Here is my transcription of the (Gullah) African American spiritual "Kumbaya" as sung by the Soweto Gospel Choir & several other choirs. This transcription is based on this YouTube video sound file http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuchTB8CVD4 as well as other videos of that South African choir. However, it doesn't include the African words or the (possibly) ad lib flourishes that ar sung toward the end of that rendition.


KUMBAYA
(a contemporary version as sung by The Soweto Gospel Choir)

Somebody's cryin, Lord
(Kumbaya)
Somebody's prayin, Lord
(Kumbaya)
Somebody's cryin, Lord
(Kumbaya)
Somebody's prayin, Lord
(Kumbaya)

Oh Lord, hear my prayer
(Kumbaya)
As I lift my voice and say
(Kumbaya)
I need you, Lord today
(Kumbaya)
I need you right away
(Kumbaya)

Somebody's cryin, Lord
(Kumbaya)
Somebody's prayin, Lord
(Kumbaya)
Somebody's cryin, Lord
(Kumbaya)
Somebody's prayin, Lord
(Kumbaya)

Somebody's in despair
(Kumbaya)
Somebody feels like no one cares
(Kumbaya)
I know You'll make a way
(Kumbaya)
Yes, the Lord will make a way
(Kumbaya)

Somebody's in despair
(Kumbaya)
Somebody feels like no one cares
(Kumbaya)
I know You'll make a way
(Kumbaya)

Yes, the Lord will make a way
(Kumbaya)

Somebody's in despair
(Kumbaya)
Somebody feels like no one cares
(Kumbaya)
Oh, oh - o - o, kumbaya
Oh, Lord, kumbaya
(Come by here)
Oh, Lord, kumbaya
(Come by here)
Oh, Lord, kumbaya
(Come by here)
Oh, Lord, kumbaya
(Come by here)
Oh, Lord, kumbaya

(Continue repeating with flourishes.)


-snip-

I posted this transcription on my blog http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/kumbaya-lyrics-as-sung-by-soweto-gospel.html.

I also published a related post http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/kumbaya-song-around-world.html "The Kumbaya Song Around The World"

That blog post has video renditions of "Kumbaya" from the USA, Hungary, Germany, Japan, and France. There is also a rendition by a Spanish speaking group, (nation not given).

Visitor comments are welcome on that blog.

-Azizi Powell