Impi

Impi a song by Johnny Clegg & Juluka on Foxsoundi — Free Music, Smart Streaming for Everyone

Impi by Johnny Clegg & Juluka

About Impi

Impi is a song by South African music band Juluka, from their second studio album, African Litany, released in 1981. Impi is a Zulu word for any armed body of men. The song retells the story of the Battle of Isandlwana between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom on 22 January 1879. The battle was a decisive victory for the Zulus and the British Army suffered its worst defeat against an indigenous foe with vastly inferior military technology. .

Impi Lyrics

[00:00.63] Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza (Here comes the army)
[00:05.50] Obani bengathinta amabhubesi? (Who can touch the lions?)
[00:43.24] All along the river Chelmsford's army lay asleep
[00:53.93] Come to crush the Children of Mageba
[00:59.27] Come to exact the Realm's price for peace
[01:04.39] And in the morning as they saddled up to ride
[01:09.40] Their eyes shone with the fire and the steel
[01:15.31] The General told them of the task that lay ahead
[01:19.92] To bring the People of the Sky to heel
[01:25.52] Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
[01:30.80] Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
[01:47.80] Mud and sweat on polished leather
[01:51.76] Warm rain seeping to the bone
[01:56.86] They rode through the season's wet weather
[02:03.04] Straining for a glimpse of the foe
[02:09.12] Hopeless battalion destined to die
[02:13.98] Broken by the Benders of Kings
[02:18.52] Vainglorious General and Victorian pride
[02:23.33] Would cost him and eight hundred men their lives
[02:29.25] Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
[02:36.25] Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
[02:52.22] They came to the side of the mountain
[02:56.86] Scouts rode out to spy the land
[03:01.39] Even as the Realm's soldiers lay resting
[03:08.04] Mageba's forces were at hand
[03:12.87] And by the evening the vultures were wheeling
[03:18.46] Above the ruins where the fallen lay
[03:23.89] An ancient song as old as the ashes
[03:28.93] Echoed as Mageba's warriors marched away
[03:35.36] (Written by Johnny Clegg)
[03:54.38]

From the album: The Best Of Juluka