Stimela SaseZola
Mbongeni Ngema Lyrics

Wangbamba kwamancane
You held onto me when I was still young

Wangbambel' eduze (Isthandwa sami)
You held me close (my sweetheart)

Wangkhumbuz'eGoli mama EZola (Stimela sam saseZola)
You remembered Johannesburg and Zola my mother (the train from Zola)

Wangbek'esifubeni weh mama Yelele mama, njengengan'encane
You put me on your lap, saying 'Shh little one'

Thambo lam lekhentaki
My walking stick

Sambulela sam (Dudu sthandwa sami)
I blow my whistle (my darling)

Sambulela sam selanga Sthuthuthu sami (Stimela sam saseZola)
I blow my whistle under the moonlight, my steam engine (the train from Zola)

Sojika emadireni ah we mama Yelele mama, njengengan'encane
It hisses in the valleys, saying 'Shh little one'

Welcome dova baby
Welcome aboard, baby

Stofu sam samalahle (Dudu sthandwa sami)
My overcoat, beautiful one

Ngikthanda nom'uvutha baby Stimela sam saseZola
I love you with all my heart, baby, my train from Zola

Iyho Iyho Iyho Yelele mama njengengan'encane
Oh dear me, saying 'Shh little one'

Sengihamba ngo Commisioner Ngigqok' u-arrow shirt (Dudu sthandwa sami)
I travel with the Commissioner, wearing my Arrow shirt (my darling)

Aw'bhek'ezansi florsheim shoes baby Stimela sam saseZola
Don't look at my Florsheim shoes, baby, my train from Zola

Ngyobona wena baby eZola Yelele mama njengengan'encane
I see you, baby, in Zola, saying 'Shh little one'

Ngigibel'iE20 eCarlton center (Dudu sthandwa sami)
I get in the E20 at Carlton Center (my darling)

Esdididini mama
In the township, mother

Ngeshumi lam' ngelhandi lami wemama
With my loaf of bread and my parcel, my mother

Ngyophumula kuwe baby edairy lovey Yelele mama njengengan'encane
I rest with you, baby, at the Dairy Lovey, saying 'Shh little one'

Wowu stofu sam samalahle (Dudu sthandwa sami)
This overcoat, beautiful one

Wemama, weh lavi wami bo, we mama aww
My mother, my dear, my love, my mother, oh

Wangthinta ngakhukhumala Ngafana ne Self Raising
You cooked me until I rose like Self Raising flour

Ngahamba ngagcwal'istrati Ngafana nomabhalane (Stimela sam saseZola)
I walk, completing school, just like a book (the train from Zola)