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. © & ℗ 2007 EniObanke
1. BROTHER IN ARMS (ISẸ MBẸ)
Darkness falls in your heart
Can’t get up, can’t stay down
You think this must be the end of the line
But I’m here by your side, holding on, holding tight
Come on friend, let’s move on to a higher place
Jẹ́ á lọ o, ọmọ Akin ìí ṣ’ojo
Seb’ólùborí ni wá, a ó borí dandan o
Má ṣe sùn, má ṣe rẹ̀wẹ̀sì, má siyèméjì rárá
Má ṣe fòyà, má ṣe bẹ̀rù, má ṣe fà sẹ́yìn rárá
Iṣẹ́ nbẹ o!
Jẹ́ á lọ, jẹ́ á lọ, jẹ́ á lọ
(Let’s go, scion of the brave
We were meant to overcome and we will
Be strong, eschew doubt and fear
Duty calls!)
Sitting here on your bed talking of struggles gone
And the many dreams we cannot achieve
Painful scars and near-misses
But we’ve gone way too far
To be thinking of turning the other way
Let’s go, scion of the brave…
So when you feel the pain will take you down
And you can’t go on
Remember here I am your jolly brother in arms
No matter what may come
We’ll shake the world just like we said
Come on friend, let’s move on…
2. KILỌKILỌ
Ẹ ò ri bí wọ́n ṣe nṣe wá o màmá
Ìfẹ́ d’omi ọ̀rẹ́ ndani, a ò r’ẹ́ni àá f’ọ̀rọ̀ lọ̀
Àbí ẹ ò ri bí wọ́n ṣe nṣe wá o bàbá
Ayé d’oun à bá mọ̀ à bá tí wá
(Do you see as they maltreat us,
Surely you must feel this injustice?
Life has become a tale of regret)
Ọ̀dọ̀ yín o là nbọ̀ wá ṣ’ẹ gbọ́
Àgbà ọlọ́gbọ́n o tó m’òye àsìkò
Ọ̀rọ̀ ò lópin ó ti wá nd’àwí sunkún
Ọ̀jẹ̀ĺú npọ si, olóòtító ṣ’ọ̀wọ́n o
Kìlọ̀kìlọ̀ ẹ lọ bá wa kìlọ̀ fún wọn yé o
A ti sọ̀rọ̀ sọ̀rọ̀ a d’òpònú ajá tí ngbó m’áfẹ́fẹ́
Ṣèb’aditi ni wọ́n, ọmọ a f’èpè ṣ’aṣọ
Kìlọ̀kìlọ̀ ẹ lọ bá wọn sọ̀rọ̀
Mo ṣe b’ẹ́yin lẹ ní ilẹ̀ ò ní le gb’òṣìkà o
Ẹ l’ẹ́ni bá ṣe ní ó jẹ
Ẹni nṣiṣẹ́ ìyẹn ò r’óúnjẹ jẹ kánú
Olópùrọ́ njayé ọba
Àbí ẹ ò rí bí wọ́n ṣe nṣe wá o màmá
Ìfẹ́ d’omi ọ̀rẹ́ ndani, a ò r’ẹ́ni àá f’ọ̀rọ̀ lọ̀
Ẹ nwòran ni bí wọ́n ṣe nṣayé o bàbá
Ayé d’oun à bá mọ̀ à bá tí wá
Mo ṣe b’ẹ́yin lẹ ní ilẹ̀ ò ní le gb’òṣìkà o
Ẹ l’ẹ́ni bá ṣe ní ó jẹ
Mo ṣe b’ẹ́yin lẹ ní ọ̀bàyéjẹ́ ò ní ṣeé gbé
Ọjọ́ lọ tán a ò mà r’ẹ́san
Kìlọ̀kìlọ̀ ẹ lọ bá wa kìlọ̀ fún wọn yé o
A ti sọ̀rọ̀ sọ̀rọ̀ a d’òpònú ajá tí ngbó m’átẹ́gùn
Ṣèb’aditi ni wọ́n, ọmọ a f’èpè bo’ra
Kìlọ̀kìlọ̀ ẹ lọ bá wọn sọ̀rọ̀
Yeye Kìlọ̀kìlọ̀ ẹ bá wa bá wọn sọ̀rọ̀
(We have come to you wise ones,
Masters of time, knowers of riddles
Our lament has become a river of tears
Bad leaders multiply and fraud is a way of life
Would you please go ahead and chastise them?
All our pleading has fallen on deaf ears
But was it not you who said hard work
Is the key to success and the patient one laughs last?
So how come the evil flourish?
Time drags on and still no sign of retribution)
3. WA BU’RA
Àbúrò, ọjọ́ tí à nsọ yìí mà ti ṣe díẹ̀ náà
Mo ṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀ bẹ̀rẹ̀ iṣé nígbànáà ni
Ìrọ̀lẹ́ ọjọ́ tí à nwí yìí, nṣe la jòkó tí à nsimi
L’ọ̀rẹ́ mi Lákúnlé bá ní njẹ́ á lọ s’óde ijó
Èmi náà bá k’áṣo wọ̀, ó d’ọ̀ún.
Ká má ì tíì wọlé báyì, ni mo bá rí ọmọge arẹwà yìí
Nṣe ló dà bí ẹni wípé nkankan fa ojú mi síị
Nígbàtí à nwí yìí ngò ní ìgboyà púpọ̀
Sùgbọ́n mo ṣáà rìn lọ báa
Mo ní, “Jọ̀wọ́ kí l’orúko rẹ?” Ó ní, “Àmọ̀kẹ́”
Mo ní, “Ha, Àmọ̀kẹ́ arẹwà ọmọge, jọ̀wọ́ njẹ́ mo le bá ọ jó?”
Ló bá na’wọ́ pé ó yá, la bá bọ́ s’ójú agbo.
Oh eh, oh eh, àgbà wá bú’ra b’éwe ò ṣe ẹ́ rí
(This story goes way way back,
Just after I secured my first job
One evening after work,
My friend Lakunle suggested we should go to a dance.
On getting there, I glimpsed this beautiful lady
And was smitten instantly
I was a very bashful young man
But I summoned up courage and approached her
I asked for her name and she told me “Amoke”
“Gorgeous Amoke”, I said, “can I dance with you?
She stretched forth her hand and we took the floor.
Swear, old one, that you never did the things of youth)
Àmọ̀kẹ́ mọ̀ọ́ jó o, ọmọdé yìí òkòtó ni
Ṣùgbọ́n èmi náà ngò kẹ̀rẹ̀
Bó bá fàá sí ìhín, èmi náà a fàá sí ọ̀hún
Bó bá rè’dí kere, èmi náà a jupá, ma jusẹ̀
Bó bá tún ìró ró, èmi náà a tún agbádá mi fà
Ló bá di wípé gbogbo ènìyàn pa’gbo fún wa
A jó jó jó, oòǵùn bò wá bí ẹni òjò ká m’ónà oko
Nígbòóyá ó rẹ̀ mí, mo fa Àmọ̀kẹ́ mọ́ra mo dì mọ
Gbogbo ènìyàn bẹ̀rẹ̀ sí pa àtẹ́wọ́
Pẹ̀lú ìmí díẹ̀ tó kù nínú mi
Mo ní, “Àmọ̀kẹ́, mo fẹ́ràn rẹ lọ́pọ̀lọpọ̀”
Kò wulẹ̀ dáhùn, nṣe ló rẹ̀rín músẹ́
Ha, àbúrò ọjọ́ nlá l’ọjọ́ tá nwí yìí
(Amoke could dance! But I kept pace with her.
Step for step, move for move
And very soon the floor was left to us
We danced so much our clothes got soaked in sweat
Eventually, I pulled Amoke to me and hugged her
We got a standing ovation from the audience
With the little breath left in me, I whispered,
“Amoke, I like you a lot”
A gentle smile was the only response I got
Ha, what a day that was!)
Ọ̀rọ tí à nsọ yìí mà ti ṣe díẹ̀ náà
Ó fẹ́ẹ̀ tó ogójì ọdún báyì o
Ha-ha, o la’nu sílẹ̀ ni
Ọjọ́ ọmọ ènìyàn bí ìṣẹ́jú báyì ni
Òun ló fi yẹ kí ènìyàn lo àsìkò rẹ̀ ní ìlò tó dára
Ṣ’ó wa rí o àwọn kan á ní
Ìyàwó táa fẹ́ l’òde ijó ẹ̀yìn àrò níí sùn
Irọ́ pátah gbáà ni ní tèmi àt’Àmọ̀kẹ́
Bí o bá wọ inú ọ̀ọ̀dẹ̀ nbèun,
Àmọ̀kẹ́ nbẹ níbẹ̀ tó nbá àwọn ọmọ ọmọ wa ṣeré
Oò ri, láti ijọ́ tí mo ti pàdé ọmọdé yìí
Ìbùkún àti ohun ayọ̀ ló jẹ́ fún mi
Ṣùgbọ́n lẹ́ẹ̀kànkan tí nkan ò bá f’ara rọ
Àmọ̀kẹ́ á fà mí, á ní
“Olówó-orí-mi e jẹ́ a tún ijó wa yìí jó lẹ́ẹ̀kan si”
Ọ̀tọ̀ ni t’ewú o àbúrò, bó bá kan ti’jó ngó là ọ́
Àmọ̀kẹ́ o!
Oh eh, oh eh, àgbà wá bú’ra b’éwe ò ṣe ẹ́ rí
(Well, this is all in the past, almost 40 years now
Ha, you look surprised!
Life passes very swiftly my friend
That is why one must never joke with one’s time
Some folks would say a relationship
Born in a dancehall is bound for the dump
That hasn’t happened in our case
Still going strong after all these years.
Forget the grey hair young man,
When it comes to dancing, we can still outdo the likes of you
Here, let me call her… Àmọ̀kẹ́ o!)
4. JẸ JẸ JẸ
Mo nlọ jẹ́ jẹ́ jẹ́, mo nlọ tèmi
Ngò mà bẹ́’nìkan jà rárá
Ṣeb’íre ni mò nbá kiri
Mo nlọ jẹ́ jẹ́ jẹ́, mo nlọ tèmi
Ngò mà wá wàhálà rárá
Kó lè da ni mò nbá kiri àgbàgbà
Yíó sì da o
Yíó sì da, àìríná á d’oun ìtàn
Yíó sì da, àìríjẹ á d’ọrọ̀
Yíó sì da, à l’ẹ́rú á dọmọ
Ka má ṣìṣe o,
Ka má yànkú o
K’íre wọ ‘lé wa
K’áboyún ilé máa bí tibitire
K’áwọn àgàn máa t’ọwọ́ b’osùn
K’íre wọ ‘lé, k’áyọ̀ bò lú
Yé, a mà ngbàdúrà o
Wá gbọ o, bàbá olóore o
Wá f’ọwọ́ wa s’ókè
Sùúrù ṣe bóun lọ̀rọ̀ yí ó gbà
Àtì ‘gbóyà ká máa ṣe páyà rárá
Sùúrù ṣe bóun lọ̀rọ̀ yí ó gbà
A ó sì tún ṣeun rere o lọ́jọ́ ayé wa
Sùúrù ṣe bóun lọ̀rọ̀ yí ó gbà
Àtì ‘gbóyà ká máa bá ‘ra ẹni s’òtítọ́
Sùúrù ṣe bóun lọ̀rọ̀ yí ó gbà
A ó sì tún j’ọrọ̀ nílẹ̀ yí ò bópẹ́bóyá
Ìlù ré o, ẹ jó ẹ yọ̀, ọmọ onílù dé a bá ẹ yọ̀
Ìlù ré o, ẹ jó ẹ yọ̀, ẹni nṣe ‘náwó a bá ẹ yọ̀
Ìlù ré o, ẹ jó ẹ yọ̀, ọlọ́jọ́ìbí a mà bá ẹ yọ̀
Ìlù ré o, ẹ jó ẹ yọ̀, ẹni nṣè’dúpẹ́ a mà bá ẹ yọ̀
Ìlù ré o, ẹ jó ẹ yọ̀, ẹni nṣe’unẹ̀yẹ, a mà bá ẹ yọ̀
(Going my own way, not looking for trouble
Going my way, working for the good of all
And it will be well, mother?
Yes it will…
May the blessings of this earth be ours
May our days be long
May our fertile wombs bear good fortune
Hear our plea, lift us high
The good times will return
But we must be patient, we must be brave
And tell ourselves the truth
And it will be well, mother?
Yes it will be well
The music is here, rejoice and dance
We are here to celebrate your special occasion)
5. K’A JỌ MA ṢE PỌ
Ọ̀rẹ́ wá, ojú ọ̀run kò yé wa
Níbo la ó gbà t’a ó fi dẹ́kun ìròbìnújẹ́ o
Òkùnkùn sú o, kò s’ẹ́ni tí ó gbà wá o
Olólùfẹ́ o, fà mí mọ́ra kí ‘dẹ̀ra wọ’lé
Ká jọ máa gbé pọ̀ ló lè da o
Bí ‘re bá wọ’lé ayọ̀ ni yíò pín kárí o
Ojú ọ̀run tó ṣú òjò ni ó fi rọ̀
Sèbí ká jọ máa gbé pọ̀ ló lè da o
Jọ̀wọ́ yé o, tẹ̀lé mi kálọ
Jọ̀wọ́ jẹ́ á jọ máa gbé pọ̀
Ilé ọlá ni ilé mi, ilé aláyọ̀
Jọ̀wọ́ jẹ́ á jọ máa gbé pọ̀
(Come friend, these omens are confusing
How do we rise beyond this wall of depression?
Who will deliver us from the suffocating darkness?
Darling, hold me tight and let in some comfort
It would be great if we lived together
When goodness lands, it spreads joy around
This darkening sky only portends rain
It would be great if we lived together
Please come with me,
My home is a haven of wealth and happiness
Let us move in together)
Ìgbà ọ̀tun dé, mo r’óun tó dùn mó mi
Sèb’ónísùúrù ní jẹ dídùn omi inú àgbọn
Ìfòyà kò sí o, ọkàn mi rọ̀ mọ́ ìfẹ́ rẹ
Ìfọwósowọ́pọ̀ la ó fi rẹ́hìn ọ̀bàlújẹ́ o
Ká jọ máa rìn pọ̀ ló lè da o…
(A new dawn is here, I have found a place of comfort
I glow in courage inspired by the certainty of your love
In unity, with kindred spirits, shall we uproot all wickedness
And overcome these bad leaders
It would be good if we walked together…)
I’m living like a king
But you know you are the ruler of my heart
I’m reaching for the stars
But your love is in my heart
Shining so bright!
6. PRAYERS FOR YOU
Àwọn àgbàgbà ló ní a kí yín o (àwọn màmá ló ní a kí yín o)
Àwọn ìyá ló ní a kí yín o (àwọn àgbàgbà ló ní a kí yín o)
Wọ́n ní ẹ lówó ẹ bímọ o, bẹ ṣòwò ẹ jèrè o
Àwọn amòye ló ní a kí yín o (bàbá ló ní a kí yín o)
Àwọn bàbá ló ní a kí yín o (àwọn ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́n ló ní a kí yín o)
Wọ́n ní ilé yín oyin ni o, ayọ̀ pẹ̀lú ìdẹ̀ra o
Ọmọdé ìlú ló ní a kí yín o (ọ̀jẹ̀ wẹ́wẹ́ ló ní a kí yín o)
Àwọn ọ̀dọ́ ló ní a kí yín o (àwọn ọmọdé ló ní a kí yín o)
Wọ́n ní ẹ bí takọtabo o, ẹ ò ní ṣòfò ọmọ o
(We bring you greetings from the elders;
The good wishes of the mothers
May you be blessed with wealth and children
And may your businesses prosper.
We bring you greetings from the wise ones;
The good wishes of the fathers
May your homes be filled with sweetness, joy and well-being.
We bring you greetings from the young ones-
The children and the youth
May your wombs yield both male and female,
May you not suffer the loss of a child.)
I’m saying prayers for you, my people
That if you walk, may you not stumble
And if you stumble, may you not fall
If you fall, may you be able to rise up
And if you can’t, may there be someone to help you up
If there’s no one, may you have music
If there’s no music, remember my love is with you
I’m saying prayers for you
Ó Olódùmarè ore tóo ṣe fún wa
A jó a ndunú a yọ̀ ṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀
Ọjọ́ òní, ọjọ́ ẹ̀yẹ tóo fi fún wa
A yọ̀, a p’ólóore ṣeun, a yọ̀ adániwáyé ṣeun
(We thank you Olodumare for the blessings we have received
We are joyful and dance in celebration
For this day of glory you have given us
We rejoice and say, “Thank you”)
7. EVERYWHERE YOU ARE
Maà gbọ̀n, aya wa máa gbọ̀n
Maà gbọ̀n, máa gbọ̀n, arẹwà máa gbọ̀n
Bóo ṣe ngbọ̀n yẹn ṣèb’óun lò npogún
Gbígbọ̀n yẹn òun lo fi npọgbọ̀n
Ẹgbẹ̀rún subú lọ̀tún, ẹgbẹgbẹ̀rún foríbalẹ̀ lósì
Maà gbọ̀n, máa gbọ̀n, arẹwà máa gbọ̀n
(Shake, our wife, shake
Sway, beautiful one, sway
Your moves hypnotize tens of thousands
Your gyrations transfix hundreds of thousands
Vibrate pretty maiden, vibrate)
You were the one
Who pulled me up and gave me strength
Though I’m alone, I know you are always with me
Wherever you go
My heart will never leave you lady
I’m everywhere you are
Evil men tempt me
In their eyes I see no love
But I’ll be strong just for you
I will not be moved
Time and time and time again
I’m in a place I don’t want to be
And a weakness comes over me
But your words keep me going on
A man who has nothing to die for has no reason to live
And when you are giving out nothing
You shouldn’t expect any return
I stand firm; I will not be bought, I am not a slave
I stand firm; I am like a rock, I am so strong
I will not be moved!
8. EVERYBODY KNOWS
Here we come Mr. Magicman
Tell us the future, show us the way
Here we come for another trip
“Anyone for miracles?”
Of course everybody knows it’s all lies
When you come with tales of loss
Try to tell the people what’s not
Think you can get away with silly lies
Everyone is on to you
And everybody’s got your game
So when you think you’re fooling us
You’re only fooling yourself
Of course everybody knows it’s all lies
So come, brother give it up, give it up
It’s time to make a change
Come, sister live it up, live it up
We must be strong, very strong
So come, brother give it up, give it up
Before it’s too late for you
Come, sister live it up, live it up
There must be a better way
You have been living a life of abandon
You have been robbing and stealing from the poor
You’re like a naked fool running on the street
It’s time to seek the path of love
This is the beginning of change
Time our master has come to judgment
And these destroyers will be paid back in full
Those who make my people cry in pain
This is the beginning of change
See the multitudes bursting out in joy
Our dance of victory just around the corner
A new season of happiness is here
9. MAMA BENDEL
I still remember the old days
When I was young and in school
My mind will wander to when I was so confused
And I was never sure of whom I was
I was living far away from home
I missed my family and my friends
But out of the gloom there was a woman
Who kept us laughing into the deeps of the night
And we called her Mama Bendel
To her we went for our meals
She made amala the way I liked it
Mama Bendel - she was always there
She put the shine in my dull days
She knew how to make a stone laugh
She knew how to lift my dark clouds away
She told me stories of how she grew up
As a young girl in a village far away
She painted a world of happiness
And taught me the things mother forgot to teach
She talked about love and pain
And what you must do to keep your head
Up above the storms of life
She was Mama Bendel
She would sing and dance to soothe my young soul
Mama Bendel - Honest and true
She was the queen in my little world
Now Mama Bendel is gone away
She died in her sleep a few years ago
They said just before she left
She gave everyone a smile and said
“I’ll be seeing you very soon”
10. DOWN THE STREET
I was going down the street one day
I saw this little girl by the roadside
She was sitting on the floor, crying in her hands
What could make a little one so sad?
So I stood a moment by her side
And I tried to clean away her tears
Baby cry no more, wipe away your tears
Tell me what is on your mind
And she said, “Where is Papa gone?
Where is Mama gone?
Where is Rori gone my friend?
Where’s my brother gone? Everybody’s gone”
The little baby cried and cried
So I cleaned away all her tears
Shared a joke and then let her talk
In her little child voice she told a story
Now I’m the one who’s shedding tears
11. MY MOTHER’S FATTER THAN YOURS
People’ll say anything they like
And they’ll do whatever they want
People’ll say anything to make you feel small
My child is better than yours
My brother’s stronger than yours
My sister’s prettier than yours
And I am richer than your whole family
My house is bigger than yours
My father’s taller than yours
My mother’s fatter than yours
And we are richer than your whole family
Dem go dey talk say if you no hustle, you no fit make am o
But if you hustle so much you enter trouble
Wahala don come be that
You don forget say na we people talk am
“Ọ̀nà kan ò wọ’jà”
You must remember our people yarn am so,
No be one road lead to market
So get up on your feet, do your own thing
No dey follow dem like mumu
Come on now, get up on your feet,
Follow your own dreams, do your own thing
Má ṣe báwọn sáré eléré ọ̀rẹ́ mi o
Àsìkò ọ̀tọ̀-ọ̀tọ̀ mà ni‘lé ayé
Ẹnìkan nwáyé òun l’ẹnìkan nsùn
Onísùúrù ní jadùn oyin
Má ṣe báwọn sáré eléré ọ̀rẹ́ mi o
Àsìkò ọ̀tọ̀-ọ̀tọ̀ mà ni‘lé ayé
Òs̀upá njí nbóun lòòrùn í wọ̀
Onísùúrù ní jadùn oyin
(Don’t run someone else’s race
There is a different season for everyone
Some awaken when others go to rest
As the moon rises does the sun set
Only the patient will reap the bounty of life)
12. TO SEE THE SUN
I like to see the sun shining out from your eyes
I like to feel your love like the rain falling down
Something in the air when you do the things you do
You’ve got the magic wand and I’m a slave to your rhythm
Sun, sun shining up, out from your eyes
Rain, rain here we go, spirit is alive you feel it
Moving like a leaf dancing in the wind
Set your water free, I really want to flow with you
Ijó rẹ wùn wá o òrékelẹ́wà ẹlẹ́ẹ̀rín-ẹ̀yẹ ìwọ là nbá wí
Ìbàdí àrán o, ijó rẹ o lo fí ndá wa lọ́rùn
Ìwà rẹ wùn wá o, alóyinlóhùn, oníwàtútù ìwọ là nké sí
Ìbàdí àrán o, ijó rẹ o lo fí ndá wa lọ́rùn
(We love the way you move
Radiant beauty with the beguiling smile
Queen of elegance, your dance has endeared you to us
We love your beautiful ways
Sonorous songbird, it is you we’re hailing
Queen of elegance, your dance has us hooked)
Get your shoes on, it’s time to dance
Get your moves on, it’s time to party
Move you waist from right to left
Get your shoes on, it’s time!