Lyrics
Verse 1
Baada ya haya yote niliyoyapitia
Bado naishi bado naishi
Hayajaniua yamenipa nguvu
Bado naishi bado naishi
Wengi walidhani sitasimama tena
Bado naishi bado naishi
Wengine walitabiri sitaona kesho
Bado naishi bado naishi
Mimi ni ushuhuda unaotembea
Bado naishi bado naishi
Chorus
Bado naishi, bado naishi
Majaribu hayajaniua
Bado naishi, bado naishi
Bado naishi, bado naishi
Mungu ananilinda
Bado naishi bado naishi
Na magonjwa hayajaniua
Bado naishi bado naishi
Verse 2
Wengi waliulizana kama bado ninahema
Kumbe nilifunga macho nikiomba
Walijua nimekufa wakasimama kunichimbia kaburi langu
Machozi yangu kageuka furaha uchungu yangu kuwa amani
Mungu akanifanyia kicheko mbele ya watezi wangu
Bridge
Ananipenda ananipenda
Ananiwazia yaliyomema
Katika ya mawazo mabaya anainua wazo lake njema
Anatupenda anatupenda
Anatuwazia yaliyomema
Katika ya mawazo mabaya anainua wazo lake njema
Outro
Bado naishi
Bado naishi
Bado naishi
Bado naishi
Na magonjwa
Hayajaniua
Mimi bado naishi
Bado naishi
Bado naishi
Namshukuru Mungu
Bado naishi
Na maneno
Hayajaniua
Mimi bado naishi
Bado naishi
Na mawazo
Hayajaniua
Mimi bado naishi
Bado naishi
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“Bado Naishi,” which means “I am still alive,” is a Swahili song of survival and testimony by Paul Clement. The repeated line is paired with statements of what failed to kill the singer: what was gone through, trials, sickness, words, and bad thoughts. In the lyric, these things “hayajaniua” (have not killed me) and instead gave strength.
The second verse describes people who doubted that the singer would stand again or see tomorrow, and who even stood ready to dig a grave. The lyric answers that tears were turned to joy, bitterness to peace, and that God gave laughter in front of opponents. The bridge says God loves and thinks good thoughts toward His people, lifting a good plan above bad thoughts.
The themes are close to Psalm 118:17, “I shall not die, but live,” Psalm 30:11 on mourning turned to dancing, and Jeremiah 29:11 on God’s good plans. The song is a plain, repeated declaration that the singer still lives because of God.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 118:17 “I shall not die, but live”
- Psalm 30:11 Mourning turned into dancing
- Jeremiah 29:11 God’s plans for good