Homeless
Paul Simon Lyrics
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Silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
We are homeless, we are homeless
The moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
And we are homeless, homeless, homeless
The moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Zio yami, zio yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami amakhaza asengi bulele
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami, angibulele amakhaza
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami somandla angibulele mama
Zio yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
Too loo loo, too loo loo
Too loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo
Too loo loo, too loo loo
Too loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo
Strong wind destroy our home
Many dead, tonight it could be you
Strong wind, strong wind
Many dead, tonight it could be you
And we are homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Yitho omanqoba (ih hih ih hih ih) yitho omanqoba
Esanqoba lonke ilizwe
(ih hih ih hih ih) Yitho omanqoba (ih hih ih hih ih)
Esanqoba phakathi e England
Yitho omanqoba
Esanqoba phakathi e London
Yitho omanqoba
Esanqoba phakathi e England - ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Kuluman
Kulumani, Kulumani sizwe
Singenze njani
Baya jabula abasi thanda yo
Ho
The first verse of "Homeless" is sung in Zulu and translates to "We are sitting on the rocks, our father / We are sitting on the rocks, our father / We are sitting on the rocks, our father." This repetition of the lines emphasizes the idea of sitting idly with no home or purpose. The subsequent verses in English expand upon this theme of homelessness and vulnerability. The line "moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake" creates an eerie and melancholic imagery of a homeless person sleeping in the open, exposed to the elements.
The next verse in Zulu translates to "My eye, my eye, my heart / My heart is in pain, it doesn't stop hurting / My heart, my heart / My heart has no rest from the pain." This verse adds to the sense of hopelessness and emotional strain that the homeless experience. The repeated line of "strong wind, strong wind" suggests a sense of chaos and destruction, and the lines "Many dead, tonight it could be you" remind the listener that homelessness can be a matter of life and death.
The final repetitive lines of "Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih / Somebody sing hello, hello, hello / Somebody cry why, why, why?" suggests that there are people who do not understand the plight of the homeless and their struggles. The song ends with a call for unity and lifting each other up, with the Zulu line "Kuluman / Kulumani, Kulumani sizwe / Singenzenjani / Bayojabula abasi thanda yo" translating to "Hold together / Hold together, all nations / Regardless of race / They will be joyful who love one another".
Line by Line Meaning
Emaweni webaba
We find refuge under the trees, father
Silale maweni
We lie down under the trees
Webaba silale maweni
Father, we lie down under the trees
Homeless, homeless
We don't have a place to call home
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
The peaceful tranquility of the moonlight reflects on the lake amidst our homeless state
We are homeless, we are homeless
We reiterate that we don't have a place to call home
And we are homeless, homeless, homeless
Our homelessness is a harsh reality
Zio yami, zio yami, nhliziyo yami
My anger, my heart is troubled
Nhliziyo yami amakhaza asengi bulele
My heart is burdened with worries that give me no peace
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami, angibulele amakhaza
My heart, my heart, my heart, cannot bear these worries anymore
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami somandla angibulele mama
My heart, my heart, my heart, Lord, give me peace
Too loo loo, too loo loo
We hum a tune that soothes us
Strong wind destroy our home
The strong winds have ravaged our dwelling
Many dead, tonight it could be you
The disaster has claimed many lives and we could have been part of the fatalities
And we are homeless, homeless
We are truly without a home
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Someone is laughing hysterically
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Someone sings a song to greet another
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Someone is grieving and asking questions
Yitho omanqoba (ih hih ih hih ih) yitho omanqoba
The victory cry resounds
Esanqoba lonke ilizwe
The whole world celebrates the victory
Esanqoba phakathi e England
The victory is claimed in the midst of England
Esanqoba phakathi e London
The victory is claimed in the midst of London
Esanqoba phakathi e England - ih hih ih hih ih
The victory is claimed in the midst of England amidst laughter
Kuluman
The call to unity
Kulumani, Kulumani sizwe
Unite, unite the nation
Singenze njani
What shall we do?
Baya jabula abasi thanda yo
Those who love one another are happy
Ho
An expression of joy and enthusiasm
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon, Joseph Shabalala
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@caleb484
How one group can mesmerize thousands of people with their voices is amazing.
@oxalic6848
Will always remember how my son instantly stopped crying whenever I played Ladysmith Black Mambazo. RIP Joseph Shabalala.
@mxolisiernest8412
No one will ever replace him
@msasthole1779
Ziyolaki nsizwa madoda
@caleb484
@@mxolisiernest8412 one of Africa's greatest sons. Joseph was amazing
@NextSound170
Healing powers of Motherland.
@guruvoke4331
Used to listen to this song on our then state run radio station in Kenya called KBC.. This kinda music never grow old, i call it music for the soul.. Love from Kenya ๐ฐ๐ช
@sunnyotamereosaigbovoesq5202
Even if Joseph Shabalala had died having crossed a hundred years of age, I would still feel like he should have stayed a bit longer. Rest in perfect peace Prof. Joseph Shabalala-the Gentle Roaring Lion from Africa
@NextSound170
Admire my ancestors for attributing natureโs names to I N I self. One and all apart of the Earth
@moremimothupi467
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa6aaa7โต