JANGBALAJÙGBÚ

Words and Music composed, written and arranged by Olusegun Akinlolu (except What Will It Take? which was written by Olusegun Akinlolu and Carolyn McCormack). No part of these lyrics should be shared in any form or any public space without giving credit to the writer. All rights reserved.  © & ℗ 2002 EniObanke


 

1. HOW DO YOU DO? (OWURỌ L’ỌJỌ)

Ojúmọ́ ti mọ́, ará mi ẹ gbé ra n’ílẹ̀, iṣẹ́ ti yá 
Ojúmọ́ ti mọ́, ọ̀rẹ̀ mi ẹ gbọn’ra jìgì ká tún’ra mú 
Oníṣẹ́ ọwọ́, alákọ̀wé, gbogbo ẹni t’ó nwa’ṣẹ́, ọmọ’lé ìwé o 
Òwurọ́ l’ọjọ́, ẹní máa r’íre o 
Wọ́n á ṣè ‘bà òwúrọ̀ o 

(A new day is here, arise, it is time for work 

Arise, shake off lethargy, refocus your energy 

All you tradesmen, office-workers, 

Job-seekers and school children, 

The morning determines the day 

Those who wish for success must pay homage to it) 

Good morning, I greet you, how do you do? 
Good morning, I greet you, we’ve got some work to do 
Good morning, I greet you, how was your night? 
Good morning, I greet you, it will be a beautiful day 
If you do your work with honesty and pride 
You will find your dreams coming true very soon 
If we could be patient and live within the law 
There would be much progress 
Everyone would be happy… 

2. JANGBALAJÙGBÚ

Who made the earth shed tears of sorrow 
Who makes the children cry so much 
Who’s going to bring back the smiles on their faces 
Who’s going to make us laugh?
Ẹ bá ngbọ́n’dò yí gbẹ 
Jangbala jùgbú jùgbú jùgbú jangbala 
Ojo t’ó rọ̀ l’àná yẹn, gbogbo ilé l’omi rọ́ sí 
Gbogbo aṣọ ló tutù 
Baálé ilé ti sùn lọ fọnfọn o 
Gbogbo ọmọdé l’omi ti kó lọ o… 

(Come let’s empty this pond 

Yesterday’s rain flooded the house 

All our clothes are wet 

The head of house was deep in slumber, 

The flood carried away all the children

What joy to see the children when they are playing! 
What joy to see the children running around the place! 
Omo l’aso, omo n’ide ye o, omo l’aworan ere 
Oh, once again to be like a child! 

B’ẹ dé’lé l’òní ẹ má gbàgbé ọ̀rọ̀ t’a wí 
B’ẹ nb’ọmọdé s’ọ̀rọ̀ ẹ fi’fẹ́ báwọn wí o 
Ẹni tó wà ní ‘kọ̀rọ̀ ẹ dákun jáde wá 
Kò mà s’oun t’ó dà bí ìfẹ́ aláṣepọ̀ 

(When you get home, do not forget these words 

Talk to the children with love 

You in the darkness come into the light 

There’s nothing like the love that brings us together

Ẹ má wẹ̀hìn o 
Ìdí ọ̀rẹ́ mi l’èmi ó fi sí, ìdí ọ̀rẹ́ mi jàlánjòló 

(No one should look back 

I shall place it behind my friend 

My darling, bosom friend

Àwa mà ṣ’oríre o, ayọ̀, a ṣ’oríre ayọ̀ 
Ẹni t’ó bi’mọ tuntun ayọ̀ ni o 
Ẹni t’ó ra mọ́tò̀ yí o, ẹni t’ó kọ́ ’lé yí o, 
Ẹni t’ó nse’gbéyàwó o, ẹni t’ó nṣ’ọjọ́ ‘bi o… 

(Good fortune is ours; joy unlimited 

Those who have just had a baby 

They who have just acquired property 

Those who are getting married 

Those celebrating their birthday anniversaries 

Good fortune is ours; joy unlimited

3. KEEP ’EM MOVING 
There was a time we played the rock and roll 
Then came the season of the ballroom waltz 
Oh, yeah we’ve heard all the pop, jazz, blues, yeah 
And my brothers did the roots-rock-reggae 
But these are times when the people want something new 
Something cool, something smooth 
Something just to keep them moving 

Wá jó o! (Come out and dance!

We’ve had our share of miserable days 
Fighting the scourge of oppressors and thieves 
We like to think we are a new generation 
Filled up with love and determined to live 
Yes these are times when the people want something new 
Something cool, something smooth 
Something just to keep them moving… 

Who go fit stop the party when we want to dance 
Who go fit stop the music? No one, no one! 
Who go fit stop the children when they want to play 
Who go fit stop the people? 
 

4. WHAT CAN MAN DO? 

What can man do when Jah-jah’s your guide? 

What can man do when you’ve seen the light? 

What can hate do when love’s in your heart? 

You’ll be standing tall, you’ll be clean and proud 

Tomorrow’s in your eyes, you will never fail 

What can man do when Jah-jah says no? 

What can man do when his time is up? 

You know today’s kings are tomorrow’s bones 

So look up history, the wicked must fall, their children will play 

The oppressed will always laugh last y’know 

It’s just a season it will pass away 

Darkness will give way to light one day 

You know it’s easy but they cannot see 

How we can all live in peace as one 

So, what can man do when Jah-jah’s your guide? 

What can darkness do when you’re in the light? 

What can hate do when love’s in your heart? 

You’ll be standing tall, you’ll be clean and proud 

Tomorrow’s in your eyes, you will never fail 

It’s just a season it will pass away…

5. PASS DE KALABASH 
Work is done, it’s time to have some fun 
People come together, sing a song of joy 
Pass de kalabash o, make we drink some palm-wine 
Pass am o (x 2), drink am o (x2), share am o (x2) 
Don’t you forget - in Africa, people always share 
We love our neighbours all, we don’t discriminate 
Pass de kalabash o, make we drink some palm-wine 
B’ó wùn mí (x2) mo dẹ̀ lè f’ẹmu wẹ̀ 
B’ó wùn mí mo dẹ̀ lè fi ṣ’aṣọ 
B’ó wùn mí mo mà lè fi ṣ’aya 

(If I like I can bathe in palm-wine 

If I want I can wear it like a dress 

If I like I can take it as my wife


6. TROPICAL SPICE 
I’ve come all the way from Africa 
To put some tropical spice in your lives 
I’ll do anything to make you dance, 
Wake up good people, wave your hands 
Wave them high, up in the air 

If you bring a plate of kolanuts 
We will pour the palm-wine in the grove 
The colours of the rainbow in your eyes 
Wake up good people, wave your hands 

Wake up good people, wave your hands 
Do the work we’ve got to do - 
Jump and prance, roll around, 

Wiggle what we’ve got, o yeah! 

Say, how’re you feeling at the back? 
How’re you feeling right in front? 
How’re you feeling on the sides? 
How’re you feeling everywhere? 
Now if you feel like grooving, come, get on over here 
Cos here we’ve got the music to treat your body right 
We going to get you moving, so leave your fears behind 
Forget your pains and worries, we’ve got love over here, 
Got it over here, feel it in the groove! 
Do you feel like grooving? 

7. WHAT A FEELING! 
Ará ẹ ba mi gbọ̀rọ̀ kan o 
Ọ̀rọ̀ yí nkà mí láyà mo wí o 
Ọmọ kan mbẹ tí mo fẹ́ràn 
Bí ngó ṣe bá a sọ̀rọ̀ kò yé mi rárá o 

Nkò rí irú ìfẹ́ èyí rí o, 

Ngò rí irú ẹ̀rín èyí rí o 
Ọmọ tó ní wà t’ó sì lẹ́wà o, 
Mo fẹ́ mọ ‘lé rè o, kí nma bá ẹ lọ 

Jọ̀wọ́ mo fẹ́ m’àwọn òbí rẹ o, baby mi yé 
Jọ̀wọ́ mo fẹ́ m’àwọn ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ o 
Ọmọ oníwàtútù yí o, 

Mo fẹ́ mọ ‘lé rẹ̀ o, kí nma bá ẹ lọ 
Baby jẹ́ nma bá ẹ lọ, honey kí nma bá ẹ lọ 
Ololufẹ jẹ́ nma bá ẹ lọ 

(Friends, there’s something I have to share with you 

It’s weighing heavily on my mind 

There is a lady I am very fond of 

But I do not know how to tell her 

I have never encountered such a love, such a smile 

Perfect bundle of beauty and character 

I’d love to know your home and go with you 

Please, may I know your friends? 

May I meet your parents? 

Perfect bundle of beauty and character 

I’d love to know your home and go with you

Oh, what a feeling, burning me all up 
I can’t help myself - Baby, I want to love you 
I want to be with you both night and day 
Share my life with you - Baby, I want to love you 
Oh, what a feeling, locking up my lips 
I can’t express myself - Baby, I want to love you 
I want to live with you, grow old in your arms, 
Have babies with you… 

Ngó ma bá ẹ lọ ni o-ah o-ah, ngó ma bá ẹ lọ 

(I’m coming with you, yes, coming with you

8. THE SMALL PEOPLE’S ANTHEM 
Ọ̀rọ̀ ayé ṣòro o, ọ̀rọ̀ ayé ṣòro, ọ̀rọ̀ ayé ṣòro 
Ọ̀rọ̀ ayé mà le o, ọ̀rọ̀ ayé mà le, kò mà yé wa o 
Ọ̀rọ̀ aye gb’ẹgẹ́ o, ọ̀rọ̀ ayé gb’ẹgẹ́, ọ̀rọ̀ ayé gb’ẹgẹ́ 
Ọ̀rọ̀ aye ṣòro o, ọ̀rọ̀ ayé ṣòro, kò mà yé wa o 

Àwọn kan lè jẹ, àwọn kan ò rí, àwọn kan nwọ’ṣọ àsìkò 
Àwọn kan nsùn s’abẹ́ gádà, àwọn kan nto ‘lé jọ bí iṣu 
Àwọn kan nj’ọba, àwọn kan nṣ’ẹrú, 
Àwọn kan nse bí Olódùmarè 
Ọmọdé òòjọ́ nṣ’aláìsí, àwọn kan s’ayé d’àwámáàlọ 
Àwọn kan nṣ’ọdún, àwọn kan nsun’kún, 
Àwọn kan nwo’jú Olódùmarè 
Ènìyàn rere wọn ì pẹ́ lọ, ẹni burúkú wọ́n npẹ́ nílẹ̀ o 

(Life is a mystery, so hard to understand 

It requires calm and careful study 

Life, such an insoluble puzzle. 

Some have aplenty, others can’t find, 

Some flaunt trendy fashion 

While some sleep under bridges 

Others stack up houses like yams 

Some rule, others slave, some act like the Supreme Being 

Little children die early while some age and refuse to go 

Some celebrate, others wail 

Many can only look unto the Creator 

Good folks are taken too quickly 

While the evil seemingly live on forever

Some people can’t find a way 
Some people live by the day 
Some people have all the fun 
When will it be our turn? 
Few people take all the wealth 
Poor people bear all the pain 
Small people look to the skies 
When will it be our turn? 

Ayé bí ẹ bá d’agbọ́n, ẹ má ta mí 
Ayé bí ẹ bá d’odò, ẹ máà gbé mi lọ o 

(Evil ones, do not sting me if you turn into wasps, 

Do not sweep me away if you turn into a flood
 

9. SEVEN LIFES 

In my journey through the world, over land and over sea 

I see different cultures and different people's ways 

I was born where the sun never sets and never rises 

I was born where the heat is like a second skin 

Children crying on the streets, automobiles making noise 

The land is growing dry and weak, spirits dying low 

The forefathers calling me: never tire, never weaken 

The pride in me is bursting loose - I'm an African boy. 

On the farm my father called me down behind a tree 

He said, “Prostrate at my feet and say a few prayers” 

Then he told me all the stories of my brave ancestors, 

"Look into my eyes son, you were born to be great" 

So, in the twilight I went home, behind my father with a hoe 

Listening to the songs of birds, whispers of the night 

Singing: seven goats, seven beads, 

Seven cowries, seven nuts, 

Seven lives that's what I've got, I'm an African boy 

Over sea, over land, over mountains and in the wild 

I'll be brave and I'll be strong, I'm an African boy. 

In the evening, mother called me down into her hut 

She said, "Lay upon my bosom and say a few prayers" 

Then she told me to go forward never looking back 

"The spirits are with you and you will never fail" 

So I go into the world, into the deeps, into the wild 

In the market place I danced the sound of bata 

Dancing - seven jumps, seven wriggles, 

Seven cowries, seven nuts 

Seven lives, that's what I've got 

I'm an African boy

10. THE PEOPLE ARE READY 
Will the heroes stand up! Call the brave man to arms! 
The time is right for that someone who can see into the future 
Who will tell us the truth, lead the children a-right? 
Who is ready to speak out for the man who is voiceless? 

You better know - 
The people are ready, they want a better day now 
They are tired of promises, pies in the sky, yeah 
The people are moving to the future with faith now 
There’s got to be a better way, a new dawn of hope 

When will all these pains go 
Who will heal all these wounds 
Will the light ever glow for the man blind with hatred? 
Who will bring back the sunshine to this land of despair 
Who is ready to show some love, 
Free the young of all the anger, you better know - 
The people are ready, they want a better day now 
They’re tired of politics, they want some reality 
The people are moving to the future with faith now 
There’s got to be a better way, a new dawn of hope 

You turn your eyes to the sun 
Don’t you know you could go blind? 
The little children on the streets 
You’ve made their lives such misery 

11. MA BA WỌN SỌ 
L’ọ́jọ́ ọjọ́sí, ọmọdé kìí gb’ójú s’ókè w’àgbà o 
B’àgbà bá nro’jọ́, ọmọdé á pa lọ́ọ́lọ́ọ́ ni 
L’ọ́jọ́ ọjọ́sí, àwọn àgbà kìí wù ’wà ìbàjẹ́ o 
Bí wọ́n bá ṣe ‘bàjẹ́, a ó s’igbá fún wọn ni 
Ẹ jẹ́ á máa bá wọn sọ́, kí wọ́n má ṣe wù ’wà ìbàjẹ́ mọ́ o 
Ọ̀rẹ́, ẹ jẹ́ á máa bá wọn sọ́, kí wọ́n má ṣe wù ’wà ìkà yí o 
Ẹ jẹ́ á máa bá wọn sọ́, kí wọ́n má ṣe wù ’wà ìbàjẹ́ mọ́ o 
Ẹ jẹ́ á máa bá wọn sọ́, kí wọ́n má ṣe wù ’wà ìkà 

(In old times, children dared not disrespect the elders 

When adults gathered to rub minds, 

The young ones knew they had to be quiet 

But in those days the elders didn’t misbehave either 

Such behavour would’ve met with communal rejection

I see them everywhere on the street wasting their lives away 
Youth can’t find no direction to put their energies 
I see them in Europe and America, looking for hope 
Everywhere they go they are lonely, can’t find a warm bed 
Do you like to see the children cry 
And waste their lives away, my brother? 
You like to see them die before their time in poverty? 
Do you like to see the people cry in frustration and desperation? 
Do you like to see them flee and leave this land so full of promise? 

I see them everywhere in factories and plantations 
A new wave of slavery and servitude in foreign lands 
I see them in Asia, Australia, wherever you may think 
Everywhere they go they are lonely, there’s no place like home 

Do you like to see the children crying? 
Like to see the children worry? 
Like to the children running away? 
Like to see them die, brother? 

12. BABA MIMỌ 
Bàbá mímọ́, ìwọ Ọlọ́run gbogbo àgbáyé 
Bàbá wá kọ́ wa, ká lè ma fẹ́ràn ara wa 
Bàbá mímọ́, a tẹríba s’íwájú ìtẹ́ rẹ 
B’ojú wò wá, k’o ṣàánú fún wa 
Bàbá mímọ́, ìwọ ẹlẹ́dàá gbogbo ohun tó nmí 
Wá kọ́ wa k’a lè máa fẹ́ràn ara wa 
Bàbá mímọ́, a tẹríba s’íwájú ìtẹ́ rẹ 
B’ojú wò wá, k’o ṣàánú fún wa 
Ọlọ́run, Ọlọ́run àgbáyé 
Olúwa wa o, ẹlẹ́dàá gbogbo ènìyàn 

(Holy Father, Lord of the Universe 

Please teach us to love ourselves 

Holy Father, we bow before your throne 

Cast your eyes upon us, have mercy 

Lord of the Universe, 

Creator of all Living things 

Please teach us to love ourselves

Why do we lie to the children about their future 
When we are not building good schools? 
Why do we make our women cry so much 
Why is there no peace in this land? 
Why do we have so much darkness in the midst of light? 
Why do we so many leaders who cannot speak the truth? 
Why do we have so many young people fleeing the land? 

Kọ́ wa ka lè ma fẹ́ràn ara wa (Teach us to love ourselves


13. WHAT WILL IT TAKE? 

What would it be like without locks on the doors?

And everyone walking on marble floors

No hate, no greed and no reason to kill 

Everyone is taking the same magic pill? 
 

Peace, love and harmony - what would it take 

To get rid of all this useless hate 

Peace, love and harmony - what would it take 

For us to live together? 
 

What would it be like just to walk down the street 

To smile and talk to everyone we meet? 

No fear, no judging, no reason to fear 

Everybody’s laughing without any care 

Everyone is taking the same magic pill 
 

We are the beginning of our tears and pain 

Deep inside we are all but the same 

Little gifts of love go a long long way 

So, come on everybody, let’s pave the way 
 

Oh! Just what would it take, for the children’s sake? 

Everyone deserves to be happy 

Oh! How long will it take, to the promised land? 

A world of peace where everyone is free 
 

Will it take another bomb, another rocket? 

Will it take another war or a millions lives? 

Will take ten thousand children dying everyday?

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