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Tshwala Bam (Remix)
TitoM ft. Yuppe, Burna Boy, S.N.E
Searched as: Twashala Bam — Burna Boy ft. Yuppe, Burna Boy, S.N.E
English
Zulu
Yoruba
Nigerian Pidgin
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Intro
OriginalTranslationNotes
Uza lebabyYou're coming babyZulu
Sho, fetsa bjang reso thome chommie?So, how do we finish this first, friend?Zulu/Sepedi mix
Ma jo joKeep on dancingCelebratory chant
Ma joKeep dancingZulu
Ma jo joKeep on dancingZulu
Verse 1 (Burna Boy & S.N.E)
OriginalTranslationNotes
Since 1947, the matter never settleSince 1947, the matter never settleEnglish - References Nigeria's independence struggles and ongoing conflicts
You be pot, I be kettleYou be pot, I be kettleNigerian Pidgin - 'Pot calling the kettle black' idiom
My sability lo ya won l'enuMy capability is what shocks themYoruba - 'lo ya won l'enu' = shocks/amazes them
Better recogniseBetter recogniseEnglish
Greatest of all timeGreatest of all timeEnglish
No other name them go call mineNo other name they will call mineNigerian Pidgin
As I dey shine teeth I'm not niceWhen I smile, I'm not being friendlyNigerian Pidgin - 'shine teeth' = smile, warning that his smile is deceptive
Monday ita la wa (Lele)Monday we're in the streetsYoruba - 'ita la wa' = we are outside/in the streets
Tuesday ita la waTuesday we're in the streetsYoruba
Wednesday ita la wa (Yeh)Wednesday we're in the streetsYoruba
As long as Naija la wa (Yeh yeh yeh)As long as Nigeria existsNigerian Pidgin/Yoruba - 'Naija' = Nigeria, 'la wa' = exists/is here
Them they call me the Godfather (Dlala ngami)They call me the Godfather (Play with me)English/Zulu - 'Dlala ngami' = play/mess with me
Move like an Italian (Dlala eh)Move like an Italian (Play/mess around)English/Zulu - Reference to mafia/godfather imagery
Ti ara ba n'ta yin (Dlala yoh, wetshwala bami)If the body is bothering you (Play/mess around, oh my alcohol)Yoruba/Zulu mix - 'Ti ara ba n'ta yin' = if you're feeling it/bothered
Have you ever seen a nigga like moi (Mali yoh)Have you ever seen a guy like meEnglish/French - 'moi' = me; 'Mali' echoes Zulu 'imali' (money)
Each and every lady wanna gimme me mwahEach and every lady wants to kiss meEnglish - 'mwah' = kiss sound
We dey smoke weed, we no dey smoke cigar (Dlala ngami)We smoke weed, we don't smoke cigars (Play with me)Nigerian Pidgin/Zulu - Asserting authenticity
Na we ite Achorom nwaWe are the real Achorom childrenNigerian Pidgin/Igbo - 'Achorom' is an Igbo reference; claiming authentic status
I no do pass king SolomonI don't do more than King SolomonNigerian Pidgin - Biblical reference to Solomon's wisdom and excess
I get high adrenalin (Mali yeh)I have high adrenaline (Money yeah)Nigerian Pidgin/English/Zulu
If you no like me iwo lo moIf you don't like me, you're the one who knowsNigerian Pidgin/Yoruba - 'iwo lo mo' = you know/it's your problem
My advice is run along (Dlala ngami)My advice is run along (Play with me)English/Zulu
Cause my guys ti won bo l'ona (Dlala ngami)Because my guys are coming on the way (Play with me)Yoruba/Zulu - 'ti won bo l'ona' = they are coming on the road
Make the sky start falling downMake the sky start falling downEnglish - Hyperbolic threat
Ti ori ba n'ta yin (Dlala eh)If your head is bothering you (Play/mess around)Yoruba/Zulu - 'Ti ori ba n'ta yin' = if your head is hurting/bothering you
I'm still your daddy (Tshwala bami)I'm still your daddy (My alcohol)English/Zulu - Asserting dominance
Chorus (S.N.E)
OriginalTranslationNotes
Ngixolele tshwala (Lele)Forgive me, alcoholZulu - Apologizing to liquor personified
Ngaqeda imali yami (Mali yeah)I finished my moneyZulu - Spent all money on drinking
Wang'sinda umthwalo wamiYou carried my burdenZulu - Alcohol as emotional crutch
Wal'thetha icalaYou spoke my caseZulu - Alcohol made him confess/reveal things
Wetshwala udlala ngami (Dlala ngam)Oh alcohol, you're playing with meZulu - Alcohol is toying with/manipulating him
Endlini bakhala ngami (Khala)At home they're crying about meZulu - Family suffering because of his drinking
Wadlala ngami (Dlala yoh)You played with meZulu - Alcohol has manipulated him
Wetshwala bami (Tshwala bami)Oh my alcohol (My alcohol)Zulu - 'Tshwala bami' = my liquor/alcohol
Bridge (S.N.E)
OriginalTranslationNotes
Eish weh tshwala bamiOh my goodness, my alcoholZulu - 'Eish' is an exclamation of distress or surprise
Ayi mongameli uyis'dakwa (Is'dakwa)Oh president, you're behaving like a drunkardZulu - Addressing someone of authority who is drunk
Vele ngoba ngena macala (Macala)Simply because I'm stepping into troubleZulu - 'macala' = trouble/cases
Amacase nama court SavannaCases and courts SavannaZulu/English - 'Savanna' is a popular South African cider brand; wordplay on legal cases and cases of drinks
S'vele sikhwele kulolodabaWe just jumped into this matterZulu - Jumped headfirst into the situation
Shibidim shibidam shibidibishamshe[onomatopoeia]Zulu - Sound effects representing drinking/pouring sounds or dancing
Ivel'igubude siphuz intwengapheli, pheliIt overflows, we drink something that never endsZulu - Describing endless drinking
Uzobadelel umongameli (Iyoh, Yoh)You'll end up disrespecting the presidentZulu - Warning about consequences of drinking
Outro (S.N.E & Burna Boy)
OriginalTranslationNotes
Tshwala bami (Ma jo jo)My alcohol (Keep dancing)Zulu
Tshwala bami yeah (Ma jo)My alcohol yeah (Keep dancing)Zulu
Tshwala bami (Ma jo jo)My alcohol (Keep dancing)Zulu
Tshwala bami yeah (Ma jo)My alcohol yeah (Keep dancing)Zulu - Repeating the title as a celebratory mantra despite the song's darker themes