TheDolt's Blog

I’m not a Football fanatic and hence don’t follow Football. But when Shakira’s there, how can I miss it? Her song ‘This time for Africa’ is driving me nuts! I’ve lost my sanity. I have listened (and watched, if you like this way ) it over 50 times and don’t plan to stop  in Proche le futur.

I have a major problem with lyrics. Until somebody tells me or I read them on a site I will keep guessing the lyrics. And mind you, my guesses are as good as those of the Weather Departments all over the universe.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRpeEdMmmQ0&feature=fvst]

The Lyrics;

Oooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehh

You’re a good soldier
Choosing your battles
Pick yourself up
And dust yourself off
Get back in the saddle

You’re on the front line
Everyone’s watching
You know it’s serious
We are getting closer
This isn’t over

The pressure is on
You feel it
But you got it all
Believe it

When you fall get up, oh oh
And if you fall get up, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Cuz this is Africa
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

Listen to your God
This is our motto
Your time to shine
Don’t wait in line
Y vamos por todo

People are raising
Their expectations
Go on and feed them
This is your moment
No hesitations

Today’s your day
I feel it
You paved the way
Believe it

If you get down get up, oh oh
When you get down get up, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Anawa a a
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

(Lady Singing)

Voice: Tsamina mina, Anawa a a
Tsamina mina
Tsamina mina, Anawa a a

Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Anawa a a
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

Django eh eh
Django eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Anawa a a

Django eh eh
Django eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Anawa a a

(2x) This time for Africa

(2x) We’re all Africa

_____________________________________________________________

What the lyrics mean;

The song has some part in Cameroonian language called Fang. The meaning of some of the words are;

Tsaminamina means Come.

Waka waka means Do it – as in perform a task. Waka is pidgin language meaning walk while working.

Tsaminamina zangalewa means where do you come from?.

Some part is also in Spanish;

Y vamos por todo means we go all out/ do our

Django” is a Romani word meaning “I awake.”

Wikipedia has an interesting article on the original song and this song