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.
http://www.ibeyi.fr
The River
Ibeyi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I will come to your river
I will come to your river
Come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
Carry away my dead leaves
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Sink my pains and complains
Let the river take them, river drown them
My ego and my blame
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Those all means are so ashamed
Let the river take them, river drown them
Come to your river
I will come to your river
I will come to your river
Come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
Wash my soul again
Carry away my old leaves
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Sink my pains and complains
Let the river take them, river drown them
My ego and my blame
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Those all means so ashamed
Let the river take them, river drown them
Come to your river
I will come to your river
I will come to your river
Come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
Wash my soul again
Wemile Oshun
Oshun dede
Alawede Wemile Oshun
Moolowo beleru yalode moyewede
Wemile Oshun
Oshun dede
Alawede Wemile Oshun
Moolowo beleru yalode moyewede
Wemile Oshun
Oshun dede
Alawede Wemile Oshun
Moolowo beleru yalode moyewede
Wemile Oshun
Oshun dede
Alawede Wemile Oshun
Moolowo beleru yalode moyewede
The song "The River" by Ibeyi is about finding redemption through the cleansing power of water. The singer implores the listener to guide them to the river, where they can wash away their sins and let go of their past mistakes. The repetition of "Come to your river" emphasizes the importance of this journey and the need for spiritual renewal.
Throughout the song, the singer uses powerful imagery to convey the cleansing power of water. They ask the river to "carry away my dead leaves" and "sink my pains and complaints," showing the desire to release burdens and find peace. They also ask the river to take their "ego and blame" and "shame," indicating a willingness to let go of pride and embrace humility.
The song is not just about personal redemption, but also about a connection to spirituality and ancestry. The last verse includes the Yoruba chants of "Wemile Oshun" and "Oshun dede," which refer to the goddess Oshun, who is associated with freshwater and represents feminine power and beauty. The use of these chants shows a nod to Ibeyi's Afro-Cuban heritage and the influence of spirituality in their music.
Overall, "The River" is a deeply emotional and reflective song that explores themes of redemption, cleansing, and spirituality.
Line by Line Meaning
Come to your river
I am willing to come to the river that represents your life experiences and beliefs
I will come to your river
I promise to come to your river and immerse myself in it
Come to your river
Your river has something that can cleanse me, and I want to experience that for myself
Wash my soul
I want to be purified, to let go of my old ways and start anew
I will come to your river
I am fully dedicated to discovering the truth that your river holds
Wash my soul
I need to cleanse my soul and start anew
I will come to your river
I am committed to completely immersing myself in your experiences and beliefs
Wash my soul again
I need to revisit your river and experience that cleansing process again
Carry away my dead leaves
I want to discard my old, useless ways and experiences
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
I want to let your beliefs and experiences shape my soul
Sink my pains and complains
I want to let go of my pain and complaints and be renewed
Let the river take them, river drown them
I want the river to take away my troubles and end their influence on me
My ego and my blame
I want to let go of my ego and stop placing blame on others
Those all means are so ashamed
I am ashamed of my past mistakes and how I have been acting
Wemile Oshun
This is an invocation to the Yoruba goddess of water and fertility, Oshun
Oshun dede
This is another invocation to Oshun
Alawede Wemile Oshun
This is a reference to a Yoruba chant that praises Oshun
Moolowo beleru yalode moyewede
This is a Yoruba chant that asks for Oshun's blessings and protection
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ERIC STERLING COLLINS, LISA KAINDE DIAZ, NAOMI DIAZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Ki-ji2rd
[Chorus]
Come to you river
I will come to your river
I will come to you river
Come to you river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul again)
[Verse 1]
Carry away my dead leaves
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Sink my pains and complains
Let the river take them, river drown them
My ego and my blame
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Those old me’s are so ashamed
Let the river take them, river drown them
[Chorus]
Come to you river
I will come to your river
I will come to you river
Come to you river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul again)
[Verse 2]
Carry away my old leaves
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Sink my pains and complains
Let the river take them, river drown them
My ego and my blame
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Those all means are so ashamed
Let the river take them, river drown them
[Chorus]
Come to you river
I will come to your river
I will come to you river
Come to you river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul again)
[Yoruba Outro]
Wemile Oshun
Oshun dede
Alawede Wemile Oshun
Moolowo beleru yalode moyewede
Wemile Oshun
Oshun dede
Alawede Wemile Oshun
Moolowo beleru yalode moyewede
Wemile Oshun
Oshun dede
Alawede Wemile Oshun
Moolowo beleru yalode moyewede
Wemile Oshun
Oshun dede
Alawede Wemile Oshun
Moolowo beleru yalode moyewede
@lm7094
Come to your river
I will come to your river
I will come to your river
Come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
Wash my soul again
Carry away my dead leaves
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Sink my pains and complains
Let the river take them, river drown them
My ego and my blame
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Those all means are so ashamed
Let the river take them, river drown them
Come to your river
I will come to your river
I will come to your river
Come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
Wash my soul again
Carry away my old leaves
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Sink my pains and complains
Let the river take them, river drown them
My ego and my blame
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Those all means so ashamed
Let the river take them, river drown them
@ameriqueindienindigene9096
This is so intense just watching her (or them) being underwater for what seems to be an eternity.
Updated:
The Cuban French twin sisters are 19-year-old Naomi and Lisa-Kainde Diaz. They are daughters of the late Cuban percussion Anga Diaz.
Naomi plays percussion (the Cajon and the Batas) while Lisa plays the piano. Together the twins have learned the songs of their father’s culture, Yoruba.
Ibeyi is pronounced “ee-bey-ee” and translates as “Twins” in Yoruba.
Ibeyi sings in English and Yoruba and has created a minimalist sound that merges elements of their heritage with the contemporary music they’ve grown to love as teenagers in Paris, citing artists such as James Blake and King Krule amongst their wide range of influences.
Ibeyi are the first French artists directly signed for World by one of Beggars Group label in 30 years! they are on the loose again and ready to take the US by storm! One of their bigger gigs includes Webster Hall in New York, where they’ll be playing on October 2nd! Come listen to their strange and beautiful tunes sung in English and Yoruba – an ancient Nigerian language their ancestors used to speak before arriving in Cuba – on Afro-Cuban rhythms mixed with fuse jazz beats.
@thembadube9352
lyrics:
[Chorus:]
Come to your river
I will come to your river
I will come to your river
Come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
Wash my soul again
[Verse 1:]
Carry away my dead leaves
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Sink my pains and complains
Let the river take them, river drown them
My ego and my blame
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Those all means are so ashamed
Let the river take them, river drown them
[Chorus:]
Come to your river
I will come to your river
I will come to your river
Come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
Wash my soul again
[Verse 2:]
Carry away my old leaves
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Sink my pains and complains
Let the river take them, river drown them
My ego and my blame
Let me baptize my soul with the help of your waters
Those all means so ashamed
Let the river take them, river drown them
[Chorus:]
Come to your river
I will come to your river
I will come to your river
Come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
(Wash my soul)
I will come to your river
Wash my soul again
[Singing in Yoruba]
-https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ibeyi/river.html
@trenesbit
So stressful. So beautiful. So captivating. And so simple...
@hannavovchanska7582
not simple by any O or HO2
@sweetsalvation7143
https://youtu.be/HnXDqi5FS44
@Taisuyefi
I'M SO GLAD THIS SONG GOT FEATURED IN WENDELL & WILD!!
@floof487
SAMME
@THOWESankofa
Same reason I'm hear. I literally posed the film to look for this song!
@nancyramirez9859
That’s a good movie
@CookieTookieMan
it surprised tf outta i was so happy 🥹
@nekolita
Was elated
@RicardoMoralesMassin
Breathtaking. Literally