Pula Yetla
Letta Mbulu Lyrics


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Shiya, shiya,shiya, shiya, ke maru
Shiya, shiya,shiya, shiya, ke maru
Ke makhubetsha pula, na
Maru bari tlisa pula

Shiya, shiya,shiya, shiya, ke maru
Shiya, shiya,shiya, shiya, ke maru
Ke makhubetsha pula, na
Maru tlisa pula

Pula ya tla, pula ya tla, pula ya tla (woah)
Ba re e tlo na
Pula ya tla, (woah) pula ya tla (woah)
Pula ya tla
(woah) Ba re e tlo na

Shiya, shiya,shiya, shiya, ke maru
Shiya, shiya,shiya, shiya, ke maru
Ke makhubetsha pula, na
Maru tlisa pula

Shiya, shiya, ke maru
Ke makhupetsa bopedi
Ke matha-tha-tha
Ngwana bopedi, pula hae tshabe
U tshaba lehadima sedutla ka masigo

Pula ya tla (shiya, ke maru)
Pula ya tla, pula ya tla, pula ya tla pula ya tla, pula ya tla
Jonna, bare e tlo na (shiya, ke maru)
Pula ya tla (shiya, ke maru)
Pula ya tla, pula ya tla, pula ya tla (shiya, ke maru)

Ngwana bopedi, bare pula gae tshabe (shiya, ke maru)
Ngwana bopedi, pula gae tshabe (shiya, ke maru)
Ngwana bopedi, pula gae tshabe (shiya, ke maru)

Shiya ke maru (Ngwana bopedi, bare pula gae tshabe)
Shiya Ke maru (Ngwana bopedi, bare pula gae tshabe)
Shiya ke maru




Shiya ke maru
Shiya ke maru (Shiya, shiya,shiya, shiya)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Letta Mbulu's song "Pula Yetla" are sung in the Sesotho language and convey a message about the importance of rain, or "pula" in the Sotho culture. The repetitious chanting of "shiya, shiya" throughout the song can be interpreted as a call to the gods or ancestors to bring the much-needed rain to alleviate the drought and provide sustenance to the people. The lyrics also mention the act of "makhubetsha," which means to coax or encourage the rain to come, and the visual of the "maru" bird, which is said to have the ability to bring rain.


The chorus of the song repeatedly states "pula ya tla," which means "the rain is coming." This could be seen as a hopeful message, as if the singers are convinced that if they continue to chant and call to the gods, the rain will eventually come. The final lines of the song mention a child from the Bapedi tribe, who prays for rain to come to his village. This inclusion of a specific tribe and location adds a personal touch to the song and makes the message more relatable to those who may be familiar with that culture.


Overall, "Pula Yetla" is a powerful message about the importance of rain and the hold it has on the Sotho people. The song's repetitive use of the Sesotho language adds to its hypnotic quality and emphasizes the urgency for rain to come.


Line by Line Meaning

Shiya, shiya,shiya, shiya, ke maru
Repeating the phrase 'Shiya, shiya,shiya, shiya' to convey a sense of urgency and distress, followed by the statement 'Ke maru' meaning 'I am in trouble'.


Ke makhubetsha pula, na
Expressing the act of summoning or calling for rain, and asking if it will come.


Maru bari tlisa pula
Indicating that the situation is dire, and the rains are desperately needed.


Pula ya tla, pula ya tla, pula ya tla (woah)
Repeating the phrase 'Pula ya tla' multiple times to further emphasize the need for rain.


Ba re e tlo na
Asking whether the rain will come, indicating that the people are hoping and waiting for it.


Ke makhupetsa bopedi
Stating the act of begging for rain in the context of the traditional Bapedi tribe.


Ke matha-tha-tha
Using a repetition of the word 'matha-tha-tha' to express the desperation and urgency of the situation.


Ngwana bopedi, pula hae tshabe
Referring to the child of the Bapedi tribe, emphasizing the need for rain for their livelihood.


U tshaba lehadima sedutla ka masigo
Describing the dry and dusty state of the land, using the metaphor of a lizard's skin to portray the harshness of the terrain.


Jonna, bare e tlo na
Expressing a sense of desperation and hopelessness, relying heavily on the hope that the rain will come soon.


Ngwana bopedi, bare pula gae tshabe
Repeating the phrase 'Ngwana bopedi' to once again emphasize the importance of the rain for the Bapedi people's livelihood.


Shiya ke maru
Repeating the combination of 'Shiya' and 'ke maru' to convey the sense of distress and urgency.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CAIPHUS SEMENYA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Yandisa


on Bhanoyi

Yho so nice