VERSE 1 — ZULU (SOPRANO LEAD + HARMONIES)
SOPRANO LEAD (very high, dramatic):
Nkóóósi… ngisukuma phambi kwakho—ohhh!
(ad-lib: “Yebo Nkosi! Ohhh hallelujah!”)
Umóóóya wakho… uyavuuuth’ kimi!
(run: “vuu—u—u—u—tha kimi!”)
CHOIR (Alto + Tenor harmonies):
Uyavutha, uyavutha, Jehova!
SOPRANO LEAD:
Ngiyakhala! Ngiyamemeza!
(ad-lib: “Yesu! Ngiyakubiza!”)
Jesu, ungamandla amiiii!
(big run: “a—aaa—aaa—mi! ooooh!”)
---
VERSE 2 — XHOSA (SOPRANO LEAD, soft then explosive)
SOPRANO LEAD:
Báááwo… ndimi phambi kwakho—heyyy!
(ad-lib: “Woooh! Yhoo Bawo!”)
Umóóóya wakho… uyandiphakamis’—aaah!
CHOIR (harmonies swell):
Mphakamis’, mphakamis’ umphefumlo wam!
SOPRANO LEAD:
Ndikhala! Ndibiza igama laaakho!
(high improvised run: “la—aa—aa—akhooooo!”)
Yesu, amandla am!
(ad-lib: “Nguwe! Nguwe! Nguwe kuphela!”)
---
CHORUS — ZULU + XHOSA OVERLAPPED (BIG CHOIR)
Zulu line (Soprano lead):
Nkósiii… siyabonga ngomusa wakhooo!
(run: “wa—akho—ooo—ooo!”)
Xhosa line (Alto lead):
Nkóóósi… siyabulela ngobabalo lwakho!
Choir (stacked harmonies):
Grace and mercy, Lord!
(ad-libs: “We thank You! We thank You! Ohhh yes!”)
Soprano on top (sky-high):
Siyabonga! Siyabonga!
(long sustained note)
“Aaaaaaaah—HAAA—LELUUYA!!”
---
BRIDGE — ZULU + XHOSA POWER SECTION
Zulu (Choir):
Thela umoya wakho!
(Soprano ad-lib: “Thela! Thela! Thela Jehova!”)
Xhosa (Choir):
Thululela umoya wakho!
(Soprano run: “mo—ya—wa—akhoooo!”)
Choir builds:
Wena unguJehova!
Wena unguYehova!
SOPRANO EXPLOSION:
Siphakamis’ izandla zethu—OH HALLELUYAAA!
(massive run: “ha—ha—ha—le—lu—yaaAAAH!”)
---
FINAL TAG — FULL CHOIR + SOPRANO FIRE
Choir:
Haleluya! Haleluya! Uyingcwele!
Soprano (very high):
Uyingcweeeele—eee—ee—EEEEE!
(floaty whistle-like run)
Choir:
Haleluya! Haleluya!
Soprano:
YESUUUUUU…!
(long dramatic closer: “ye—e—e—e—su!”)
---
