Ladysmith Black Mambazo, formed by Joseph Shabalala (1941 – 2020) in 1960 i… Read Full Bio ↴Ladysmith Black Mambazo, formed by Joseph Shabalala (1941 – 2020) in 1960 in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is a South African male choral group that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album Graceland, and have won multiple awards, including four Grammy Awards. They have become one of South Africa's most prolific recording artists, with their releases receiving gold and platinum disc honors, and have come to represent the traditional culture of South Africa. They are regarded as South Africa's cultural emissaries at home and around the world. They are a national treasure of the new South Africa in part because they embody the traditions suppressed in the old South Africa.

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.

Oh Happy Day
Ladysmith Black Mambazo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
He washed my sins away (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)

He taught me how to watch, fight and pray, fight and pray
And live rejoicing every, everyday

Oh happy day

He taught me how

Oh happy day (oh happy day)

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ladysmith Black Mambazo's "Oh Happy Day" celebrate the joy that comes with salvation and redemption through Jesus. The repetition of the line "oh happy day" emphasizes the sheer bliss and elation that the singer feels upon being cleansed of their sins. The use of the verb "washed" is significant because it implies a deep cleansing, a complete removal of the past in order to start anew. The singer acknowledges that their past has been expunged, their sins wiped away, and that is cause for a jubilant celebration.

The next verse speaks of the instruction that Jesus provides, teaching the singer how to "watch, fight and pray" and live a life of rejoicing every day. The act of watching implies being aware and vigilant about one's actions and surroundings, fighting speaks to the struggles and battles faced in life, while prayer represents an important spiritual aspect. Overall, Jesus' teachings help the singer navigate the challenges of daily life and maintain a sense of perpetual happiness and contentment.

In the final verse, the singer repeats the joyful exclamation of "oh happy day" several more times, driving home the point that salvation brings immense happiness and satisfaction. Through the power of the gospel and the life-changing influence of Jesus, the singer is transformed and uplifted, experiencing a true sense of joy and freedom.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Today is a joyful, blissful day that brings contentment and pleasure.

When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
At the moment when Jesus cleansed us with his blood.

He washed my sins away (oh happy day)
He saves us from our sins and removes them so that we can be clean.

He taught me how to watch, fight and pray, fight and pray
He gave us the knowledge and ability to remain alert, fight against temptation and pray to God.

And live rejoicing every, everyday
To live constantly with joy and gratitude.

Oh happy day
A day of sheer happiness.

He taught me how
He taught me the power of faith and how to live a righteous life.

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
A very joyful, delightful and delightful day.

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
A day that brings immense happiness and joy.

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
A truly awesome, cheerful and happy day.

Lyrics © RAOUL BRETON EDITIONS, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Word Collections Publishing, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Edwin Hawkins

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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