Fa o le mo maidiiding o le dintho-ntho
Bitsa go nna ke tla di oka
Mo dipharagobeng o gateletswe ke ditlhabi
Letsetsa nna ke tla di thoba
Mo ditlaleng tsa lorato la mmankgonthe
Ngoka nna ke tla go atla
Mo lefifing la mma-ntshwarele-ngwana-ke-ale
Goaka nna ke tla araba
Ke maikano ame, ‘Rato lame

Fa dira di tswile letsholo, di go katakata
Bitsa nna ke tla di osa
Fa o ferekane Maikutlo ‘boko bo itotletse
Bua le nna ke tla go lootsa
Fa o nale diphisego le ditoro dintle
Tlotlela nna ke tla go reetsa
Fa o omme magalapa, loleme lo raragane
Lebel’la nna ke tla go lokol’la
Ke maikano ame, ‘Rato lame

Le fa ngwedi o sa mphatsime phatlheng
Ba go itatlhela ba matheka a mefu
Le fa nako dingwe nka fapoga
Lorato lame le metswi ee kwa boteng
Jwa mpa ya lefatshe, ‘Rato lame

Fa o kgobegile marapo, mowa o sule tlhase
Sebela nna ke tla go tshuba
Fa o latlhegetswe ke tshepo, o ikobonya
Lebel’la nna ke tla go rotloetsa
Mo ditlaleng tsa lorato la mmankgonthe
Ngoka nna ke tla go atla
Mo lefifing la mma-ntshwarele-ngwana-ke-ale
Goaka nna ke tla araba
Ke maikano ame, ‘Rato lame

When you are in delirium and are wounded
Call on me and I will nurse them (your wounds)
When in dire straits and your body is aching
Ring me and I will massage them
When you hunger for real love
Woo me and I will kiss you
*1 In darkness of mother-hold-my-baby while I make the bed
Shout out my name and I will answer
This is my vow, my Love

When your foes are out attacking you
Call on me and I will cause them to fall
When your emotions are in turmoil and you brain is locked
Talk to me and I will sharpen you
When you have beautiful passions and dreams
Relate it to me and I will listen
When your palate is parched and your tongue tied
Look at me and I will free you
It is my vow, my Love

*2 Even though the moon does not shine on my brow
*3 And those with wastes like WASPS throw themselves at you
Even if at times I may falter
My love has roots that go very deep
Down to the belly of the earth, my love

*4 When your bones are crushed and your passions have died
Whisper it to me and I will light you up
When you’ve lost hope and confidence in yourself
Look at me and I will hearten you
When you hunger for real love
Woo me and I will kiss you
*1 In the darkness of mother-hold-my-baby while I make the bed
Shout out my name and I will answer
This is my vow, my Love




 <-- Prev  Next -->

MAIKANO AME

*1 This is an expression to describe intense darkness. It originates from an old African folk tale. Long ago, upon arriving home at night, a young mother inadvertently gave her baby to the wolf to carry while she was preparing the bed for the night, thinking it was her husband. She had not noticed that her husband had remained outside....

*2 An exquisitely beautiful woman is said to have the moon shining on her brow

*3 A simile to describe a woman with a tiny waste and sizeable pert behind

*4 A state of feeling deeply discouraged and despondent