Ikliphu Yevidiyo
Ingoma
Once, I was seven years old, my mama told me
– Ngenye imini, ndandineminyaka esixhenxe ubudala, umama wandixelela
“Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely”
– “Hamba uzenzele abahlobo okanye uza kuba nesithukuthezi”
Once, I was seven years old
– Ngenye imini, ndandineminyaka esixhenxe ubudala
It was a big, big world, but we thought we were bigger
– Yayilihlabathi elikhulu, kodwa sasicinga ukuba likhulu
Pushing each other to the limits, we were learnin’ quicker
– Sinyanzelisa omnye komnye ukuya kwimida, sasifunda ngokukhawuleza
By eleven, smokin’ herb and drinkin’ burnin’ liquor
– 11, ‘cheeseburger, drinkin ‘burnin’ cheeseburger
Never rich, so we were out to make that steady figure
– Asizange sibe sisityebi, ngoko sasiza kwenza loo manani azinzileyo
Once, I was eleven years old, my daddy told me
– Ngenye imini, ndandineminyaka elishumi elinanye ubudala, utata wandixelela
“Go get yourself a wife or you’ll be lonely”
– “Yiba ngumfazi, okanye uya kuba nesithukuthezi”
Once, I was eleven years old
– Ngenye imini, ndandineminyaka elishumi elinanye ubudala
I always had that dream like my daddy before me
– Ndandisoloko ndiphupha loo nto njengotata wam phambi kwam
So I started writin’ songs, I started writin’ stories
– Ngoko ndaqala ukubhala iingoma, ndaqala ukubhala amabali
Something about that glory just always seemed to bore me
– Into malunga nolo luzuko yayisoloko ibonakala indikhathaza
‘Cause only those I really love will ever really know me
– Kuba kuphela abo ndibathandayo baya kuze bandazi
Once, I was twenty years old, my story got told
– Ngenye imini, ndandineminyaka engamashumi amabini ubudala, ibali lam laxelelwa
Before the mornin’ sun, when life was lonely
– Mampintsha-wololo ubomi babunesithukuthezi
Once, I was twenty years old (Lukas Graham!)
– Ngenye imini, ndandineminyaka engamashumi amabini ubudala (Lukas Graham!)
I only see my goals, I don’t believe in failure
– Ndibona iinjongo zam kuphela, andikholelwa ekusileleni
‘Cause I know the smallest voices, they can make it major
– Kuba ndiyazazi ezona zandi zincinci, zinokwenza ukuba zibe nkulu
I got my boys with me, at least those in favor
– Ndifumene abantwana bam, ubuncinci abo bathanda
And if we don’t meet before I leave, I hope I’ll see you later
– Kwaye ukuba asidibani phambi kokuba ndihambe, ndiyathemba ukuba ndiza kukubona kamva
Once, I was twenty years old, my story got told
– Ngenye imini, ndandineminyaka engamashumi amabini ubudala, ibali lam laxelelwa
I was writin’ ’bout everything I saw before me
– Ndabhala yonke into endiyibonayo phambi kwam
Once, I was twenty years old
– Kanye, ndandineminyaka engamashumi amabini ubudala
Soon, we’ll be thirty years old, our songs have been sold
– Kungekudala, siza kuba neminyaka engamashumi amathathu ubudala, iingoma zethu zithengisiwe
We’ve traveled around the world and we’re still roamin’
– Sihamba ngeenxa zonke kwihlabathi kwaye sisaphila’
Soon, we’ll be thirty years old
– Kungekudala siza kuba neminyaka engamashumi amathathu ubudala
I’m still learnin’ about life, my woman brought children for me
– Ndisafunda nangoku, umfazi wam wandizisela abantwana
So I can sing them all my songs and I can tell them stories
– Ngoko ndiyakwazi ukubacula zonke iingoma zam kwaye ndibaxelele amabali
Most of my boys are with me, some are still out seekin’ glory
– Inkoliso yamakhwenkwe ikunye nam, abanye basaphuma see uzuko
And some I had to leave behind, my brother, I’m still sorry
– Kwaye abanye kwafuneka ndiyishiye ngasemva, mzalwana wam, ndiyaxolisa
Soon, I’ll be sixty years old, my daddy got sixty-one
– Kungekudala, ndiza kuba ngamashumi amathandathu eminyaka ubudala, utata wafumana amashumi amathandathu ananye
Remember life and then your life becomes a better one
– Khumbula ubomi kwaye ke ubomi bakho buba ngcono
I made a man so happy when I wrote a letter once
– Ndavuya gqitha xa ndabhala ileta enye
I hope my children come and visit once or twice a month
– Ndiyathemba ukuba abantwana bam beza kwaye batyelele kanye okanye kabini ngenyanga
Soon, I’ll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold
– I’ll be sixty years old, okay, okay, okay ihlabathi liyabanda
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?
– Okanye ngaba ndiza kuba nabantwana abaninzi abanokundifudumeza?
Soon, I’ll be sixty years old
– I’ll be sixty years away
Soon, I’ll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold
– I’ll be sixty years old, okay, okay, okay ihlabathi liyabanda
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?
– Okanye ngaba ndiza kuba nabantwana abaninzi abanokundifudumeza?
Soon, I’ll be sixty years old
– I’ll be sixty years away
Once, I was seven years old, my mama told me
– Ngenye imini, ndandineminyaka esixhenxe ubudala, umama wandixelela
“Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely”
– “Hamba uzenzele abahlobo okanye uza kuba nesithukuthezi”
Once, I was seven years old
– Ngenye imini, ndandineminyaka esixhenxe ubudala
Once, I was seven years old
– Ngenye imini, ndandineminyaka esixhenxe ubudala
