Lyrics
Verse 1
When you look at me, what do you see?
Surely not the old man that was dead in sin
I'm a brand new man now
I'm a brand new man now
It's your amazing grace so sweet
That took me from down, down beneath
I'm a brand new man now
I'm a brand new man now
Chorus
So tell me how, how, how
How do you love a wretch like me?
You took my mourning and you gave me joy
You broke my chains and you made them jewels
So tell me how, how, how
How do you love a wretch like me?
You gave me a chance when they wrote me off
A billion tongues wouldn't be enough
So I say
Chorus
Ayaya, ayaya
Ogane ni eruwedo
Ayaya, ayaya
Abasi ayaya
Ayaya, ayaya
Ogane ni eruwedo
Ayaya, ayaya
Abasi ayaya
Verse 2
Ana m'asigi mela, dachu dachu
Iwo tara lojo jumo ni
Ma dupe tori o seun, d'omo re o
Ayaya, ayaya
Abasi ayaya
Ana m'asigi mela, dachu dachu
Iwo tara lojo jumo ni
Ma dupe tori o seun, d'omo re o
Ayaya, ayaya
Abasi ayaya
Bridge
Oya le mi ro ga, owo che ti
Ron Calvary, you bled and died
You got the curses nullified
Now I'm justified
Abba Father, you are fly
You tell me, you're still abiding
Set taste and see, you're on my mind
Iru i fe wo lo fi fe mi e
Tu mi o son diamond, then me
Oya tell me how, how
How do you love a wretch like me?
You took my mourning and you gave me joy
You broke my chains and you made them jewels
So tell me how, how, how
How do you love a wretch like me?
You gave me a chance when they wrote me off
A billion tongues wouldn't be enough
So I say
Chorus
Ayaya, ayaya
Ogane ni eruwedo
Ayaya, ayaya
Abasi ayaya
Ayaya, ayaya
Ogane ni eruwedo
Ayaya, ayaya
Abasi ayaya
Outro
Ayaya, ayaya
Ogane ni eruwedo
Ayaya, ayaya
Abasi ayaya
Ana m'asigi mela, dachu dachu
Iwo tara lojo jumo ni
Ma dupe tori o seun, d'omo re o
Ayaya, ayaya
Abasi ayaya
Ana m'asigi mela, dachu dachu
Iwo tara lojo jumo ni
Ma dupe tori o seun, d'omo re o
Ayaya, ayaya
Abasi ayaya
Ayaya, ayaya
Ogane ni eruwedo
Ayaya, ayaya
Abasi ayaya
Olorun odara si mi
Olorun odara si mi
Only show I good on me
Only show I good on me
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“Ayaya” is a song of gratitude for grace that changes identity. Its opening contrast between an old life dead in sin and a new life establishes conversion as the central theme. The chorus responds with wonder rather than entitlement, asking how such love could reach someone who calls himself a wretch. Mourning becomes joy, chains become jewels, and rejection gives way to another chance.
The bridge makes the Christian basis of that change explicit through Calvary, Christ’s death, the removal of the curse, and justification. Those lines closely echo New Testament teaching about becoming new in Christ and being justified through his blood. The multilingual praise gives the song a communal African gospel character, while the repeated title phrase sustains its celebration of God’s goodness. Even a billion tongues are described as insufficient for the gratitude being expressed. Across its different languages and images, the lyric keeps returning to one clear confession: grace has made a formerly condemned person new, free, joyful, and accepted.
Related Scripture
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul describes anyone in Christ as a new creation.
- Psalm 30:11 The psalm speaks of mourning being turned into joy.
- Romans 5:9 Paul connects justification with the blood of Christ.