the Bird and the Rabbit

from FolK tOLd Me EP by Folk Told Me

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This proverb talks about the rabbits’ arrogance and short-sightedness as he boasts to the earth of his incredible speed, claiming that he can outrun the earth. Little did he know that the earth was so full, vast and so wide that he could and would never ever “reach the end/edge” so to speak. On the human level, the lesson that we can draw is that we should take care not to be so arrogant or so blinded by arrogance that we become like the rabbit and think that we can out-run; out-smart; out-play or out-anything anyone!

lyrics

Tshipu orile ke lebelo
Tshipu orile ke lebelo 2x

Mohlaba wa re ke nabile
Mohlaba wa re ke nabile


Dancing in oblivion the rabbit chitter chattered
Running through the matter
That the earth had gathered
Boasting he was faster
Spinning blind disaster
Only for his ignorance to shatter
When the earth said, “you can’t outrun me”
I’m old and wide and fast
And vast, I’ll outlast you
Matter of fact
I hold more than you’ll ever know
In a tiny pebble, spec of dust, drip of water, gust of water, single stone
So grasp your humility and go
Go go go…

Little bird little bird won’t you sing
Little bird won’t you sing, heya 2x
Sing…sing…

Perched on thickness of silence
She never uttered a song stayed quiet
Despite a heart contusion erupting a riot
Internally un-rested development
Threaded melodies she desired to unravel
To unweave but there appeared to be
No speaking left in her
Chest wept sorry through her veins
Took flight without saying
Little bird speak your piece
Your voice is power in c minor arpeggio
Release your deep bellow
Just let it go let it go let it go
Sing…

Wile anamela thaba
Abagwetja babina malopo 4x

Babina malopo 16x

Translation notes: NONYANE LE MMUTLE (BIRD AND THE RABBIT)

LYRICS DURING VERSE…THIS IS A sePEDI PROVERB (both lines joined together!)!

LINE1 “TSHIPU ORILE KE LEBELO…” – (Hare/rabbit said: ‘I’m fast!”)
LINE2 “ MOHLABA WA RE KE NABILE” – ( and the earth replied: ‘I’m wide!”)

VOCAL CHORUS IN THE CARNIVAL PART

LINE3 “WILE ANAMELA THABA…ABAGWETJA BABINA MALOPO” – (she/he ascended a mountain…and found them singing Malopo)
*(she overcame her struggles by reaching the mountain top where a spiritual music (Malopo) was being sung- she attained humility.

CHANT

LINE 4 “BABINA MALOPO… - (SINGING MALOPO…)

credits

from FolK tOLd Me EP, released December 15, 2011

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Folk Told Me South Africa

Folk Told Me is a band of melodic sankofa martians, spinning stories like hip hop griots doomed to this place called earth, traveling in sound sparring with myopic modes of being…freeing. . .

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