Judith Sephuma

Growing up in Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg) in Sou… Read Full Bio ↴Judith Sephuma

Growing up in Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg) in South Africa's Limpopo Province, Judith knew that she wanted to be a singer from an early age. After matriculating at Khagiso High School, she attended Johannesburg's legendary FUBA Academy music school in 1993, where she received her Grade 5 Music Diploma. One of her fellow students was an ambitious young guitarist who she knew from Polokwane, one Selaelo Selota, a man who would play a major role in her career. Other achievements included reaching the finals of the Shell Road to Fame contest in 1994, and the finals in SABC's Jam Alley Search For Talent that year. In 1994 she made a significant move to Cape Town to study music at the University of Cape Town, graduating in 1997 with a Performer's Diploma in Jazz. Judith then gained her Honours Degree in Jazz Performance, majoring in Jazz Singing, under the supervision of Prof. Mike Campbell, in 1999. While studying Jazz singing, she was also classically trained by Virginia Davids for five years.

During her years in the Cape, Judith's reputation as a vocalist blossomed, and she had the opportunity to work in bands like (fellow UCT music student) Selaelo Selota's Taola, Meropa, UCT's Big Band, The C-Base Collective and The Cape Symphonic Orchestra. She also performed with Jimmy Dludlu, Loading Zone and Ian Smith's Virtual Jazz Reality, as well as alongside musicians such as Jack van Poll and Gerry Spencer, and sang at many a cocktail party and private functions. In 1996 JUDITH SEPHUMA was invited by Spencer to travel on the Symphony cruise ship for two months, visiting exotic places like Bazaruto, Mauritious, Zanzibar, Mombasa, and Reunion. Later the same year she performed, with the band Meropa, in Nantes, France at the Fin de Siecle Festival - her first overseas visit 1998/1999 with the assistance of pianist van Poll, Judith gained much experience performing in Europe, and among her gigs was being invited by the South African government to perform in Holland for the Mandela's Children Trust Fund.

Judith was invited by Jimmy Dludlu to perform at Thabo Mbeki's presidential inauguration in Pretoria, June 1999. In that year she also had the honour of meeting former president Nelson Mandela and sang a special song to him and his wife, Graca Machel, at the Cape Sun hotel. Another highlight of that year was singing at the Miss SA beauty pageant in Sun City. The young singer was certainly paying her music industry dues, developing skills like confidence, versatility, patience and professionalism, and all the while laying the secure foundations for her future success.

Having previously entered a number of music competitions, a pivotal moment came when Judith was awarded first prize for Best Jazz Vocalist at the Old Mutual Jazz Into The Future competition in June 1999 and she was signed to (then) BMG Africa’s imprint, Giant Steps, shortly afterwards. At the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town in 2000, Judith formed her own backing band and performed under her own name and in 2001 she recorded her debut, A Smile, A Cry, A Dance.

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My Saviour
Judith Sephuma Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Everyday I stay awake at night
Watching my guiding star
Wondering if it could lead me
To your loving arms
It hasn't been easy without you I confess
Won't you hear me now?
I know life can be sweet
With you right by my side

Oh Jesus
My Lord (My lord)
My Saviour (Oh, my saviour)

Oh Jesus
My Lord
My Saviour

I surrender now wash all my sins
Make me all brand new
I know I can find peace
Love, joy and happiness
You're the one who knows what lies ahead
So please show me the way
I don't want to be lost
Shine your light so I can see

Oh Jesus (Oh Jesus)
My Lord (My lord)
My Saviour (My saviour)

Oh Jesus (Oh Jesus)
My Lord (My lord)
My Saviour (My saviour)

Everyday I stay awake at night
Watching my guiding star
Wondering if it could lead me
To your loving arms
It hasn't been easy, It hasn't been easy without you I confess
Won't you hear me now (Won't you hear me now)
I know life can be sweet
With you right by my side (Oh, yes)

Oh Jesus (Oh Jesus)
My Lord (My lord)
You're my Saviour (My saviour)

Oh Jesus (Oh Jesus)
My Lord (My lord)
You're my Saviour (My saviour)
Oh Jesus (Oh Jesus)
My Lord (My lord)
You're my Saviour (My saviour)

Oh Jesus (Oh Jesus)
My Lord (My lord)
My Saviour yeah yeah (My saviour)
Oh Jesus (Oh Jesus)
My Lord (My lord)
My Saviour (My saviour)

Oh Jesus (Oh Jesus)
My Lord (My lord)
My Saviour (My saviour)
Oh Jesus (Oh Jesus)
My Lord (My lord)
My Saviour (My saviour)

Oh Jesus (Oh Jesus)
My Lord (My lord)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Judith Sephuma's "My Saviour" express a longing for spiritual guidance and redemption. The song opens with the imagery of staying awake at night and watching the guiding star, hoping that it will lead the singer to the loving arms of Jesus. The lyrics reveal a confession of the struggles and difficulties that the singer has faced in the absence of Jesus, and a plea for his presence and guidance. The chorus repeats the simple and powerful declaration of the singer's faith in Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.

The second verse continues the theme of surrender and redemption, as the singer asks Jesus to wash away her sins and make her new. The lyrics express a desire for peace, love, joy, and happiness, which the singer believes can only be found through the guidance of Jesus. The singer acknowledges that Jesus is the one who knows what lies ahead and asks him to show her the way. The final repetition of the chorus emphasizes the singer's faith in Jesus and her dependence on him for salvation.

Overall, "My Saviour" is a powerful declaration of faith and a plea for spiritual guidance and redemption. The lyrics express the singer's longing for a deeper connection with Jesus and her belief that he is the only source of true happiness and peace.

Line by Line Meaning

Everyday I stay awake at night
I spend every night thinking about you

Watching my guiding star
Looking for guidance from the stars

Wondering if it could lead me
Questioning whether the star can bring me to you

To your loving arms
To your embrace full of love

It hasn't been easy without you I confess
I must admit that it has been very difficult without you

Won't you hear me now?
Please listen to me now

I know life can be sweet
I know life can be pleasant

With you right by my side
If you are by my side

Oh Jesus
Oh, Jesus

My Lord (My lord)
My master, my leader

My Saviour (Oh, my saviour)
My rescuer