Lyrics
Chorus
Ulivyo leo, hiyo ni ya leo
Huenda kesho iyo rada ibadilike
Matatizo uliyo nayo, ni ya leo
Hizo shida ulizo nazo, ni za leo
Huenda kesho iyo rada ibadilike
Refrain
Rada ibadilike (ulalala)
Huenda kesho iyo rada ibadilike (ulalala)
(rudia)
Verse 1
Wamekubandika majina
Wakakuitanisha na shida
Hawajui kunaye, anayepeana majina
Verse 2
Hawajui na hawawai jua
Ni nini kesho Mungu amepanga na maisha yako
Cha muhimu ni wewe kujitambua
Na usonge na rada yake
(rudia)
Chorus
Ulivyo leo, hiyo ni ya leo
Huenda kesho iyo rada ibadilike
Matatizo uliyo nayo, ni ya leo
Hizo shida ulizo nazo, ni za leo
Huenda kesho iyo rada ibadilike
Refrain
Rada ibadilike (ulalala)
Huenda kesho iyo rada ibadilike (ulalala)
(rudia)
Verse 3
Wanakusema sana, we kazana
Usichoke kupambana, yote ukimwamini Bwana
Story yako itabadilika
Walinisema hivyo hivyo hivyo hivyo
Ona sasa, story yangu imebadilika
Aliyefanya hivyo hivyo hivyo hivyo
Kwangu mimi, kwako pia atabadilisha
hivyo hivyo hivyo hivyo
Chorus
Ulivyo leo, hiyo ni ya leo
Huenda kesho iyo rada ibadilike
Matatizo uliyo nayo, ni ya leo
Hizo shida ulizo nazo, ni za leo
Huenda kesho iyo rada ibadilike
Refrain
Rada ibadilike (ulalala)
Huenda kesho iyo rada ibadilike (ulalala)
Rada ibadilike (ulalala)
Huenda kesho iyo rada ibadilike (ulalala)
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Rada is a Swahili song of encouragement that tells listeners their present troubles are temporary. The refrain says that how things are today belongs to today, that the problems and hardships being faced are for today, and that tomorrow the radar, or the course of life, may change.
The verses speak about people who attach labels to the listener and tie them to their struggles, though they do not know what God has planned for tomorrow. The advice is to know oneself and move forward with God's plan. A later section says not to grow tired of fighting if everything is entrusted to the Lord, and that the singer's own story changed after being spoken against, with the same promise offered to the listener. The message echoes Jeremiah 29:11, Lamentations 3:22-23 and Romans 8:28 on God's plans and renewed mercies. Plain language and a repeated hook make the song easy to take in as a word of comfort.
Related Scripture
- Jeremiah 29:11 God speaks of plans for welfare and a future with hope.
- Lamentations 3:22-23 The Lord's mercies are new every morning.
- Romans 8:28 All things work together for good for those who love God.