They changed their name to Stimela after a life-changing experience in Mozambique when they were stranded in Maputo for three months. They had to sell all their belongings to take a train home. This trip was a watershed moment as it was where they conceived the new name for the band: train is translated as Stimela in Nguni languages.
Besides the change in name, the band also expanded with new members Charlie "Sam" Ndlovu, Nana Coyote, Thapelo Kgomo and Ntokozo Zungu. With soulful tunes and gripping lyrics, the band has recorded platinum-winning albums such as Fire, Passion and Ecstasy, Listen, Look and Decide as well as the controversial People Don't Talk, So Let's Talk. One of their most memorable tracks - "Whispers in the Deep" - was restricted for broadcast by the old South African Broadcasting Corporation.
Members
Ray Phiri - lead guitar, lead vocals (Raymond Chikapa Enock Phiri, 23 March 1947 – 12 July 2017)
Sam Ndlovu - Vocals
Isaac "Mnca" Mtshali - drummer
The late - Nana Coyote - lead vocals
Thapelo Kgomo - keyboards
Ntokozo Zungu - lead guitar
Bafana Khuzwayo - organ
Discography
1982: Fire, Passion and Ecstasy
1983: Rewind
1985: Shadows, Fear and Pain
1986: Look, Listen and Decide
1988: Live!
1987: Unfinished Story
1991: Siyaya
1983: Rewind (EP)
1985: Shadows Fear and Pain (EP)
1989: Trouble in the Land of Plenty
1994: Khululani
1995: Don't Ask Why
1995: Are You Ready (Live)
1987: The Unfinished Story
1996: Out of the Ashes
2000: Steam Tracks (Best of)
2001: Live At The Market Theatre - 1st Half (Live)
2002: The 2nd Half (Live)
2010: A Lifetime...
2011: turn on the sun
Raymond Chikapa Enock Phiri (23 March 1947 – 12 July 2017) was a South African jazz, fusion and mbaqanga musician born in Mpumalanga to Malawian immigrant worker and South African guitarist nicknamed "Just Now" Phiri. He became founding member of the Cannibals in the 1970s. When the Cannibals disbanded Ray founded Stimela, with whom he conceived gold and platinum-selling albums like Fire, Passion and Ecstacy (1991), Look, Listen and Decide (1992) as well as the controversial People Don't Talk So Let's Talk.
Come To Me
Stimela Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Come to me)
(Zwakala)
Some people like fighting
Some people like talking 'bout you and me
You know me baby, I'm a lover not a fighter
If I were to fight for your love
I'd come out a winner
Your love is so sweet
Sweeter than candy
For your love
I'd come running!
I'd come running!
Hey!
Oh! Oh! Oh!
Hey! Hey, wohoha!
Zwakala kaneno!
Come to me!
Oh! People keep talking about you and me baby
They say that I look like a fool when you're not around me baby
Now I know that we've got everything going for us baby
Why did you have to go and leave me alone
Why did you have to leave me baby
Now I'm so lonely, now I'm so lonely
Now I don't know where to go
All the places where we used to go together
Reminds me of you
Oh baby won't you come to me
So please, baby
Won't you come to me
Whoa! Zwakala kaneno
Won't you come to me
The song "Zwakala" by Stimela is a heartfelt plea from a lover who wants his partner to come back to him. The song is sung in Zulu, and the title "Zwakala" means "come to me". The song begins with the plea from the singer to his lover to come back to him. He sings about how some people like fighting and talking about their relationship, but he is a lover, not a fighter. He promises to fight for her love and come out a winner.
The chorus is a repetition of the title "Zwakala" and the singer keeps repeating that he wants his lover to come to him. He emphasizes how sweet her love is and how he would come running to her if she agrees to come back to him.
In the second verse, the singer talks about how people are talking about them, and some are saying that he looks like a fool when she is not around. He reminds her that they have everything going for them and urges her to come back to him. He expresses his loneliness and how he doesn't know where to go without her. He ends the song with the same refrain, urging his lover to come back to him.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey! Ohwohoha
Attention grabber, leading into the first verse
(Come to me)
Repetition of the song's title and main theme
(Zwakala)
A call to action, come to me now
Some people like fighting
Some people like confrontation and conflict
Some people like talking 'bout you and me
Some people like gossiping and spreading rumors about us
You know me baby, I'm a lover not a fighter
I am a peaceful person who prefers love over conflict
If I were to fight for your love
If I had to compete for your love
If I was to fight for your love
If I had to compete for your love
I'd come out a winner
I am confident that I would be successful in winning your love
Your love is so sweet
Your love is wonderful and enjoyable
Sweeter than candy
Your love is even better than candy
For your love
I would do anything for your love
I'd come running!
I would go to great lengths to be with you
I'd come running!
I would go to great lengths to be with you
Hey!
Attention grabber and transition to the chorus
Oh! Oh! Oh!
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
Hey! Hey, wohoha!
Attention grabber, leading into the second verse
Zwakala kaneno!
A call to action, come to me now
Oh! People keep talking about you and me baby
People continue to spread rumors and gossip about us
They say that I look like a fool when you're not around me baby
They think I am foolish without you by my side
Now I know that we've got everything going for us baby
I now realize that we have a great relationship with everything on our side
Why did you have to go and leave me alone
Asking why you had to leave and make me feel lonely
Why did you have to leave me baby
Asking why you had to leave and make me feel lonely
Now I'm so lonely, now I'm so lonely
Expressing deep loneliness and sadness
Now I don't know where to go
Feeling lost without you
All the places where we used to go together
Thinking about all the places we used to go as a couple
Reminds me of you
Everything reminds me of you and our time together
Oh baby won't you come to me
Asking for you to come back to me
So please, baby
Pleading for you to come back to me
Won't you come to me
Asking for you to come back to me
Whoa! Zwakala kaneno
Re-emphasizing the call to action, come to me now
Won't you come to me
Asking for you to come back to me
Contributed by Evelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mpho
on See the World (Through the Eyes of a Child)
Love this song too much but never had an opportunity to know the rest of the message. i attended most of Stimela's concerts and this song has a special place in my heart. Thank you for sharing this message. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Nkini Moeng
on Zwakala (Come to Me)
I LOVE THE SONG VERY MUCH COULD YOU PLEASE ADD THE LYRICS.