Si Yako

[Intro: instrumental]

[solo flute, no drums]

[bass and shaker enter]

[full drums land]

[Verse 1]

Nobody dey own the thing

wey make you stay,

nobody write the rule

wey turn you that way,

dem fit name am,

dem fit claim am,

put am for paper,

put number for living thing

and padlock for cage,

but the part wey dey choose

no ask nobody permission,

and whatever dem fit buy

no be am at all.

[Pre Chorus]

Bila mkataba,

bila lugha,

bila shahidi,

kitu kiliamua,

hakikusema kwa nini.

[Chorus]

Si yako, si yako,

huwezi kufunga,

huwezi kuuza,

si yako, si yako,

huwezi kuiba upendo,

Jama, Imara,

kamwe si yako.

[Verse 2]

The one wey go sell you

go smile first,

call you brother for morning,

sign the paper before four,

but no be every hand

dey carry the same thing,

some hand no get claim

and still e hold you well,

small pikin and old man

love wey no get paper,

na dem carry you comot

when the strong ones fail.

[Chorus]

Si yako, si yako,

huwezi kufunga,

huwezi kuuza,

si yako, si yako,

huwezi kuiba upendo,

Jama, Imara,

kamwe si yako.

[Instrumental Break One]

[Chant]

walipeana mikono,

juu ya kitu si chao,

mikono mingine,

mikono ya wema,

walipenda bure.

[Bridge]

Small pikin talk am plain

wey the big ones no fit say,

the one wey dem dey aim

na the one wey save the day,

mzee alisema

msamaha ni wako,

si kwa sababu wamestahili,

ni kwa sababu inakula wewe,

shikilia, shikilia,

some hand go carry am,

some hand go break am,

upendo hauna bei.

[Instrumental Break Two]

[Final Chorus]

Si yako, si yako,

huwezi kufunga,

huwezi kuuza,

si yako, si yako,

huwezi kuiba upendo,

Jama, Imara,

kamwe si yako.

[Outro]

shikilia,

Jama,

Imara,

mikono ya wema,

kamwe si yako.