Impi
Johnny Clegg and Juluka and Savuka Lyrics
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Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
All along the river
Chelmsford's army lay asleep
Come to crush the Children of Mageba
Come to exact the Realm's price for peace
And in the morning as they saddled up to ride
Their eyes shone with the fire and the steel
The General told them of the task that lay ahead
To bring the People of the Sky to heel
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Mud and sweat on polished leather
Warm rain seeping to the bone
They rode through the season's wet weather
Straining for a glimpse of the foe
Hopeless battalion destined to die
Broken by the Benders of Kings
Vainglorious General, Victorian pride
Would cost him and eight hundred men their lives
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
They came to the side of the mountain
Scouts rode out to spy the land
Even as the Realm's soldiers lay resting
Mageba's forces were soon at hand
And by the evening the vultures were wheeling
Above the ruins where the fallen lay
An ancient song as old as the ashes
Echoed as Mageba's warriors marched away
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
The lyrics of Johnny Clegg & Juluka's song Impi describe the arrival of a hostile army that is coming to conquer and defeat another tribe. The first verse is a question that asks who can fight against the army that is approaching. The following verses describe the arrival of the army, their preparation and their mission to defeat and control the People of the Sky. The song also narrates the battle, with lines describing the mud, sweat and rain that the soldiers must go through to try and defeat their opponents. The song finishes as the victorious and undefeated tribe is marching away singing an ancient song.
The song has a deep historical and cultural significance as it depicts the battle between the British forces and the Zulu warriors in the 1870s in South Africa. The Zulu warriors were known for their courage, bravery and fighting skills, while the British army was equipped with modern weapons and tactics. The song highlights the bravery and fighting spirit of the warriors as they faced an enemy that was well equipped and trained.
Line by Line Meaning
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Warriors! Warriors are coming!
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Who among us is going to touch the lions?
All along the river
On the banks of the river
Chelmsford's army lay asleep
The army of Chelmsford was sleeping
Come to crush the Children of Mageba
They came to crush the children of Mageba
Come to exact the Realm's price for peace
They came to demand payment from the kingdom for peace
And in the morning as they saddled up to ride
As they prepared to ride in the morning
Their eyes shone with the fire and the steel
Their eyes were filled with determination and strength
The General told them of the task that lay ahead
The General informed them of the mission ahead
To bring the People of the Sky to heel
To conquer and dominate the People of the Sky
Mud and sweat on polished leather
Dirt and sweat on shiny leather
Warm rain seeping to the bone
Rain soaked them to the bone
They rode through the season's wet weather
They rode through the wet weather of the season
Straining for a glimpse of the foe
Struggling to catch sight of the enemy
Hopeless battalion destined to die
The battalion was without hope and destined to die
Broken by the Benders of Kings
Conquered by the powerful rulers
Vainglorious General, Victorian pride
Proud General with outdated thinking
Would cost him and eight hundred men their lives
This would lead to the deaths of him and his eight hundred men
They came to the side of the mountain
They arrived at the base of a mountain
Scouts rode out to spy the land
Scouts ventured out to survey the surrounding land
Even as the Realm's soldiers lay resting
As the soldiers of the kingdom rested
Mageba's forces were soon at hand
Mageba's troops arrived shortly after
And by the evening the vultures were wheeling
By evening, the vultures circled overhead
Above the ruins where the fallen lay
Above the remains of the fallen
An ancient song as old as the ashes
An old song as old as the ashes
Echoed as Mageba's warriors marched away
Resounded as Mageba's warriors marched away
Lyrics © RHYTHM SAFARI PTY LTD, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Jonathan Paul Clegg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@amyellis8335
Chorus:
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
All along the river chelmsford's army lay asleep
Come to crush the children of mageba
Come to exact the realm's price for peace
And in the morning as they saddled up to ride
Their eyes shone with the fire and the steel
The general told them of the task that lay ahead
To bring the people of the sky to heel
Chorus
Mud and sweat on polished leather
Warm rain seeping to the bone
They rode through the season's wet weather
Straining for a glimpse of the foe
Hopeless battalion destined to die
Broken by the benders of kings
Vainglorious general and victorian pride
Would cost him and eight hundred men their lives
Chorus
They came to the side of the mountain
Scouts rode out to spy the land
Even as the realm's soldiers lay resting
Mageba's forces were at hand
And by the evening the vultures were wheeling
Above the ruins where the fallen lay
An ancient song as old as the ashes
Echoed as mageba's warriors marched away
Chorus
@CaptainRecoils
Impi wo nans impi iyeza
Obanibenga thinta'amabhubesi
All along the river chelmsford's army lay asleep
Come to crush the children of mageba
Come to exact the realm's price for peace
And in the morning as they saddled up to ride
Their eyes shone with the fire and the steel
The general told them of the task that lay ahead
To bring the people of the sky to heel
Mud and sweat on polished leather
Warm rain seeping to the bone
They rode through the season's wet weather
Straining for a glimpse of the foe
Hopeless battalion destined to die
Broken by the benders of kings
Vainglorious general and victorian pride
Would cost him and eight hundred men their lives
They came to the side of the mountain
Scouts rode out to spy the land
Even as the realm's soldiers lay resting
Mageba's forces were at hand
And by the evening the vultures were wheeling
Above the ruins where the fallen lay
An ancient song as old as the ashes
Echoed as mageba's warriors marched away
@lindamasterson3469
I’d been in east London to the “final show” and came away with a strange but Burning desire,
I had something I wanted to Say to Johnny Clegg,
we were booked for the Harare concert a month or so later and I plotted and planned how to deliver my message.
Then, one morning, I was in Woolies new breakfast area in Rosebank and I spotted him.
Coming straight towards me in a green army style jacket and cap.
As he passed and turned around me to head off to my right, I grabbed his jacket elbow and said
“I’ve got something to say to you,”
surprised and embarrassed he promised to see me on his way out. Pleading time constraints
He met a man at a able in the corner, hat pulled low.
I thought, where can I get card to write my message?
I grabbed a napkin and a pen and wrote ....
Johnny Clegg
I am a better person, because of you
Millions,.. are less racist ... because of you
That’s a hell of a legacy!!!
THANK YOU
see you in Harare
I took it over to Johnny who lifted his hands in “No, not now!!!” But I reassured him and gave him the napkin. Didn’t say a word
A little later, our breakfast over, I called the waitress for my bill and was preparing to leave.
Message delivered ... I was happy.
He saw me preparing to leave and next thing he was at my side, arm around my shoulder and kissing my cheek. We chatted and he hugged me and thanked me for my message.
Thanked me for telling him what was in my heart.
Thanked me for telling him he had made a difference in my life, in who I grew into, through him and others,
Forever, Johnny
Forever. You made a huge difference for South Africa, for humanity
,
Hamba Gahle, Bro
@riggonasty1457
Let's be honest you did search for this song
@randommemes.
Absolutely….legend of a man
@Jinxffx..
❤
@Jinxffx..
Impl ❤😢 wow
@masentleramotholo9772
I did 😂love the song
@daviddonaldson3615
100%, legend of a man!
@siyamtembabomvu8199
Who is still listening to this gem :-)
@randommemes.
Oh yes!!
@user-yn4lq4mk2y
Myself
@desirehitekani3043
It's 2023 Day of The Rugby World cup in France and this is the Song For me #Mayibuye🇿🇦