Signed to XL Recordings, they released the Oya EP in June 2014 which also includes the song River. Mama says was released in November, extracted from their eponymous Richard Russell produced album launched in February 16th, 2015. A third song from "Ibeyi", Ghosts, was promoted in January 2015 before they embarked on an extensive European and US Tour.
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Oyá
Ibeyi Lyrics
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If I don't feel you
Even if I see the most beautiful thing up in the sky
If I don't see you
Take me oya, take me oya
Take me oya, take me oya
Catch the cloud, if I don't see you
Even if I feel the sun on my skin everyday
If I don't feel you
Take me oya, take me oya
Take me oya, take me oya
Toi, le soleil, l'Uni, toi qui parles à mon coeur
Toi, le soleil, l'Uni, mais qui pars sans moi
Toi qui pars sans moi
Take me oya, take me oya
Take me oya, take me oya
Oya Wemilloro e
Oya Wemilloro e
Oya Wemilloro e
Oya Wemilloro e
Oya Wemilloro e
The song "Oya" by Ibeyi talks about the overwhelming feeling of missing someone or something that is essential in one's life. The song suggests that even if everything else in life is going well, it may not feel complete without the presence of the person they are missing. The lyrics suggest that even if the sun is shining, and everything else in life is beautiful, it may not matter if the person they miss is not there to share it with them. The repetition of the line "Take me Oya" implies that the singer is requesting for Oya to take them away to reunite with the person they are missing.
The final lines of the song are in Yoruba dialect which is spoken in Nigeria, and it is a direct reference to the Yoruba deity, Oya. In Yoruba mythology, Oya is the goddess of change, wind, and storms. She is known to bring about change and transformation. This suggests that the singer is invoking the goddess of change to help them reunite with the person they are missing.
Line by Line Meaning
Even if I feel the sun on my skin everyday
Even if I experience moments of joy and happiness every day
If I don't feel you
If I am not able to connect with you emotionally
Even if I see the most beautiful thing up in the sky
Even if I witness the most beautiful moments in life
If I don't see you
If I am unable to share those moments with you
Take me oya, take me oya
Help me find my way towards emotional fulfillment
Even if my hand's skin catch the wind
Even if I feel the wind and its freedom
Catch the cloud, if I don't see you
I cannot experience true happiness without you
Toi, le soleil, l'Uni, toi qui parles à mon coeur
You, the sun, the universe, you speak to my heart
Toi, le soleil, l'Uni, mais qui pars sans moi
You, the sun, the universe, but you leave me behind
Take me oya, take me oya
Help me find my way towards emotional fulfillment
Oya Wemilloro e
Oya, the Orisha of change and transformation
Oya Wemilloro e
Oya, the Orisha who reigns over storms and wind
Oya Wemilloro e
Oya, the Orisha who helps to bring about positive change
Oya Wemilloro e
Oya, the Orisha who can guide us towards emotional fulfillment
Oya Wemilloro e
Oya, the Orisha who can help us navigate the winds of change in life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: LISA KAINDE DIAZ, NAOMI DIAZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind