Marguerita Mahfood
Very cryptic lyrics.
The historical context of this Ska song from 1964 is tragic.
I have noted down the text the best I can.
[It would take a Rock-Steady linguist to translate the Rasta-speak.]
Iyata Jah dawta from Penchurian border a come…
Iya Iyahta woman a come
Iyahta Jah dawta woman a come
Jahdawta iyahta a come to sound,
Ungu malungu man
Ungu malungu man
Ungu malungu man
Iyata Jah dawta from Penchurian border woman a come…
if you see him before I do
Please give him my heart message so true:
tell him I don’t want to live without him
for I’ve been lost and lonely and blue…
He is my love my life my all…
Ungu malungu man
Ungu malungu man –
the King of Ace from outer space
Ungu malungu man
He speak the language of the breeze;
and harmonize it with the symphonies in the trees…
And when I’m in my solitude –
I can hear, I can hear the breeze singing to me
not imaginary sounds but true melodies…
Of my beautiful
Ungu malungu man a come
if you see him before I do
Please give him my heart message so true:
tell him Iyata Jah dawta from Penchurian border -
woman a come…
