Kwani ni jambo lipi hilo yeye asiloliweza (What is it,That He cannot handle?) x2
Chorus:
Liseme, liseme, (Name it)
litaje, litaje (Mention it)
Kwani ni jambo lipi hilo yeye asiloliweza (What is it,That He cannot handle?) x2
Yeye ni Baba wa yatima (He’s the father of the fatherless)
Yeye ni mume wa wajane (He’s the husband to the widows)
Kwani ni jambo lipi hilo yeye asiloliweza (What is it,That He cannot handle?) x2
(Repeat)
(Chorus)
Yeye ni mponyaji (He is the Healer)
Yeye ni mkarimu (He is generous)
Mlinzi, mfariji wa ajabu (Guardian and the great comforter)
Kwani ni jambo lipi hilo yeye asiloliweza (What is it,That He cannot handle?) x2
(Repat)
Sometimes I really, really wonder why you take me as your son
Sometimes I really, really wonder why you call me by my name
I know you know me, kabla nikujue (Before I knew you)
I know you know me, kabla nizaliwe (Before I was born)
So naomba Baba ,unikomboe nisimame imara (So I pray Father, save me to stand strong)
Naomba Baba unitumie, niwe chombo chako (I pray Father that you would use me as your vessel)
Chorus:
Take me, take me, take me as I am
Take me ah, nitumie Baba (use me Father)
Take me, take me, take me as I am
Take me ah, jinsi upendavyo (the way you will)
Hata kama sifai kuitwa mwana wako (Though I’m not worthy to be called your son)
Give me a chance nitabadilisha mienendo yangu (I shall change my ways)
Usiniache na mwovu shetani Baba (Don’t leave me with the evil Satan)
Ukiniacha nitaangamia ah (If you leave me, I shall be lost)
How many times do I have to suffer, save me the agony my Lord Oh
Badilisha mienendo yangu, iwe kama wewe (Change my ways, to be like yours)
(Chorus)
Bridge:
Take me as I am, njigiliza amakubago nze taata (Teach me your ways Father)
Take me as I am, njigiliza enkolayo nze taata bambi nsaba nsaba ehhh (Teach me your ways Father)
Yeah, ladies and gentlemen, This is a special dedication
To all the young men in Kenya
This is our time, we’ve got to change things here
Onge kutit ko nito, ketuiyen (This is the subject we should agree on (?))
Ile kotinye ng’olyon o (I have a word to say)
Mi chi ne acheng’e (There is someone I’m looking for)
Kainenyi keguure, young man (He’s called Young Man)
Chi chi kotinye nguvu (This person is strong)
Ak kotinye akili neo (And is very intelligent)
Lakini katinye ngolyon o ne to kimwochin (But I have a word to tell him)
Asi mait ak kimas o (So that he may not slip and fall (?))
Refrain:
Fungua macho yako, young man (Open your eyes, young man)
Tumia akili yako, young man (Use your head, young man)
Me ko ngalin chi o, young man (Let no one deceive you, young man)
Me kan kongenin chi o, young man (Let no one use you, young man)
Kingolechech chi o, nam kogoonon (Someone tries to bribe you)
Ing’enyolan tugul o, nataguyan (?)
Anin negit koet kora o, young man (?)
Ngwanyin koneran, young man (?)
Matiyan keng’alin o, young man (Don’t let yourself be deceived, young man)
Ameyan keboisienin, young man (And don’t let yourself be used, young man)
Your life is so precious, young man
And money cannot buy it o, young man
(Refrain)
Kas o weri we, young man (Listen young man)
Le bendi tach toek, young man (When you listen to [politician] talk)
Fungua akili yako, ufikirie (Use your head, and think)
Fungua macho yako, na utazame (Open your eyes and look)
Makiyundos kirugiit, Aki rib komebarkei (?)
Mengo ulie chi, young man (?)
In this world, young man
You cannot survive alone, young man
(Refrain)
No man is an island, young man
Ongibureen kalyet, young man (Let’s maintain peace, young man)
You need me, I need you
They need us, we need them
To coexist, we’ve got to be together
And to survive, we’ve got to stick together
Young man x4
(Refrain)
Chuki sio maendeleo, young man (Hatred is not progress, young man)
Wivu sio maendeleo, young man (Hate is not progress, young man)
Ili Kenya iendelee, young man (For Kenya to progress, young man)
Lazima tushirikiane, young man (We must collaborate, young man)
This is our time, young man
It is never tomorrow, young man
Tuko na uwezo, young man (We have the ability, young man)
Wa kuleta mabadiliko, young man (To bring change, young man)
Mbeleni naendelea, (I’m pressing on the upward way)
Ninazidi kutembea (New heights I’m gaining every day)
Mombi uyasikie (Still praying as I’m onward bound)
Ee Bwana unipandishe (Lord, plant my feet on higher ground)
Ee Bwana uniinue (Lord, lift me up and let me stand)
Kwa imani nisimame (By faith, on Heaven’s table land)
Nipande milima yote (A higher plane than I have found)
Ee Bwana unipandishe (Lord, plant my feet on higher ground)
Sina tamaa ni nikae (My heart has no desire to stay)
Mahali pa shaka kamwe (Where doubts arise and fears dismay)
Hapo wengi wanakaa (Though some may dwell where those abound)
Kuendelea naomba (My prayer, my aim, is higher ground)
Nisikae duniani (I want to live above the world)
Ni mahali pa shetani (Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled)
Natazamia mbiguni (For faith has caught the joyful sound)
Nitafika kwa imani (The song of saints on higher ground)
(Chorus)
Nataka nipandishwe juu (I want to scale the utmost height)
Zaidi ya ee mawingu (And catch a gleam of glory bright)
Nitaomba nisikize (But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found)
Ee Bwana unipandishe (Lord, plant my feet on higher ground)
(Repeat)
(Chorus) Notes:
The English translation in this song is not exact. The Swahili version was adopted from the original hymn, that is why the translation is the hymn itself. Otherwise, the translation differs for example as follows: (Verse 1 + Chorus)
I’m moving forward/I am pressing on/Listen to my prayers /Oh Father lift me up
Oh Father Lift me up/to stand in faith/To climb all hills/ Oh Father lift me up.
Acheni muone utamu wa Yesu we (Let me show the sweetness of Jesus)
Mama we onjeni utamu wa Yesu we (Come and taste the sweetness of Jesus)
Mwenzenu nimeonja utamu wa Yesu we (I have tasted the sweetness of Jesus)
Usione nina raha nimeonja utamu wa Yesu we (See my joy, I have tasted the sweetness of Jesus)
Si kama nimechanganyikiwa bali ni utamu wa Yesu we (I’m not crazy, it is the sweetness of Jesus)
Jamani sijarukwa na akili bali utamu wa Yesu we (I am not mad, but it’s the sweetness of Jesus)
Utamu we, nimeonja utamu we x2 (The sweetness, I have tasted the sweetness)
Chorus:
Utamu we, nimeonja utamu we he x2 (The sweetness, I have tasted the sweetness)
Utamu wa Yesu we, Utamu wa Yesu we x2 (The sweetness of Jesus)
Utamu we, utamu x3 (The sweetness)
Utamu wa Yesu we, he (The sweetness of Jesus)
Mwemere, mwemere x4 (?)
Viko vingi vitamu lakini mwisho wake mauti (A lot of pleasures lead to death)
Viko vingi vitamu lakini mwisho wake kilio (A lot of pleasures lead to tears)
Vingine ni vitamu lakini mwisho wake kilio (Others are pleasurable but lead to tears)
Ni vitamu lakini mwisho vichungu kama shubiri (Are pleasurable but end in bitterness)
Ni vitamu lakini mwisho vinawasha kama upupu (Are pleasurable but end with disease)
Ni vitamu lakini mwisho vinapalia we (The are pleasurable, but only fleetingly)
Acheni niuseme utamu wa Yesu we (Let me testify on the sweetness of Jesus)
Wacheni nisifu utamu wa Yesu we (Let me praise the sweetness of Jesus)
Umetutenga mbali na dhambi, utamu wa Yesu we (It has separated us from sin, the sweetness of Jesus)
Haufanani na utamu wa asali, utamu wa Yesu we (It cannot be compared to honey, the sweetness of Jesus)
Thamani yake imeshinda almasi, utamu wa Yesu we (It’s value exceeds that of a diamond, the sweetness of Jesus)
Ni mali ghafi isiopatika kwa mapesa jamani he (It is a rare jewel that cannot be bought)
Bali kwa njia ya msalaba tumepewa utamu wa Yesu we (But by the way of the cross, we have been given the sweetness of Jesus)
Mbinguni tunakwenda bure, uzima tunapata bure (To heaven we go for free, we are given eternal life for free)
Wokovu tumepata bure, amani tunapata bure (We have been given free salvation, peace we find for free)
Utamu we, nimeonja utamu we x2(The sweetness, I have tasted the sweetness)
(Chorus)
Umetutenga mbali na dhambi, utamu wa Yesu we (It has separated us from sin, the sweetness of Jesus)
Usione tuna raha, tumeonja utamu wa Yesu we (We are joyful as we have tasted the sweetness of Jesus)
Usione tunacheka, tumeonja utamu wa Yesu we (We laugh as we have tasted the sweetness of Jesus)
Umetutenga mbali na dhambi, utamu wa Yesu we (It has separated us from sin, the sweetness of Jesus)
Umetusogeza karibu na Mungu, utamu wa Yesu we (brought us close to God, the sweetness of Jesus)
Dhambi zetu zimewekwa mbali na Mungu, utamu wa Yesu we (Our sins are forgiven, the sweetness of Jesus)
Walio chini wameinuliwa, utamu wa Yesu we (The last are first, the sweetness of Jesus)
Badala ya kilio ni kicheko, utamu wa Yesu we (Joy instead of tears, the sweetness of Jesus)
Badala ya aibu utukufu, utamu wa Yesu we (Praise instead of shame, the sweetness of Jesus)
Mito ya baraka inatiririka, utamu wa Yesu we x2 (The springs of blessings flow, the sweetness of Jesus)
Utamu we, nimeonja utamu we (The sweetness, I have tasted the sweetness)
(Chorus)
Mkitaka magari mazuri, onjeni utamu wa Yesu we (You want to be blessed with cars, taste first the sweetness of Jesus)
Mkitaka majumba mazuri, onjeni utamu wa Yesu we (You want to be blessed with houses, taste first the sweetness of Jesus)
Mkitaka kubarikiwa, onjeni utamu wa Yesu we (You want to be blessed, taste first the sweetness of Jesus)
Mkitaka kuinuliwa, onjeni utamu wa Yesu we (You want to be lifted, taste first the sweetness of Jesus)
Utamu we, nimeonja utamu we (The sweetness, I have tasted the sweetness)
(Chorus)
Sing’oki ng’o, kwa Yesu sing’oki ng’o x4 (No, I will not leave Jesus)
Utamu we, utamu x3(The sweetness)
Utamu wa Yesu we (The sweetness of Jesus)
African Gospel Lyrics 