IMPI by Juluka
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
A G Bm A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
A G Bm A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyezas Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
G A G A G A D G A G A
All along the river Chelmsford’s army lay asleep, Come to crush the children of Mageba
G A D
Come to exact the Realm’s price for peace
Bm G Bm G GA
And in the morning as they saddled up to ride, Their eyes shone with the fire and the steel
Bm G Bm A G
The General told them of the task that lay ahead, To bring the People of the Sky to heel
A G Bm A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
A G Bm A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengethinta amabhubesi?
G A G A G A D
Mud and sweat on polished leather, Warm rain seeping to the bone
G A G A G A D
They rode through the season’s wet weather, Straining for a glimpse of the foe
Bm G Bm G GA
Hopeless battalion destined to die, Broken by the Benders of Kings
Bm G Bm A G
Vainglorious General and Victorian pride, Would cost him and eight hundred men their lives
A G Bm A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
A G Bm A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
G A G A
They came to the side of the mountain
G A D
Scouts rode out to spy the land
G A G A
Even as the Realm’s soldiers lay resting
G A D
Mageba’s forces were soon at hand
Bm G
And by the evening the vultures were wheeling
Bm G GA
Above the ruins where the fallen lay
Bm G
An ancient song as old as the ashes
Bm A G
Echoed as Mageba’s warriors marched away
A G Bm A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
A G Bm A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
A G Bm A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
A G Bm A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
This may not be perfect, but I noticed there was nothing on the site for either Juluka or Johnny Clegg, so I had to try. If you haven’t heard this music, you are missing out. It is some of the coolest, craziest, most beautiful music ever made. I must say, I would like to
know about the story behind the song. If anyone, Johnny Clegg included, could drop an
e-mail and explain the inspiration behind this song, I would be anxious to learn more about it. Please write at fhowell@audubon.k12.ia.us
This was co-transcribed by Frank Howell of Iowa and Frank Gilbert of Quebec.
