Words and Music composed, written and arranged by Olusegun Akinlolu. No part of these lyrics should be shared in any form or any public space without giving credit to the writer. All rights reserved. © & ℗ 2015 EniObanke
1. ARA
ẸniỌbánkẹ́ ló kó’lù jáde o
Fìrìjàjì l’èrò pé’sẹ̀ síbẹ̀
L’àwọn ọmọge bá rọ́ s’ójú agbo
Oríṣiríṣi ijó ni wọ́n pè s’ẹ́sẹ̀ yí o
Àrà leléyìí o - àrà rẹpẹtẹ
Àrà leléyìí o - àrà ribi-rìbìtì
Àrà leléyìí o - àrà meèrírí
ẸniỌbánkẹ́ ló m’órin s’ẹ́nu o
Àyè ò gb’èrò ní’jọ́ t’a wí yẹn
Ọ̀dọ́mọkùnrin bá kó’ra jáde
Láìwo’jú ẹnìkan ni wọ́n fi ‘jó ṣ’ẹ̀yẹ o
Àrà leléyìí o - àrà rẹpẹtẹ
Àrà leléyìí o - gbémigògiriwò
Àrà leléyìí o - àrà meèrírí
ẸniỌbánkẹ́ ẹ kú iṣẹ́ òní o
Àní ká pà’lù k’á wá re’lé o
Àwọn ọmọdé bá ní ‘jó ọ̀ún kàn wọ́n o
L’àwọn àgbàgbà bá gbè wọ́n l’ẹ́yìn
Àrà leléyìí o - àrà rẹpẹtẹ…
(The ẸniỌbánkẹ́ crew brought out the drums
In no time, the place was filled with people
The young ladies trooped unto the dance floor
And started displaying all kinds of scintillating moves
What a sight this is, a massive wonder
What a sight this is, a huge wonder
What a sight, the kind never experienced before
It was ẸniỌbánkẹ́ who started singing
On that day, it was standing room only
And then the young men trooped out
Without any care, they danced so beautifully
What a sight this is, a massive wonder
What a sight, the kind you ask to be lifted over a fence for
What a sight, the kind never experienced before
ẸniỌbánkẹ́ crew, you’ve done well today
Looks like time to pack up and go home
Then the children step out and ask for their turn
And the elders happily support them
What a sight this is, a massive wonder…)
2. OUTSIDER
You walk the thin line
Don't want to lose your soul
But the hammer of justice has gone to hell
Then you realize you are the guardian
Of a truth that no longer fits the bill
When the music dies you carry on
Deep into the night
And when the shadows melt in light
It’s plain to see, it’s only empty dreams.
You are an outsider looking in
Stranger in your own house
It must be hard I know
To be the only one wondering why everybody’s laughing
And it seems like the joke is all on you.
Here you stand with the drifters
Knowing nothing will turn the stream around
You’re the lone voice screaming out loud
But the people are deaf, seems like all is lost
But this surge of hope still carries on
And only you can feel that even in the deepest darkness
Time will turn like a raging bull.
Pressure rising, tempers flaring up
We’re near the tipping point
But at the break of dawn they’ll raise another song
And break your righteous heart
3. AKAWỌGBEKUN
Ojú funfun kọ́ nì’wà ire
Bara dúdú kọ́rọ́í, é mà í ṣe t’àìwẹ̀
Akáwọ́gbékùn tó nwòye kì mà í ṣ’ọ̀lẹ
Ṣèbí’nú ló nrò
A kó’ra jọ nwùwà ibi, tìfunlọ̀ràn, wọn ò l’ọ́nà méjì
Ilé a gbeh f’ọ́bùn láti ṣọ́, bí ò bá dàwó ìgbẹ́ ni yó dì
Igbó nlá ni yó dà
Ìgbẹ́ ni yó dì
Ayáraṣàṣà, ìyẹn lè sá’ré g’òkè
Onísùúrù, ìyẹn á dé’bẹ̀ dandan
Ọlọ́gbọ́nayé ìyẹn nwòye kì mà í ṣ’ọ̀lẹ
Ṣèbí’nú ló nrò
(Having a pale, innocent face isn’t necessarily a sign of good character
Just as being of the darkest complexion isn’t the result of poor hygiene
The recumbent thinker, looking on, isn’t indolent
He’s only deep in thought
Now, to those who congregate to commit evil
All these wasteful gluttons with no creative ideas
A house left to the slothful, if it doesn’t crumble,
Will soon grow decrepit
The swift and the powerful may ascend quickly
But the patient will eventually reach the summit
The wise one, looking on, isn’t lazy
He’s only deep in thought)
4. DREAMING (ON A BREEZY NIGHT)
Dreaming on a breezy night
She comes to me, daughter of the sea
In her eyes burn fire, smoke in her nostrils
And her belly button gushes out the fluid of life
What she says to me takes me by surprise
“Call the chosen ones, there’s work to be done”
Of what value is an African life to them
Are we just a headline of horror and shame?
To feel my pain, you have to walk in my shoes
You’ll have to wear my skin, babble in my tongue
“People of the land, inheritors of pain
Let your vision rise and soar with the eagle”.
Ẹ kéde ayo ní gbangba, ọjọ́ ìdùnnú l’ọjọ́ òní o
Ẹni a rò pé kò le pà’gọ́, ṣèb’óun mà ló kọ́’lé aláruru
Ará ẹ gbìmọ̀ ká bo’rí àìní, k’óníkálukú múra sí’ṣẹ́ rẹ̀
Ẹní ti d’òkú ni ò ní’rètí, ìṣẹ́gun nbọ̀ f’ẹ́nití ò rẹ̀wẹ̀sì
(Announce the good news in public, today is a day of joy
For those who were looked down upon
Have gone and achieved an amazing feat
People, let’s work together to overcome poverty
Let everyone put more effort into their undertakings
Only the dead have no hope,
Victory belongs to those who do not give up)
Dreaming on another night
She touches me, our mother of the waters
“I bring you laughter for the long days
And strength and faith to see you through the tunnel
When the morning comes, reach to the sun
On the road again, reach for tomorrow”
5. IRETI-OGO
Ẹni t’ó dúró kó dúró régé, aṣòtítọ́ oní’nú re
Ọjọ́ òní le korò díẹ̀, ó di dandan k’ọ́la wa ó dára
Jọ̀wọ́ jẹ ká mú’ra, ká má ṣe ṣiyèméjì
Ọjọ́ ọ̀la nbọ̀, ó nbọ̀ wá dùn ṣ’o gbọ́
Ọ̀rẹ́ mi m’ọ́kàn le, gb’ójú rẹ s’íbi gíga
Ìrètí ògo rẹ nbọ̀ wá d’ire
Gbọn’ra jìgì, k’o dúró gbágbá
Má ì dá’wọ́ dúró ọ̀rẹ́ mi ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ la wà o
Taraṣàṣà, má ṣe m’ọ́wọ́ l’ẹ́rán o
Báòkú ìṣe ò tán o, l’àwọn àgbà nwí
(Stand well, you valiant ones
You honest and kind hearts
The present may be full of hardship
Tomorrow will definitely be fine.
Let us gird up our loins and harbour no doubt
The future is near, and it will be sweet
Beloved, be of courage, fix your sights on higher planes
Your expectation of glory soon to be
Shake off lethargy and stand firm
Don’t stop now, this is only the beginning
Make a move, don’t resign to fate
As the elders say: as long as there’s life, there is hope)
6. ABUKE ỌSHIN
Ìgbín ṣe’un tó d’ọshìn
Ọba dá ìgbín l’ólá, wọ́n mà f’ìgbín j’oyè
Wọ́n fun l’árẹwà k’ó mú ṣ’aya o
Ìgbín g’ẹṣin rọ̀bọ̀tọ̀, ìgbín tẹ̀’pá ìlẹ̀kẹ̀
Ìgbín nj’ayé olówó o
Ọba dá ìgbín l’ólá, wọ́n mà f’ìgbín j’oyè
Wọ́n fun l’árẹwà k’ó mú ṣ’aya o
Ìgbín p’abuké ọshìn - gbọngúdúgbọn!
(The snail did something bad, something that hurt the king
Instead of punishing him, the king rewarded him
With great wealth, a title and a beautiful wife
The Snail now rides a mighty horse
He walks with a staff adorned with jewels
He’s living the high life
All that, for murdering the King’s hunchback
Well, go figure!)
A bo’rí oníbàjẹ́ ò geere, ire ni kó ya’lé àwa, ire
Òsì àdánù kí wọ́n yàgò, ire ni kó ya’lé àwa, ire
Ẹ w’ẹ̀sín olópùrọ́ nígbangba, ibi kò ní wọ’lé ẹ̀yin, ibi
Ọ̀dàlẹ̀ ọ̀rẹ́ on’ígbá ọ̀tẹ̀, ibi kò ní wọ’lé ẹ̀yin, ibi
A f’aì bá wọn jà wọ́n nbínú - ire ni kó ya’lé àwa, ire
B’ó ti wù k’órí, òtítọ́ l’àgbà - ire ni kó ya’lé àwa
(We have defeated the corrupt one - may good fortune come to us
Let poverty and loss depart - may good fortune come to us
The liar has been put to shame in public – may evil not come your way
Fake friend, betrayer of trust - may evil not come your way
Without provocation they get angry - may good fortune come to us
Irrespective, truth will reign supreme - may good fortune come to us)
7. TEN LASHES
Don’t you worry about the wicked
Who succeed in their evil ways
Soon their memory will fade away
They will die like plants that wither
Disappear like smoke
It may seem a long time coming
And the suffering never ends
When they think they’ve got it all
They will fall like flies in the fire
Disappear like smoke
So stand! Even when the system is turned all against you
Stand! Even when they come to take and rub you out
Stand! Even when they say -
Give him ten lashes, give twenty lashes, shut his mouth forever
Hit him on the head o, beat him on the body too, teach him a lesson
Ìdúró l’a dúró l’onítọ̀ún sá’ré wá,
Ó l’óun ò jẹ́ gba’rú ẹ̀ b’ó ṣ’òun
Ká f’ojú ẹni gbo’lẹ̀, ká gba t’ọwọ́ ẹni
Ká tún bu’yẹ̀pẹ̀ sí ni l’ẹ́nu
(We were just standing there when this fella rushed in
Saying he could never accept such injustice
To be pushed to the ground, relieved of one’s belongings
And then endure even more insult)
Ìjòkó la jòkó, l’onítọ̀ún sá’ré dé
Ó l’óun ò jẹ́ gba’rú ẹ̀ ní t’òun
Ká fì’yà jẹ baba, ká mù’yá ṣ’ẹrú
Ká wá f’ọmọ ṣ’ọwọ̀ ilé ìgbọ̀nsẹ̀
(We were just sitting there when this fella dashed in
Saying he could never accept such tyranny
For the father to be maltreated, the mother enslaved
And then the children exploited as toilet brooms)
Stand! Even if you don’t believe anything will change
Stand! Even when it seems all hope is lost
Stand! Even when they say -
Give him ten million, pay him in dollars, shut his mouth forever
Hit him on the head o, beat him on the body too, teach him a lesson
8. YỌ’WỌ
Ẹní rò’fọ́ ibi, inú ara rẹ̀ ni ó jẹẹ́ sí
Yíó rù ’yókù lọ sí’lé, ọmọ rẹ̀ á jẹ ní’bẹ̀ dandan
Ẹni tẹ̀’bà ọ̀tẹ̀, ọbẹ̀ ẹ̀tẹ́ ni ó fi jẹ́
Àní yíó rù ’yókù lọ sí’lé, ìran rẹ̀ á jẹ ní’bẹ̀ dandan
Ò bá dẹ̀ yọ’wọ́ o, yọ’wọ́ o nínú ibi
Yọ’wọ́ o, yọ’wọ́ o nínú àìda
Ẹkún ìpayínkeke, ní’lé àwọn aṣèbàjẹ́
Ọfà oró tí ẹ ta s’ókè, ìyẹn ló padà wá’lẹ̀
Ẹkún ìjansẹ̀mọ́lẹ̀ o, n’ílé apamọlẹ́kún
Òkò ọ̀fọ̀ tí ẹ sọ s’ọ́jà ìyẹn ló dàbọ̀ wá’lé
À ngb’èrò kó lè da o, kí ’bùkún ìlú le kárí
Mọ̀dàrú f’orí sọ’lẹ̀, ó ní à fi kí gbogbo rẹ̀ ó jẹ́ t’òun
À nṣ’ètò kó lè jọ, k’ọ́mọdé rí k’álàgbà rí jẹ
Bàsẹ̀jẹ́ fàáké kọ́’rí, ẹ̀sín ni ó gbà kẹ́yìn
Má ṣe ba wọn kọ́ ’lé ẹ̀tàn
K’o má ba báwọn jíjó ẹ̀tẹ́
Má ṣe ba wọn dín dòdò ẹ̀gbin
(The maker of poisonous stew will feast on it himself
The remnant he will take home for his children
He who cooks skulduggery will eat it with shame and mockery
And whatever is left he must surely take home for his clan
So, would you desist from doing evil now?
Would you stop doing these bad things?
Wailing and gnashing of teeth in the homes of the wicked
The toxic arrows you shot in the air have now come back down to you
Desperate lament ensues from the home of the marauders
The stone of sorrow you flung into the market has now returned home
So, would you desist from doing evil now?
Would you stop doing these bad things?
We come together to plan good things
That our communal wealth may go round everyone
The greedy, lawless one insists all must be his only
We gather to fashion out a path to societal progress
That everyone, old and young, should have aplenty
The corrupt glutton stubbornly stands in the way
Public disgrace will be his eventual reward
So, would you desist from doing evil now?
Would you stop doing these bad things?
Please do not join them to build those castles of lies
So you may not have to join them in the dance of humiliation
Please do not partake in cooking that dish of dirt)
9. ONE GOOD SOUL
Ọ̀rẹ́ k’á má purọ́, b’áyé ṣe nlọ yì́ o
Ajínibásùn á d’ọkọ - ẹ rí yẹn rò
Àní t’a bá la ’jú la ó ri b’ó ṣe rí o
Ẹgbẹ́ oníbàjẹ́ nd’ọdẹ atúnlù́tò
(Friend, to be brutally honest
The way things are going right now
The casual fling will become one’s husband - think about it
Only if we keep our eyes open
Can we see the true state of things
The cult of corrruption seeks the ruination of the reformers)
When you turn to the right,
Looking for love - it’s not there
Then you look to the left, up and down
Seeking for hope - it’s not there
And everything is upside down; it seems like the end
But even one good soul is a blessing to this land
Stand firm!
Ọ̀rẹ́ k’á má purọ́, ọj́ọ́ ng’orí ọjọ́
Nṣe ló dà bí kò ní ṣe é ṣe - ẹ rí yẹn rò
Àní t’a bá la ’jú la ó lè r’ọ́nà lọ
Ìlọsíwájú nbọ̀ wá dandan, b’a fẹ́ b’a kọ̀
(Friend, to be brutally honest
So much time has passed, it seems almost impossible now
Only if we open our eyes can we see the way forward
Progress is coming whether we like or not)
When you turn to the old
Looking for wisdom - it’s not there
Then you turn to the youth on the street
Seeking for strength - it’s not there
And everything is upside down; it seems like the end
But even one good person is a blessing to this land
Stand firm!
When you turn to the holy men
Looking for truth - it’s not there
Then you turn to the mothers
Seeking for justice - it’s not there
And everything is upside down; it seems like the end
But even one good soul is a blessing to this land
Stand firm!
10. LIGHTS OF SPAIN
This one's for my brotherman
Heavy heart, had a tough life
Dreamy eyes fixated on distant shores
So he packs all his memories, puts them all in a rucksack
Take a trip through the Sahara desert for a fee
So here we go on the road again
May the gods ride by your side
Roll and toss and bump along
Through the pains and the horrors
And many bones turned to dust
On a camel, on a truck, to the seething sea
Some give up in the middle
Some will be turned around
But everyone will lose a bit of his soul
So here we stand at the shore of hope
Cold and numb and drained of life
But the lights of Spain beckon
I seek a sign in the rising sun
I seek a union with the moon
I’m a struggling man with no place to call home
I seek a sign in the whispering winds
So remember Mr. Borderman
I’ve travelled, come a long long way
And there is no going back to the hell I left behind
And I ask of the heavens above:
Send me back to the world again
But next time let me be of lighter shade
So wake me up when this dream is over
We'll be landing in a while
And all the pain will be no more
I seek a sign in the rising sun
I seek a union with the moon
I’m a lost soul with no one to call friend
I seek a sign in the whispering winds
11. LEKELEKE
Lékeléke nfò l’ókè, ẹyẹ funfun ni
Lékeléke nfò l’ókè, ẹyẹ funfun ni
Aṣọ àlà ni mo wọ̀ elépo yà fún mi
Lékeléke nbọ̀ l’ọ́nà ẹyẹ funfun ni.
Fò, máa fò, máa fò, ẹyẹ ọlọ́lá
Bọ̀, máa bọ̀, máa bọ̀, ẹyẹ oníre
(Lekeleke, white bird flying high
I’m in my pure white garment,
Steer clear of me palm-oil bearer
Here comes Lekeleke, a white bird.
Fly, fly high, you affluent bird
Come, descend, bird of good fortune)
Sometimes I wish I could fly
Like a bird in the sky - away, away
With the love and the strength of the fathers
In the blessing of the spirits of the sky
In the warmth of the bosom of the mothers
With the knowledge and the wisdom that I need
To set my people free, set my people free
Ó nbọ̀ l’ọ́nà, ẹyẹ ọba ni kò ṣe tọ́ o
Ó nb’ónílé wí, ó nkìlọ̀ f’álejò, ó ní ẹ máa sọ́’ra o
Ẹ má fì’yà j’opó, àt’ọmọ òkú ọ̀run
Ó ní ẹ f’ẹ̀sọ̀ s’ayé, ẹ má tẹ tálákà mọ́’lẹ̀ mọ́ o
Ó nbọ̀ l’ọ́nà, ẹyẹ ọba ni…
(Here he comes, the king’s bird, don’t upset him
He speaks to both the natives and foreigners
Says we must watch out, tread carefully
Be good to the widows and the orphans
Stop trampling on the poor
Here he comes, the king’s bird, don’t upset him)
Àwọn ọmọdé ìlú, wọ́n wá kó’ra wọn jọ,
Wọ́n fẹ́ sọ̀ ’kò p’ẹyẹ,
Ẹyẹ kọ̀, ẹyẹ ò kú, nṣe ló nfò, nṣe ló nbẹ́ lát’igi s’ígi
Àwọn àgbàgbà ìlú, wọ́n wá kó’ra wọn jọ
Wọ́n fẹ́ l’ẹ́yẹ l’óko
Wọ́n k’ádà-á jáde, wọ́n káàké-é jáde, wọ́n ngé gi oko
Ó di kà, ó di kò-ó
Ẹyẹ kọ̀, ẹyẹ ò kú, nṣe ló nfò, nṣe ló nbẹ́ lát’igi s’ígi
L’áìpẹ́ l’áìjìnà, wọ́n gé gbogbo igi tán, ó wá ku’gi kan l’óko
Igi ìrókò, igi tí gbogbo ayé nfẹ́, èyí tí gbogbo ayé nbọ
Ó di kà, ó di kò-ó, kò mà ku ‘gi kan l’óko o!
Kò wá pẹ́ l’ẹyẹ fò lọ o - pagidarì igi dá
Pagidarì igi dá, ẹyẹ fò lọ o
(All the children gather, to stone the bird to death
To no avail, he just bounds from tree to tree
All the adults arise with matchetes and axes
To rid their town of this pest
They cut down the trees, one after the other
The bird merely glides to the next available spot
Now they’ve felled every tree except the mighty iroko
The one tree beloved and revered by all
But even that soon goes down.
Now, there is no tree left in the forest!
And then the bird flies off far away
Leaving the townsfolk to bemoan
Their waywardness, loss and ruin)
12. ANYONE, EVERYONE
Is there anyone out there
Who understands the way we feel inside?
Raped in the bloom of youth
Sold our innocence on the auction block
Is there anyone listening?
Tiny voice in a sweet lullaby
Yes, I will rock you to sleep my child
And when you wake up, will be a new day
Oh, everyone out there
Have you ever had a chance to live a life?
Sprung from your prison of consumption
Put on a smile for me; quit living a lie
So, will you stand for something or remain a loser?
Time passes by and you’re not getting younger
Stand firm on the path to renewal
Blood of the innocent, wash your sins away
(Wash ‘em away)
Now they say it's a new dawn
You open your eyes and it’s all misty
Here is the vision I sold you once
Darkness and sorrow in a land of plenty
Too many hands reaching
The cup is full and here comes payback
You talk of hope and new ways my friend
The rot is deep, much deeper that you think
Oh, everyone out there
Do you understand the language of pain?
Can a man be real and still be free?
Stand up for something, stay and be counted
So will it build or is it all over?
Promises too many to deliver
We can stand on the side and watch it all unfold
Or we can join our voices and be heard
Is there anyone out there
Who understands the way we feel inside?
Too many hands reaching for shore
Blood of the innocent splattering the walls
So will you stand for something or remain a loser
Time passes by and you’re not getting younger
We can stand on the side and watch it all unfold
Or we can join our voices and be heard
13. SONGS OF THE TRICKSTER
Ìlù mi dún kẹ́kẹ́kẹ́
Ìlù mi dún kàkàkà
Ìlù mi s’ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnu rẹ kí ngbọ́
(Go kẹ́kẹ́kẹ́ my drum, go kàkàkà
Speak to me)
Ọmọdé mẹ́ta nṣ’eré - eré o, eré ayọ̀
Ọ̀kan l’óun ó wẹ̀’kun
Ọ̀kan l’óun ó g’ọ̀pẹ
Ọ̀kan l’óun ó tà’run
Ọ̀wẹ̀kun, ọ̀wẹ̀kun, ọ̀wẹ̀kun
Ọ̀gọ̀pẹ, ọ̀gọ̀pẹ, ọ̀gọ̀pẹ
Ọ̀tàrun, ọ̀tàrun, ọ̀tàrun
(Three children at play –
One says he will swim the ocean
One says he will climb the palm-tree
One says he will shoot his arrow into the sky
Swimmer, swimmer of the ocean
Climber, climber of the palm-tree
Shooter, shooter of the sky)
Réré o, réré ọmọ olúwo - àgbámùréré
Ìyá f’ewúrẹ́ lẹ̀, ó ní nkọ́’dẹ ṣe
Bàbá f’àgùntàn lẹ̀, ó ní nkọ́’dẹ ṣe
Mo l’ó d’igbó ẹfọ̀n, ó d’igbó erin
Àgbàrá òjò l’ó fà mí l’ẹ́sẹ̀, mo yẹ̀ gẹ̀rẹ̀
Mo yẹ̀ gẹ̀rẹ̀ s’ódò, mo bá d’ẹrú ahun
Ahun gbé mi s’ílù, ó ní nmáa kọ’rin
Réré o, réré ọmọ olúwo - àgbámùréré
(I am Rere, son of the chief of diviners
Mother brought a goat, said I should learn to hunt
Father provided a sheep and asked me to learn hunting
Impatient, I took off for the forest to hunt big game
I got caught in a flood and dragged into the river
And that’s how I became the Tortoise’s slave
He placed me in a drum and forced me to sing
I am Rere, son of the chief of diviners)
Mo rí kẹ̀kẹ́ kan - gbinrin, àjàlóbalẹ̀, gbinrin
Òpobípobí - gbinrin, àjàlóbalẹ̀, gbinrin
Òpobìpobì - gbinrin, àjàlóbalẹ̀, gbinrin
Orípolóbì o - gbinrin, àjàlóbalẹ̀, gbinrin
(I see a chariot - splendid, descending from the sky
Òpobípobí - splendid, descending from the sky
Òpobìpobì - splendid, descending from the sky
Orípolóbì o - splendid, descending from the sky)
Take me back to the place of merry-tales
Where we’ll roam in happiness
We’ll be riding aloft
On magical adventures
Fix me up in your world of no pretense
We’ll be innocent again
We’ll be riding aloft
On magical adventures and make-believe
14. PAEAN TO SORROW
Welcome to sorrow
We bring you peace in the shape of war
Lots of horror to spice your joy
We bring you hope in calibrated jars of pain
Out of reach and yet so close
So fleeting yet lingering
Like a dream snuffed out in youth
Welcome to sorrow
This is the night of your new trial
Tribulation in a loud voice
Dazzling lights in a scattered sky
And the violence of it all
Brings you to an ecstasy of denial
Elements in improper alignment
And death in the name of freedom
There’ll be no record of this nightmare
Only the harsh reality of lost innocence
And fear that can’t be spoken of.
There’ll be no parade for the heroes
The scorching memory of faded dreams
How you lost a war you never even fought
And time stops
Stands still
You fold up
Welcome to sorrow
15. AKỌJADE
Ọ̀lẹ f’àì r’oko f’àì kọ’bè, ó mí retí owó
L’áì dẹ’lẹ̀ f’ọ́kà, t’èbù bọ’lẹ̀, ó nrú’bọ òjò
Onífàkàfiki-fìkìfàkà l’órí irọ́
Yíó ba ní’bẹ̀ o - òfo l’ó ma bá
Oun táa bá gbìn l’áyé, òun l’a máa ká
Kò bá wọn d’ọ́jà, bá wọn ná’jà, ó nlọ’gun ọ̀tá
Oníwùrùwúrú, agb’ọ̀nà àbújá, af’èrúd’ọlọ́rọ̀
Kò bá wọn d’óko, bá wọn d’ódò, ó nṣ’orò ìkórè
Yíó ba ní’bẹ̀ o - òfo l’ó ma bá
Oun táa bá gbìn l’áyé, òun l’a máa ká
Ọjọ́ nlọ kíá, àsìkò ò dúró, má ṣ’ọ̀lẹ
Ẹnìkan ò pẹ́ títí kó lo ’lé ayé gbó o
Ẹni nṣè ’rànlọ́wọ́, fa’ni s’ókè, kò ní ṣ’aláìní
Onírẹ̀lẹ̀ ọkàn, abọ̀wọ̀f’ágbà, yíò pẹ́ ní’lẹ̀
Bó kù díẹ̀ k’ẹ́ni ’re jìn s’ọ́gbùn, ìgbàlà á yọ dé
Yíò ba ní’bẹ̀ - ire l’ó máa bá
Oun táa bá gbìn l’áyé, òun l’a máa ká
Jọ̀wọ́ s’ọ̀rọ̀ ìwúrí, ọ̀rọ̀ rere, f’ẹ́ni t’ó nsá’ré
Ká má f’ìwà ìlara àt’àìmọra f’ọwọ́ ago s’ẹyìn
Ẹni njà’jà rere àt’òmìnira, ká gbé wọn dúró
Ka lè ba ní’bẹ̀ - ire l’a máa bá
Oun táa bá gbìn l’áyé, òun l’a máa ká
Ilé ayé, àfọọ́bà-fiílẹ̀ ni
Ẹnìkan ò pẹ títí kó lo’lé ayé gbó o
(The lazy one sits there expecting money
Without clearing a bush or making heaps,
Without tending the earth or doing any planting
Always hustling and bustling about over nothing
He will get his reward - nothing
Because what we sow is what we reap
Sits there blaming imaginary enemies
Without going to the market or trading
Mistress of confusion, master of the easy road
Always looking for shortcuts to wealth
Planning a harvest celebration
Without ever going to a farm or a river
He will get his reward - nothing
Because what we sow is what we reap
Time goes fast, it waits for no one, don’t be lazy
No matter how long we live, we cannot outlive Earth
Those who help others and lift them up will never want
The humble ones who respect the elders will live long
The good soul will always be delivered from peril
He will get his reward - good fortune
Because what we sow is what we reap
Please say encouraging words to those running
We must not allow envy and selfishness to hold us back
Support those fighting the good fight of liberty
So we may all reap the reward - good fortune
Because what we sow is what we reap
Life is temporary
No matter how long we live, we cannot outlive Earth)