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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
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oya wee | Hey you | Swahili casual greeting/call for attention |
| Aaah, sio kweli! | Aaah, that's not true! | Swahili - expressing disbelief or rejection of negativity |
Chorus
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lalalala lalalala | Lalalala lalalala | Melodic vocalization expressing joy and celebration |
| Wolololo lolololo | Wolololo lolololo | Melodic vocalization, celebratory ululation-style sound common in East African music |
| (Oh maisha mafupi bwana) | (Oh life is short, my brother) | Swahili - philosophical reflection on the brevity of life |
| (Yaani kujivala…) | (I mean, to enjoy oneself...) | Swahili - 'yaani' means 'I mean/that is to say', 'kujivala' means to dress up/adorn oneself, implying living well |
| Jamanisa ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi i kwe chi | Let's go together ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi i kwe chi | Swahili 'jamanisa' means 'let's unite/come together'; 'ikwe ikwechi' is rhythmic Bongo Flava ad-lib/party chant |
| Sasa twende sasa, ikwe ikwechi, ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi i kwe chi | Now let's go now, ikwe ikwechi, ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi i kwe chi | Swahili - 'sasa twende sasa' means 'now let's go now', urgency to enjoy and celebrate; 'ikwe ikwechi' continues as rhythmic chant |
Verse 1
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stress, stress for what? | Stress, stress for what? | English - rhetorical question rejecting stress and anxiety |
| Hating, hating on what? | Hating, hating on what? | English - rejecting negativity and envy from others |
| Bad energy oh, what do I need that for? | Bad energy oh, what do I need that for? | English - rhetorical question dismissing negative vibes |
| My brother, make your money, conquer, life is too short | My brother, make your money, conquer, life is too short | English - advice to focus on success and achievement given life's brevity |
Bridge
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I want to live largely | I want to live largely | English - desire to live lavishly/abundantly |
| I want to be happy | I want to be happy | English - simple declaration of wanting happiness |
| Mapenzi ganda, I don't want that | Complicated/problematic love, I don't want that | Code-mixing: Swahili 'mapenzi' = love, 'ganda' = complicated/problematic - rejecting drama in relationships |
| Ukinipenda sawa, usiponipenda basi furaha yangu ni mimi mwenyewe | If you love me, fine; if you don't love me, then my happiness is in myself | Swahili - declaring emotional independence; 'sawa' = okay/fine, 'basi' = then/so, 'mimi mwenyewe' = myself alone |
Chorus
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lalalala lalalala (Oh maisha mafupi bwana) | Lalalala lalalala (Oh life is short, my brother) | Swahili parenthetical reinforces carpe diem theme |
| Wolololo lolololo (Yaani kujivala…) | Wolololo lolololo (I mean, to enjoy oneself...) | Swahili - encouraging self-care and living well |
| Lalalala lalalala | Lalalala lalalala | Melodic vocalization |
| Wolololo lolololo | Wolololo lolololo | Melodic vocalization |
| Jamanisa ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi i kwe chi | Let's go together ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi i kwe chi | Swahili 'jamanisa' + rhythmic Bongo Flava chant |
| Sasa twende sasa, ikwe ikwechi, ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi i kwe chi | Now let's go now, ikwe ikwechi, ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi i kwe chi | Swahili urgency + party chant |
Verse 2 (Jux)
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I feel so good, I'm feeling good tonight | I feel so good, I'm feeling good tonight | English - expressing contentment |
| (nina amani hata kama nikilala) | (I have peace even when I sleep) | Swahili - 'nina' = I have, 'amani' = peace, 'hata kama' = even if/when, 'nikilala' = I sleep; expressing inner tranquility |
| I feel so good japo leo mambo tayari nina imani | I feel so good although today things are already set, I have faith | Code-mixing: English + Swahili 'japo' = although, 'leo' = today, 'mambo tayari' = things are ready/set, 'nina imani' = I have faith |
| Kesho nitapata hela | Tomorrow I will get money | Swahili - 'kesho' = tomorrow, 'nitapata' = I will get, 'hela' = money; expressing optimism about future prosperity |
| Let me enjoy enjoy (aah) | Let me enjoy enjoy (aah) | English - plea to be allowed to celebrate and be happy |
| It's time for joy (aah) | It's time for joy (aah) | English - declaring it's the moment for celebration |
| I live my life, nobody knows tomorrow | I live my life, nobody knows tomorrow | English - carpe diem philosophy |
| Let me enjoy enjoy (aah) | Let me enjoy enjoy (aah) | English - repeated plea for joy |
| It's time for joy (aah) | It's time for joy (aah) | English - repeated declaration |
| Hizo stress za life (aah) / Those life stresses (aah) | Those life stresses (aah) | Code-mixing: Swahili 'hizo' = those, 'za' = of, English 'life' and 'stress' - acknowledging life's challenges |
| I'll deal with them tomorrow | I'll deal with them tomorrow | English - choosing to postpone worry in favor of present joy |
Bridge (Jux)
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I want to live largely | I want to live largely | English - desire for abundant living |
| I want to be happy | I want to be happy | English - simple declaration |
| Mapenzi ganda, I don't want that | Complicated love, I don't want that | Code-mixing: Swahili - rejecting relationship drama |
| Ukinipenda sawa, usiponipenda basi furaha yangu ni mimi mwenyewe | If you love me, fine; if you don't love me, then my happiness is in myself | Swahili - declaration of self-sufficiency and emotional independence |
Chorus
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lalalala lalalala (Oh maisha mafupi bwana) | Lalalala lalalala (Oh life is short, my brother) | Swahili reminder of life's brevity |
| Wolololo lolololo (Yaani kujivala…) | Wolololo lolololo (I mean, to enjoy oneself...) | Swahili - encouraging living well |
| Lalalala lalalala | Lalalala lalalala | Melodic vocalization |
| Wolololo lolololo | Wolololo lolololo | Melodic vocalization |
| Jamanisa ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi i kwe chi | Let's go together ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi i kwe chi | Swahili 'jamanisa' + Bongo Flava rhythmic chant |
| Sasa twende sasa, ikwe ikwechi, ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi i kwe chi | Now let's go now, ikwe ikwechi, ikwe ikwechi ikwe ikwechi i kwe chi | Swahili urgency + party chant |
Outro
| Original | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oh nanana, oh nonono | Oh nanana, oh nonono | Melodic ad-libs common in Afrobeat/Bongo Flava |
| Cheza sana, party momo | Dance a lot, party thoroughly | Swahili - 'cheza sana' = dance/play a lot, 'party momo' is Swahili slang for partying hard/thoroughly |
| Oh nanana, oh nonono | Oh nanana, oh nonono | Repeated melodic ad-libs |
| Cheza sana, party momo | Dance a lot, party thoroughly | Swahili - repeated call to celebrate and dance |