Like the Amazon
or the Great Nile
like the Volta.
Cry me a river.
Baby cry me a river.
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7. |
Old friend
03:51
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I knew you were coming,
I always knew,
So I sat around,
And I waited for you.
But you took your sweet time,
Now I feel alive,
And I don't want to go.
ah
The sound of your voice,
It shatters my soul,
It's like ten thousand angels
Singing in contrary motion.
How deep you are just like the ocean.
I tried to run,
Far away from you,
But you're all around.
I can't escape,
There's a thousand ways to meet you,
I close my eyes ,
I see you,
so in time . . .
you will be mine . . .
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8. |
Blowing kisses
04:07
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I took a chance
I blew you kisses
And you blew them right back
Now here we are
Underneath the stars
Your hand in my hand
What a perfect night
To be blowing kisses
Drown me in those eyes
Don't want to survive
(drown me in those eyes)
(and blow me kisses)
I took a chance
(she took a chance)
I blew you kisses
(and she blew you kisses)
And you blew them right back
I didn't see it coming
Hit me like a truck
Then like a gentle breeze
I feel like a rose
Swaying with the wind
Drown me in those eyes
Don't want to survive
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9. |
Gari ya moshi
03:49
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Tamaa, (desire)
Taswira yake imenizidi, (the thought of it overwhelms me)
Labda safari itanifaa , (maybe a journey will be good for me)
labda itanipa utulivu, (maybe it will give me peace)
Nasikia sauti, (I hear a sound)
Gari ya moshi, (train)
Inaenda sana, (moving with momentum)
Nibebe, (carry me)
nirudishe nyumbani, (take me back home)
Rudi rudi rudia, (Go back, go back, repeat)
rudia nipate usalama, (Repeat so that I feel safety)
Nilidhani Upweke unanifaa, (I thought loneliness suited me)
lakini upweke umenizidi, ( but loneliness has overwhelmed me)
Nasikia sauti,
Gari ya moshi,
Inaenda sana,
Nibebe,
nirudishe nyumbani,
Lia, lia, tulia, (cry, cry , calm down)
Dunia kafanana jahanamu, (the world now resembles hell)
Kovu nazo zajifichua, (and scars are now revealing themselves)
Labda safari itanifaa (maybe a journey will be good for me)
Nasikia sauti,
Gari ya moshi,
Inaenda sana,
Nibebe,
nirudishe nyumbani,
Gari ya moshi inaenda sana,
Nibebe! (carry me)
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10. |
Kingika - growing pains
04:43
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Comfort me
Maseningoa mama ningija hinafa,
Mbeleva zangu,
Maseningoja,
(for proper translation reach out to members of the Pokomo community. This verse alludes to a woman expressing the pain of carrying a child and labour)
Hoiye,
Nibebe (Carry me)
Sijiwezi (I am unable to handle myself)
Comfort ye
My people comfort ye
Comfort me
My people comfort me
Hoiye,
Nibebe
Sijiwezi
Maseningoa mama ningija hinafa,
Mbeleva zangu,
Maseningoja.
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11. |
Domo Domo
02:46
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Watu wengine lao domo domo tu (some people just love to flap their
traps)
Kuchunguza maneno yasiyo wahusu (investigating things that do not
concern them)
Watu wengine lao ni udaku (Some people love gossip)
Midomo yao haichoki katu (their mouths do not get tired ever)
Watu wengine lao ni udaku (Some people love gossip)
Midomo yao hawafyati katu (their mouths never shut up ever)
Watu wengine lao domo domo tu.
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12. |
Tinnitus
03:36
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Nabalayo Nairobi, Kenya
Nabalayo is a Nairobi-based music maker, illustrator and East African Griot.
Her music is
composed in the Changanya genre that she pioneered.
The music she makes is ethereal, combining light airy vocals with complex African idioms and heavy electronic sounds to give her listeners an experience that is out of this world.
... more
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