My new Ugandan jam is Radio & Weasel’s “Amaaso,” which means “Your Eyes,” but overall the song is about a guy who sings about a lady whose eyes have got him trippin’.
Unlike French or Spanish, Luganda, my language is a much more difficult language to translate directly into English because it uses lots of idioms.
Which is why when I was translating the lyrics to Radio and Weasel’s “Amaaso“, I leveraged the help of my family to translate the parts of the song which were in Luganda. I ended up with at least 4 variations of the final English translation! In my opinion, the most poetic parts of the song are in Luganda versus the English phrases. What do you think? The English translations are in red.
“Amaaso” by Radio & Weasel ft Pallaso & The Mess
It’s been too long since I’ve seen you, so pick up the phone I wish you would’ve never gone, wanna let you know I’m coming home It’s been so long, since I’ve seen you so pick up the phone I wish you would’ve never gone, I wanna let you know I’m coming home Me say, gal! You’re my sugar sugar My sugar sugar, sugar sugar, sugar sugar Goodlyfe and Pallaso, Pallaso, Pallaso Goodlyfe and Pallaso, we cancel, to ma so Goodlyfe and Pallaso, Pallaso, Pallaso Goodlyfe and Pallaso… Yo tell ‘em say, dem need to know Ama… ama… ama… ama… ama… ama… yeah, yeah Ay’amaaso, amaaso Your eyes, your eyes Ay’amaaso, ay’amaaso afumba malaso this last phrase is not in Luganda, so not sure what it means Amaaso, amaaso, ag’amaaso Your eyes, your eyes Amaaso go galinsula ekigwo Your eyes will cause me to fall down OR your eyes have got me trippin’ Olinsuula ekigwo, amaaso go gankuba ng’omuggo You’ll make me fall down, your eyes will beat me like a stick Bwenebaka ndoota, nti amaaso go ge gamez’omuddo When I sleep, I dream that your eyes make the plants grow Olulala nakulaba nga ntambula nenetega One day when I saw you walking, I stumbled Bwenaserera, nonsekerera When I stumbled, you laughed at me Wadde kiluma, tebyanuma, nanyumirwa Even though it hurt, it did not hurt; it was funny or I enjoyed it Ndirira lulala lwetulisisinkana (tulisisinkana) I’m waiting for the time when we’ll meet again Byonzijukiza siyinza kubisangula When I think of you, there’s no way that I can’t begin to erase you from my memory Siyinza kwelabira ag’amaaso gewatunuza I can’t forget you especially when you look at me with those eyes CHORUS Nalaba amaaso, ag’amaaso Your eyes, your eyes Ag’amaaso, ah y’amaaso afumba malaso this last phrase is not in Luganda, so not sure what it means Amaaso, amaaso, ag’amaaso Your eyes, your eyes Amaaso go galinsula ekigwo your eyes will cause me to fall down OR your eyes have got me trippin’ Now we are setting a trend And you know I would jump in front of a train To be witchu I hope you are feeling the same I don’t wanna be a player, no more playing games I love you, baby your love is so blinding You really got me feeling like we Bonnie and Clyde You got my attention, the temperature rising But I don’t wanna fall after all the climbing I love you… Eno empeta nina gyenagigul’eyo This ring, I have a place where I bought it Girl at least noyeyambal’eyo Try the ring on – go ahead and wear it! Nongenina byenalekereza okusobola okugigula Now I had stuff I sacrificed in order to buy it Bwogend’e mitala wa maya n’omutima gyegub’eyo When you go overseas, my heart is always there Nogenda gwe n’olwayo eyo When you leave and stay for long Nga tomanyi obudde bwe buziba nga sikulabye ko sebaka You don’t realize that when it gets dark and I haven’t seen you, I do not sleep CHORUS Lost inside the eyes of an angel, a total stranger She’s a perfect 10, baby got the body of a dancer Caught her walking through the parking lot with friends leaving a movie Her friends acting snobby but I know that baby saw me ‘Cause two seconds felt like infinty into baby blues Don’t know what to say to you lady, let’s make some baby shoes Suddenly you’re gone, I’m realizing I’m daydreaming Hypnotized by your eyes, got me straight fiending Draw me in, you’re a seducer just like Medusa I’d rather you turn me into stone and never let me lose you You broke my heart I guess it’s my fault that I didn’t try But it doesn’t matter ‘cause the image of you got me hypnotized CHORUS You’re physically fit, when you’re dancing pon di beat Sweet like sugar ‘cause me love it when me lick Your body is shouting, it’s flowing, it’s glowing Lemme say, shake dat body, make me feel like a king Lucky like a baby, it’s full to di brim Me body is calling, me need some attention, a little medication Gal you know I’ll take you deh, I will love you day by day When you need me call me name, call me name, call me name Gal you know I’ll take you deh, I will love you day by day When you need me call me name, call me name, call me name
Aren’t the eyes of this lovely Ugandan bride at her traditional engagement or kwanjula Muslim nikah ceremony gorgeous?
