Afterrain Anthem
Mvua imetulia.
The storm has moved past.
Now watch the pavement start to shine. (tazama)
Walking out into the steam on the avenue
Mguu mmoja mbele,
hakuna kurudi nyuma
I counted pennies in the dark before the breakthrough
Sasa maji yanakauka, tabasamu linachoma
Private battles in the shadows of the high-rise
(hali ngumu) Turned every scar into a quiet prize.
Tense chords under street lamps,
Every corner testing my feet.
Moyo unadunda, but we don't shake,
We just wait for the lock to break.
(sikiliza sasa)
Barabara inang'aa,
we made it through the rain (inang'aa sana!)
Turned every drop into midnight gold and gain (gold and gain!) From
the quiet basement out into the clear,
Sauti yetu inasikika kila kona hapa!
Victory lap under midnight air,
Look at the glass tower reflections in the puddles
Kila hatua ni baraka,
no more daily struggles
They thought the cold shower would douse out the flare
Lakini moto
unawaka everywhere
I pour a little water for the ones who prayed (heshima) Built
a whole kingdom on the road we paved.
Tense chords under street lamps,
Every corner testing my feet.
Moyo unadunda, but we don't shake,
We just step out for our
own sake.
(twende sasa)
Barabara inang'aa,
we made it through the rain (inang'aa sana!) Turned every drop into
midnight gold and gain (gold and gain!) From the quiet basement out
into the clear,
Sauti yetu inasikika kila kona hapa!
Victory lap under midnight air,
Nchi yetu,
usiku wetu... From
the storm
to the light of the dawn. (ooh-la-la)
Nobody handed us this ground to stand on,
We walked the flooded street
till the grief was gone.
Barabara inang'aa,
we made it through the rain (inang'aa sana!) Turned every drop into
midnight gold and gain (gold and gain!) From the quiet basement out
into the clear,
Sauti yetu inasikika kila kona hapa!
(kila
kona!)
Ta, ta, ta... Tazama
barabara. Shining clean. Mjini kimya sasa. (goodnight)