It has been years since Paul Simon made his initial trip to South Africa and met Joseph Shabalala, and the other members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, in a recording studio in Johannesburg. Having listened to a cassette of their music sent by a DJ based in Los Angeles, Simon was captivated by the stirring sound of bass, alto and tenor harmonies. Simon incorporated the traditional sounds of black South Africa into the Graceland album, a project regarded by many as seminal to today's explosive interest in World music
'60s Africa found the Zulu and Sotho beginning to incorporate the influences of African American R&B, jazz, and blues into their traditional, indigenous music. New styles such as township jazz, pennywhistle street music, Kwela, and marabi were formed. Eventually, these myriad styles coalesced to create a new hybrid pop music that came to be known as mbaqanga. Though mbaqanga employs the traditional instrumentation of Western pop (guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals), the approach to song structure and rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic phrasing is uniquely African.
Recorded between 1981 and 1984, THE INDESTRUCTIBLE BEAT OF SOWETO is the first (and arguably the best) of a slew of South African pop recordings that soon followed. Characterized by insistent, rhythmically complex beats, elastic, burbling basslines, tight, ska-sounding guitar accompaniment, and thick, multi-part vocals, this music is as intriguing as it is appealing. Groups with such names as Udokotela Shange Namajaha and Amaswazi Emvelo serve up bright, infectious melodies and percussively insistent tracks that are clearly intended for dancing.
King Of Kings
Ladysmith Black Mambazo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
King of kings
We kneel before you, Father, Appealing
Asking for peace in the rest of the country
Lord of lords, we kneel
We kneel before you, Father appealing
Asking for peace in the rest of the country
We are asking for peace in the world
Our Father, our Father
We are asking for peace in the world
Our Father, our Father
We are asking for peace in the world
Our Father, our Father
We are asking for peace in the world
Reveal yourself, reveal yourself Almighty
Reveal yourself, reveal yourself Almighty
To be from Heaven
Because we are directing you
to you Almighty
We are directing to you forever
Almighty
The sun rise and set, rise and set
The sun rise and set for ever Almighty
Your promise our Father
Said fear thou not, for I am with thee
Fear not this minute
For I am like a hut
I will surround thee
Yes, I will help thee with my ration
of righteousness
Reveal yourself, reveal yourself Almighty
Reveal yourself, reveal yourself Almighty
The sun rise and set for ever Almighty
The sun rise and set for ever Almighty
Reveal yourself Almighty
Reveal yourself Almighty
Because we are directing you forever
Almighty
Reveal yourself Almighty
Because we are directing you forever
Almighty
Reveal yourself ...
The song "King of Kings" by Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a heartfelt plea to the Almighty for peace and guidance. The song begins with the repeated refrain "King of kings", which signifies the ultimate power of the Almighty. The singers then kneel before the Almighty, asking for peace to prevail in their country. The repetition of "Lord of lords" confirms their faith that the Almighty has the power to bring peace to the troubled world.
The rest of the song continues with the plea for peace, with the singers asking for peace in the world. The use of the phrase "Our Father" refers to the Almighty as the creator and sustainer of all life, highlighting the sense of dependence on the Almighty for the ultimate goal of peace. The phrase "reveal yourself" expresses the need for the Almighty to manifest in the lives of the people who are seeking guidance and the assurance that the Almighty will be with them always.
Overall, "King of Kings" is a plea for peace and guidance to the Almighty, acknowledging the ultimate power of the creator and the dependence of all creation on the divine.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, King of kings
We acknowledge you as the ultimate ruler
King of kings
You reign above all others
We kneel before you, Father, Appealing
We humbly come to you and request your help
Asking for peace in the rest of the country
We specifically ask for peace in our nation
Lord of lords, we kneel
You are respected above all other lords and masters
Our Father, our Father
We address you with respect and familiarity as our Father
We are asking for peace in the world
We request peace in the entire world
Reveal yourself, reveal yourself Almighty
We beseech you to show yourself to us in your greatness
To be from Heaven
So that we may recognize you as divinely sent
Because we are directing you to you Almighty
We intentionally focus our attention and desires on you above all else
We are directing to you forever
Our devotion to you is eternal
The sun rise and set, rise and set
The constant and reliable cycle of day and night
Your promise our Father
The assurance you have given us, Father
Said fear thou not, for I am with thee
Do not be afraid, for I am by your side
Fear not this minute
Have no fear in this moment
For I am like a hut
I provide shelter and protection
I will surround thee
I will encircle you with my love and care
Yes, I will help thee with my ration of righteousness
My goodness and moral uprightness will aid you
The sun rise and set for ever Almighty
Your power and presence are eternal
Reveal yourself Almighty
We implore you to make yourself known to us
Because we are directing you forever
We remain steadfastly focused on you
Almighty
Affirmation of your absolute power and authority
Writer(s): Joseph Shabalala
Contributed by Makayla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@djorkawisdom8469
Oh, King of kings
King of kings
We kneel before you, Father, Appealing
Asking for peace in the rest of the country
Lord of lords, we kneel
We kneel before you, Father appealing
Asking for peace in the rest of the country
Our Father, our Father
We are asking for peace in the world
Our Father, our Father
We are asking for peace in the world
Our Father, our Father
We are asking for peace in the world
Our Father, our Father
We are asking for peace in the world
Reveal yourself, reveal yourself Almighty
Reveal yourself, reveal yourself Almighty
To be from Heaven
Because we are directing you
To you Almighty
We are directing to you forever
Almighty
The sun rise and set, rise and set
The sun rise and set for ever Almighty
Your promise our Father
Said fear thou not, for I am with thee
Fear not this minute
For I am like a hut
I will surround thee
Yes, I will help thee with my ration
Of righteousness
Reveal yourself, reveal yourself Almighty
Reveal yourself, reveal yourself Almighty
The sun rise and set for ever Almighty
The sun rise and set for ever Almighty
Reveal yourself Almighty
Reveal yourself Almighty
Because we are directing you forever
Almighty
Reveal yourself Almighty
Because we are directing you forever
Almighty
Reveal yourself ...
@alanmorris7669
I took my mother to see them in concert at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, NC. Rest in peace, lead singer Joseph Shabalala.
@oreally8605
The Lord Jesus Christ took Joseph home. He died of natural causes... ❤
@yohanmathebula2611
Proudly South African. Mpumalanga Bushbuckridge, Acornhoek, Cottondale ,Jameyana 🥀🥀🥀🥀🌻💐💐💐💙💚💛🧡💜🖤💝💞❤️💓💗❣️💟💌💕💖
Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
@TAndrackeH
Rest in Peace, Sir. You opened the world to your music and that of a whole continent. We are grateful to have been on the planet in your time. All One ~ ONE LOVE
@CrossTimbersSon
So thankful Ladysmith Black Mambazo blesses us with beautiful music and their testimony of faith!
Their music lives on.
@Walter-yq2id
Rest in peace sir you played your part very well .... your voice will be missed surely
@lynndear7533
This beautiful sound comes from the earth, in their soul.
@marcustraore545
How many times have I listened to this? I’ve stopped counting. Oh papa Shabalala!! He’ll be missed.😢
@nhlakaniphongcamu4093
Mshengu is dearly missed. You sang the songs of struggle.love.hope. RIP Mshengu✊🏽
@jacoblaiser7634
RIP an icon of Pure African music. We will miss you but we hope to meet you at Heven to Our Lord