Homeless
Paul Simon & Ladysmith Black Mambazo Lyrics
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Silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Webaba silale maweni
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
We are homeless, we are homeless
The moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
And we are homeless, homeless, homeless
The moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Zio yami, zio yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami amakhaza asengi bulele
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami, angibulele amakhaza
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami somandla angibulele mama
Zio yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
Too loo loo, too loo loo
Too loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo
Too loo loo, too loo loo
Too loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo
Strong wind destroy our home
Many dead, tonight it could be you
Strong wind, strong wind
Many dead, tonight it could be you
And we are homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Yitho omanqoba (ih hih ih hih ih) yitho omanqoba
Esanqoba lonke ilizwe
(ih hih ih hih ih) yitho omanqoba (ih hih ih hih ih)
Esanqoba phakathi e england
Yitho omanqoba
Esanqoba phakathi e london
Yitho omanqoba
Esanqoba phakathi e england
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Kuluman
Kulumani, kulumani sizwe
Singenze njani
Baya jabula abasi thanda yo
Ho
The lyrics of "Homeless" by Paul Simon & Ladysmith Black Mambazo describe the plight of the homeless in a poignant, yet simple manner. The first few lines in Zulu ("Emaweni webaba, silale maweni") translate to "In the hills, father, let us stay in the hills." This is followed by the repeated lines "We are homeless, homeless, homeless; the moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake." The contrast of the beautiful moonlight with the harsh reality of homelessness is stark and unsettling. The rest of the lyrics continue to convey the sense of displacement and longing for a place to call home, with verses such as "Zio yami, nhliziyo yami" (My heart is not at peace) and "Strong wind destroy our home, many dead, tonight it could be you."
The music video for "Homeless" showcases the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo performing in traditional Zulu attire, juxtaposed with images of homeless people in various American cities. The song was released in 1986 as part of the Graceland album, which was a collaboration between Paul Simon and South African musicians. The album received critical acclaim and was a commercial success, earning Simon a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1987.
Line by Line Meaning
Emaweni webaba
We are staying in the remote valley, father
Silale maweni
We are still staying in the valley
Webaba silale maweni
Father, we are still staying in the valley
Homeless, homeless
We have no home, no place to stay
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
The moon is shining and the lake is silent and calm
We are homeless, we are homeless
We are truly homeless with nowhere to go
And we are homeless, homeless, homeless
We can't emphasize enough how truly homeless we are
Zio yami, zio yami, nhliziyo yami
My anger, my anger, my heart
Nhliziyo yami amakhaza asengi bulele
My heart is in pieces, it's hurting me
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
My heart, my heart
Nhliziyo yami, angibulele amakhaza
My heart is begging for mercy from this pain
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
My heart, my heart
Nhliziyo yami somandla angibulele mama
Oh God, please have mercy on my heart
Too loo loo, too loo loo
Nursery rhyme-like meaningless words
Strong wind destroy our home
A strong wind destroyed our home
Many dead, tonight it could be you
Many people have died, and it could happen to anyone tonight
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Someone says random sounds
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Someone is singing a greeting
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Someone is crying out in despair
Yitho omanqoba (ih hih ih hih ih) yitho omanqoba
The triumph (random sounds) the triumph
Esanqoba lonke ilizwe
Let the whole world be triumphed
Kuluman
Hold on (Zulu expression)
Kulumani, kulumani sizwe
Come together, come together nation
Singenze njani
What can we do?
Baya jabula abasi thanda yo
They will rejoice those who love one another
Homeless, homeless
We have no home, no place to stay
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
The moon is shining and the lake is silent and calm
Homeless, homeless
We have no home, no place to stay
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
The moon is shining and the lake is silent and calm
Homeless, homeless
We have no home, no place to stay
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSEPH SHABALALA, PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@caleb484
How one group can mesmerize thousands of people with their voices is amazing.
@oxalic6848
Will always remember how my son instantly stopped crying whenever I played Ladysmith Black Mambazo. RIP Joseph Shabalala.
@mxolisiernest8412
No one will ever replace him
@msasthole1779
Ziyolaki nsizwa madoda
@caleb484
@@mxolisiernest8412 one of Africa's greatest sons. Joseph was amazing
@NextSound170
Healing powers of Motherland.
@guruvoke4331
Used to listen to this song on our then state run radio station in Kenya called KBC.. This kinda music never grow old, i call it music for the soul.. Love from Kenya 🇰🇪
@sunnyotamereosaigbovoesq5202
Even if Joseph Shabalala had died having crossed a hundred years of age, I would still feel like he should have stayed a bit longer. Rest in perfect peace Prof. Joseph Shabalala-the Gentle Roaring Lion from Africa
@NextSound170
Admire my ancestors for attributing nature’s names to I N I self. One and all apart of the Earth
@moremimothupi467
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa6aaa7⁵