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Translations are AI-generated and unedited. AI can make mistakes. When in doubt, trust someone who speaks the language.
Translations are AI-generated and unedited. AI can make mistakes. When in doubt, trust someone who speaks the language.
Intro/Chorus
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ní tèmí | It's mine / In my own way | Yoruba phrase expressing ownership or personal perspective |
| I like the kinda life wey I dey live now | I like the kind of life that I am living now | Nigerian Pidgin English: 'wey' = that/which; 'dey' = am/is |
| 'Cause, oye mí ní tèmí | Because my joy is mine / Because I have my own joy | Yoruba: 'oye mí' = my joy/understanding; 'ní tèmí' = is mine/in my own way |
Verse 1
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I can remember vividly / When I went to my brother to collect change | I can remember vividly / When I went to my brother to collect change | English - referring to asking for money/help from family |
| All he told me was "9ice, be who you wanna be / Copy nobody / And respect your family" | All he told me was "9ice, be who you wanna be / Copy nobody / And respect your family" | English - advice about authenticity and family values |
| Daddy, you know, you always tell us / "To live in harmony" | Daddy, you know, you always tell us / "To live in harmony" | English - reflecting on father's teachings |
| Bà rí ẹni f'ẹhìntí / Bí olẹ láà rí | If we see someone who's backed/supported / We see them as lazy | Yoruba proverb - criticizing people who rely on others instead of hustling themselves |
| Ojú tó má báni kalẹ' / Kò má ní f'aro ṣe'pín | The eyes that will disgrace you / Won't use jealousy as an excuse | Yoruba proverb about enemies and disgrace - your downfall won't come with warning |
| That's why I dey hustle everyday / Just to make a living | That's why I am hustling everyday / Just to make a living | Nigerian Pidgin: 'I dey hustle' = I am working hard |
| Àyé ń retí (àiyé ń retí), eleya mí (eleya mí) | The world is waiting (the world is waiting), my flesh and blood (my flesh and blood) | Yoruba: 'àyé' = world/life; 'ń retí' = is waiting; 'eleya mí' = my relative/kinsman |
| Níbo lo fí t'Olùwà sí? | Where did you put God's own? | Yoruba - questioning someone's faith or whether they've given God His due position |
| Ọba àdake-dájọo / Kà bío ó masí | King who sits to judge / Let's see if it won't remain | Yoruba praise name for God as the ultimate judge |
| Bàbá, ah / So, enemies give way / Na my time to rule the game (na my time) | Father, ah / So, enemies give way / It's my time to rule the game (it's my time) | Mixed Pidgin and English: 'na' = it is. Declaration of his moment to shine |
Chorus
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I like the kinda life wey I dey live now (oyeye, oyeye ye) | I like the kind of life that I am living now (joy, joy) | Pidgin English with Yoruba interjection 'oyeye' expressing joy/celebration |
| I like the kinda life wey I dey live now (Oyemi ní tèmí) | I like the kind of life that I am living now (My joy is mine) | Mixed Pidgin and Yoruba |
| I like the kinda life wey I dey live now (oyeye, oyeye e) | I like the kind of life that I am living now (joy, joy) | Celebration of contentment and satisfaction |
| Ṣo ye ẹ ní tìrẹ? | Do you have yours? / Is yours sweet/joyful for you? | Yoruba - asking if the listener also enjoys their life; challenging them to find their own joy |
Verse 2
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Check your calendar / What you see is some numbers / 365 days, make a year, 52 weeks / I'm meant to survive | Check your calendar / What you see is some numbers / 365 days, make a year, 52 weeks / I'm meant to survive | English with Pidgin structure: 'make' = makes. Reflecting on time and survival |
| Mummy keep on telling me / "Kò má s'ẹbí mí kàn tò kó yìn" | Mummy keep on telling me / "Don't let it be just my hunger that gathers you" | Yoruba proverb - mother warning him not to only come around when he needs something (food/help) |
| Daddy jọwọ sọ fún mí / "T'ewé, t'ewé o bá ṣe orí" | Daddy please tell me / "If leaves, if leaves don't make a head" | Yoruba proverb - if you don't take things seriously from the beginning, you won't succeed |
| Ọmọ j'ọmọ lọ l'Adigun / Mo kọjá ọmọ ènìyàn tà ńperí | A child resembles a child in Adigun's lineage / I surpass the kind of person people are looking for | Yoruba - affirming his heritage and stating he exceeds expectations |
| T'abà r'erin, ká sọ pé à r'erin / Àjànàkú kọjá | If we see an elephant, let's say we saw an elephant / An elephant has passed | Yoruba proverb - call things what they are; acknowledge greatness when you see it |
| Mo rí ńkán fí wí / Ìṣesí, ìmìsí / Ọlọrun lo ohùn mí | I found something to talk about / Hesitation, breathing / It's God who owns my voice | Yoruba - crediting God for his talent and success |
| Who wan' stop me? / I never see | Who wants to stop me? / I haven't seen anyone | Pidgin English: rhetorical question asserting no one can block his progress |
| T'a bá jù ada sókè ní gbàńgba / Bẹẹ ní / Ìbí pẹlẹbẹ lọ má fí lè lẹ (you know...) | If we throw a cutlass up in public / That's how it is / It will fall flat on the ground (you know...) | Yoruba proverb - what goes up must come down; actions have consequences; everything exposed publicly will be revealed |
| Same ni | Same thing / It's the same | Pidgin - emphasizing the point |
Outro
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oye mí, oye mí, oye mí- / I like the kinda life wey I dey live now | My joy, my joy, my joy- / I like the kind of life that I am living now | Repeated celebration of personal happiness |
| Ṣoye ẹ ní tìrẹ? | Do you have yours? / Is yours sweet for you? | Yoruba - final challenge to the listener to find their own contentment |
| Eh, oyemi ní tèmí / 'Cause, oyemí ní tèmí / Kabasa, ṣoye ẹ ní tìrẹ? | Eh, my joy is mine / Because, my joy is mine / Kabasa, do you have yours? | Yoruba with 'Kabasa' as an exclamatory expression. Final affirmation of self-satisfaction |