Homeless
by Paul Simon

Album: Graceland (1986)
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  • Emaweni webaba
    Silale maweni
    Webaba silale maweni
    Webaba silale maweni
    Webaba silale maweni
    Webaba silale maweni
    Webaba silale maweni
    Webaba silale maweni
    Webaba silale maweni
    Webaba silale maweni
    Webaba silale maweni

    Homeless, homeless
    Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
    Homeless, homeless
    Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
    We are homeless, we are homeless
    The moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
    And we are homeless, homeless, homeless
    The moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake

    Zio yami, zio yami, nhliziyo yami
    Nhliziyo yami amakhaza asengi bulele
    Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
    Nhliziyo yami, angibulele amakhaza
    Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
    Nhliziyo yami somandla angibulele mama
    Zio yami, nhliziyo yami
    Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami

    Too loo loo, too loo loo
    Too loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo
    Too loo loo, too loo loo
    Too loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo

    Strong wind destroy our home
    Many dead, tonight it could be you
    Strong wind, strong wind
    Many dead, tonight it could be you

    And we are homeless, homeless
    Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
    Homeless, homeless
    Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
    Homeless, homeless
    Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake

    Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
    Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
    Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
    Somebody cry why, why, why?
    Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
    Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
    Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
    Somebody cry why, why, why?
    Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih

    Yitho omanqoba (ih hih ih hih ih) yitho omanqoba
    Esanqoba lonke ilizwe
    (ih hih ih hih ih) Yitho omanqoba (ih hih ih hih ih)
    Esanqoba phakathi e England
    Yitho omanqoba
    Esanqoba phakathi e London
    Yitho omanqoba
    Esanqoba phakathi e England - ih hih ih hih ih

    Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
    Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
    Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
    Somebody cry why, why, why?
    Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
    Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
    Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
    Somebody cry why, why, why?

    Kuluman
    Kulumani, Kulumani sizwe
    Singenze njani
    Baya jabula abasi thanda yo
    Ho Writer/s: Joseph Shabalala, Paul Simon
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • Romanong Kurong from PhilippinesAmong others, my brother Mentz adored Paul Simon’s “Graceland.” Because this was the time before Google could give all the lyrics of all songs in the world, he knew the words to the song by listening to cousin Maida’s tape many times through the day.

    While every piece in the collection is a gem, “Homeless” has struck a chord in me deeply that years later, I would use it to motivate my high school juniors to learn about African culture and literature. Talk of how the South African Joseph Shabalala's soulful voice can strike a chord in both of us.
  • Karen from Manchester, NhA friend of mine somehow got a "preview" clipping of this album before it was officially released. Knowing how much I like music and am open to hearing new stuff, she said that it was from Africa (that's all she really knew about it). The track she played me was "Homeless" (soon to be from "Graceland"). In the middle of the song, I asked her, "Is that Paul Simon I hear?" She didn't know. When "Graceland" came out I, being a life-long Simon fan, snagged it. Imagine my surprise when I heard "Homeless"!!! I got my friend a copy of the album as well, out of gratitude.
  • Michael from Sedona, AzIn the section of Homeless, near the end, where Ladysmith Black Mambazo sings alone, does anyone know what the time signature or rhythm is? I've tried to count it out, so that I can understand and enjoy it better, but it eludes me.
  • Remi from Beaverton, OrFrom my African experience-- although I grew up in the western, and not the southern part of Africa-- it's my guess that these are onomatopoeic words associated with struggle and suffering, the huff/grunts of a hard life with harder-than-normal labor.
  • Peter from Tacoma, WaI have heared the song but I am still wondering what the person going ih hih ih hih ih hih is doing.
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