Lyrics
Chorus (Repeat x2)
Mimi napenda niwe karibu nawewe
Niwe na wewe
Univute niwe karibu na wewe Bwana
Mimi napendanga
Verse 1 (Repeat)
Maana hapa nipo moyo nina kiu zaidi
Kuwa karibu nawewe ninapendanga
Verse 2
Nina haja nawewe Bwana
Ninatamani ukae nami
Sioni mwingine Bwana
Sijapata mwingine ila niwewe
Wakunifaa mimi wakunitunza ila niwewe
Tabibu wa karibu Bwana
Usinipite pembeni Bwana
Sina mwingine wa kunihurumia
Pale ninapojongiwa na wanyan'ganyi
Uwe karibu, Wewe ni msamaria mwema utanihudumia
Utanifunga majeraha na kunifariji
Unionyeshe pendo lako maana wanipenda
Unionyeshe pendo lako maana wanipenda
Sioni la kunifurahisha nikiwa mbali nawe Bwana
Kama mtu naelewa udongoni nitasinya na kudhoofika
Ninaomba univute niwe karibu nawe
Kama mti uliopandwa kando kando ya maji
Uzao matunda mazuri wala majani yake hayanyauki
Kila nitendalo lifanikiwe Bwana naomba
Bridge
Wewe ni maji ya uzima
Wewe ni maji yaliyo hai
Kisima cha uzima na upendo
Kama ayala wa porini ayatamanivyo maji
Ndivyo nafsi yangu yakutamani wewe
Fanya hima usichelewe
Univute karibu nawe niwe nawewe
Napendaaaa
Chorus (Repeat x2)
Verse 1 (Repeat x2)
Verse 3
Kukaa nawewe ni shauku pekee la moyo wangu Bwana
Hapa nilipo sijaridhika natamani nipandishwe juu
Univute karibu nawe
Karibu zaidi ya jana
Uwe nuru niangazie lengo lako kama maji
Nizame kwenye kizima cha uwepo wako
Nimesoma katika neno lako zaburi umesema
Aketiye mahali pake pa siri pa aliye juu
Atakaa katika uvuli wake mwenye enzi
Ataokolewa na mitego ya adui
Silaha zote na mishale haitofanikiwa (Repeat)
Nichukue uniweke hapo Bwana
Hili ni ombi la moyo wangu
Niketishe kwenye uwepo wako
Utuketishe kwenye uwepo wako
Usiniache gizani Bwana
Pekee yangu siwezi
Verse 4
Kaa nami karibu nami
Ndani yangu nami ndani yako
Univute karibu nawe
Mikononi mwako niwe salama
Univute karibu nawe
Niwe nawewe Bwana
Chorus (Repeat x2)
Verse 1 (Repeat x2)
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
"Napenda Niwe Na Wewe" ("I Want to Be Near You") opens with a simple, repeated request, wanting nearness, wanting to be drawn close, before naming a thirsty heart as the reason behind that repeated desire. That admitted spiritual thirst frames the entire song around longing rather than settled arrival.
Its later verses borrow directly from familiar biblical imagery, describing God as living water, as a well of life, and quoting a well-known psalm about dwelling in the secret place of the Most High under divine shelter, safe from the enemy's snares. Another verse echoes a tree planted beside flowing water, its fruit never failing and its leaf never withering, applying that ancient image to a soul seeking abundant closeness rather than only survival.
Sung in Swahili within East African worship tradition, the song functions as an extended, repeated prayer for intimacy with God, its closing verses asking to be seated in his presence and kept from being left alone in darkness.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 91:1 Describes dwelling in the secret place of the Most High under his shelter, directly echoed in the song's verse about a hiding place from the enemy's snares.
- Psalm 1:3 Describes a tree planted by streams of water whose leaf does not wither, directly echoed in the song's imagery of fruit and unfading leaves.