Lyrics
[Chorus]
Yu upande wangu
Anahuisha nafsi yangu
Ni Baba yangu
Niko naye sina shaka
(He is on my side,
He restores my soul.
He is my Father,
I am with Him and have no doubt)
(Repeat)
[Verse / Chorus 2]
Maana lile pendo lake
Alilipa gharama ya uzima wangu
Tena lile pendo lake
Alinipenda kwanza upeo
(For His love
paid the price for my life.
His unfailing love
loved me first to the absolute fullest)
He’s my daddy daddy ooh
[Lead / Solo]
Hakuna giza litanipata
Nikiwa na Wewe nimejipata, eh
Wewe ndiye Baba yangu
(No darkness can overtake me,
When I am with You, I have found my true self.
You are my Father)
Adui hatoniweza
Mimi nimeshinda zaidi ya kushinda
Niko nawe ngome yangu
(Even the enemy cannot prevail against me,
I am more than a conqueror.
You are with me, my fortress)
Nimeona
Umenivusha magumu
Leo ninashuhudia Kwako
(I've seen,
You carry me through hardships.
Today I testify of Your goodness)
Bwana nimeona
Umeniponya magonjwa
Leo ninashuhudia
(Lord, I've seen,
You healed my sickness,
and today I testify of Your goodness)
[Call & Response]
Wakati wa jua (Wakati wa jua)
Kivulini Mwako wanifunika (Kivulini Mwako wanifunika)
Daddy ooh (Daddy ooh)
(In the time of the scorching sun,
You cover me beneath Your shadow)
Tena wajua (Tena wajua)
Ikipiga baridi kali (Ikipiga baridi kali)
Wanikumbata (Wanikumbata mabawani Mwako)
Daddy ooh (Daddy ooh)
(When the cold winds come upon me,
You hide me under Your wings)
[Refrain & Vamp]
Maana lile pendo lake
Alilipa gharama ya uzima wangu
Tena lile pendo lake
Alinipenda kwanza upeo
He’s my daddy daddy ooh
He’s my daddy daddy ooh
Ananikumbata mabawani Mwake
(He has held me beneath His wings)
He’s my daddy daddy ooh
Ananificha upendoni Mwake
(He has sheltered me in His love)
He’s my daddy daddy ooh
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
"Yu Upande Wangu // Daddy" is a Swahili praise song by Neema Gospel Choir that portrays God as a personal, present Father. The opening chorus declares that God is on the singer's side and restores the soul, language that echoes the shepherd imagery of Psalm 23. The song repeats this declaration to establish trust in God's fatherly care as its central theme.
Later verses describe God's love as a love that paid the price for the singer's life and loved first, before any response was possible. The lyrics also describe standing as more than a conqueror against the enemy, sheltered in God as a fortress, language drawn from Paul's letter to the Romans. Testimony of being carried through hardship and healed from sickness follows, framing the song as both praise and personal witness.
The call-and-response section pictures God's covering in both scorching sun and cold wind, using the image of shelter beneath His wings. Throughout, the repeated refrain "He's my daddy" reinforces the song's central picture of God as an intimate, protective Father worthy of praise.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 23:1-3 These verses describe the Lord as shepherd who restores the soul, matching the song's opening declaration.
- Romans 8:37 This verse describes believers as more than conquerors, echoing the lyric about being more than a conqueror against the enemy.