Transkei Moon
Thandiswa Lyrics
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Hangs over me
Like a lump in my throat
Her voice,their singing
It chokes my spirit
And lets it loose again
Amafu a lele phezu kwethi
The Gods have blessed me tonight
I spent the night in the sky
With old ladies whose limbs and voices never tire
Even as I sit here, I can't imagine
What moment in time led me to this one
Transkei moon
Transkei moon
Take me away
Transkei moon
Ndi hamba nawe
Ndi vumelana nawe
And I never will forget your ways
You inspired me
To find God in motion
In a place that seems so still
Umzi wakhe
Use maweni
Amafu alele phezu kwethu
I saw the face of Mvelinqange here
A place of mysteries and dreams
And when I close my eyes I live again and again
And again and again and again
Transkei moon
Transkei moon (Won't you take me away)
Take me away (Won't you take me away)
Transkei moon
Transkei moon (Will you take me away)
Transkei moon (Won't you take me away)
Take me away
Transkei moon (Won't you take me with you)
Take me with you
Thandiswa's "Transkei Moon" is a beautifully written song that showcases the artist's personal connection with the Transkei region of South Africa. The song begins with a vivid image of the Transkei moon hanging over the singer, which she compares to a lump in her throat. This image sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is deeply emotional and reflective.
The lyrics go on to express the singer's feelings of spiritual fulfillment and connection to the land and its people. She speaks of being choked by the voices and singing of those around her, yet released by this experience at the same time. She talks of spending the night with old ladies whose voices and spirits never tire, and being blessed by the Gods. The singer is truly inspired by the Transkei moon, and the land and people that surround her.
The bridge of the song is particularly powerful, as Thandiswa recites the name of her home village (Umzi wakhe) and speaks of the mysteries and dreams that seem to be present in every moment she spends there. The chorus echoes this sentiment, with Thandiswa pleading with the Transkei moon to take her away and never forget her. In the end, the song is a beautiful tribute to the land and people of the Transkei, and the deep connection that Thandiswa feels towards them.
Line by Line Meaning
Transkei moon
The moon of Transkei, a region in South Africa, is hanging in the sky.
Hangs over me
It feels like the moon is right above me.
Like a lump in my throat
Its presence is felt strongly, like the feeling of having something stuck in your throat.
Her voice, their singing
The singer and the people around her are singing in harmony.
It chokes my spirit
Their singing has a profound effect on the singer, overwhelming her emotionally.
And lets it loose again
But it also has a cathartic effect, allowing her to let go of her emotions.
Umzi wakhe, u se maweni
Her homeland is beyond the mountains.
Amafu a lele phezu kwethi
The stars are shining above her.
The Gods have blessed me tonight
The singer feels deeply grateful for her experience of being in this place at this moment.
I spent the night in the sky
The singer feels like she has spent the night among the stars.
With old ladies whose limbs and voices never tire
She spent the night with women who have been singing and dancing for a long time and show no signs of stopping.
Even as I sit here, I can't imagine
The experience was so profound that the singer is still processing it.
What moment in time led me to this one
She wonders what chain of events in her life brought her here.
Take me away
The singer wants the moon to take her away from her current reality.
Ndi hamba nawe
She is ready to go with the moon.
Ndi vumelana nawe
She agrees with the moon's plan to take her away.
And I never will forget your ways
She will always remember this unique experience.
You inspired me
The singer feels that the experience has deeply influenced her.
To find God in motion
She feels that she has found spirituality in the movement and rhythm of the women's singing and dancing.
In a place that seems so still
Despite the perceived stillness of the environment, there was a profound energy in the women's performance.
I saw the face of Mvelinqange here
The singer saw the face of a local ancestral spirit, Mvelinqange, in this place.
A place of mysteries and dreams
This place is full of enigmatic and mystical qualities.
And when I close my eyes I live again and again
The singer is reliving the experience in her mind, over and over again.
Will you take me away
The singer is pleading with the moon to take her away.
Won't you take me away
She is asking the moon to take her away once again.
Won't you take me with you
The singer wants to join the moon's journey through the sky.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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