Bobi Wine is releasing a tribute song one month after his father, Mr. J. W. Ssentamu, passed away (on February 10th, 2015). Paradiso is a song about valuing your parents while they still live, and it is in Swahili because Bobi’s father used to ask him to sing in Swahili, even suggesting he could interpret the lyrics for his son.
“It has been so hard having to go on after losing my father, but I know that I am a symbol of strength to my family and my fans, so I cannot let them down. This loss has been transformative for me. It taught me to value people more. I have been in mourning for the past month, but now it is time to celebrate the lives of both my parents whom I have lost. One way to do that is with the release of Paradiso as a tribute to them,” Bobi said.
The song opens with a description of returning home after a long and profitable journey to find that both parents are buried behind the house. The song advises East African youth to “handle your parents like you are handling gold,” because they are even more valuable. It advises: “you who still have your parents, treat them with respect, and your life will become much better.” In the chorus, Bobi sings that if he still had a mother or father, they would live in paradiso, because he would provide for them the very best life.
This is the first time the proudly muganda artist has chosen to sing in Swahili, in a tribute to his parents. In addition to honouring his father’s request, he wanted to show appreciation to his fans who do not understand Luganda. “I’ve decided to reach out to my fans all over East Africa and beyond who have always been supporting me and asking me to sing in Swahili. This is my first ever song in Swahili, but it definitely is not going to be my last.”
Watch music the video to Paradiso here!
English Interpretation of Paradiso:
VERSE 1:
Mama and papa are like the image of God on this earth. I came back from a long journey with a lot of money, and I returned home. I purposely came to thank my parents for everything they have done for me in this world. When I reached home, I met my auntie and my uncle. I saw all my old friends and everybody except my parents. I checked inside the house. Mama and papa were both not there. Then I tried searching behind the house only to find them both in graves.
So this goes to you who still have your parents. Handle you parents like you are handling gold, because without a parent, money and gold is worthless (has no use).
CHORUS:
If I had a mother she would be living in paradiso. If I had a father, he would be living in paradiso. You who still have your parents, treat them with respect, and your life will become much better. Because me, if I had parents, they would be living in paradiso. [Repeat chorus]
VERSE 2:
You can never know what you have until you’ve lost it. You can never know the importance of your parents until they are dead, and at that time, even money is of no more importance to you. You who still have a parent, everything you get in your hands, give to them. Let them eat; let them enjoy. Do not annoy your parents. If you still have them, try to appease them. Do not embarrass them. Never ever bring sadness to their faces. Oh mama! There are certain problems in life that are so hard that you can only talk about them with your parents, because without a parent life is as hard as rock.
BRIDGE:
This song is for you mama! This song is for you papa!
CHORUS:
If I had a mother she would be living in paradiso. If I had a father, he would be living in paradiso. You who still have your parents, treat them with respect, and your life will become much better. Because me, if I had parents, they would be living in paradiso. [Repeat chorus]
VERSE 3:
No matter how rich you might become, a parent is still better. No mater how honourable/great you become, your parent is still better. You can never buy a parent, because a parent is an earthly God. Your parent might be a cripple, your parent might be blind, but if you can, always go and visit them, because your blessings come from your parents.
“It has been so hard having to go on after losing my father, but I know that I am a symbol of strength to my family and my fans, so I cannot let them down. This loss has been transformative for me. It taught me to value people more. I have been in mourning for the past month, but now it is time to celebrate the lives of both my parents whom I have lost. One way to do that is with the release of Paradiso as a tribute to them,” Bobi said.
The song opens with a description of returning home after a long and profitable journey to find that both parents are buried behind the house. The song advises East African youth to “handle your parents like you are handling gold,” because they are even more valuable. It advises: “you who still have your parents, treat them with respect, and your life will become much better.” In the chorus, Bobi sings that if he still had a mother or father, they would live in paradiso, because he would provide for them the very best life.
This is the first time the proudly muganda artist has chosen to sing in Swahili, in a tribute to his parents. In addition to honouring his father’s request, he wanted to show appreciation to his fans who do not understand Luganda. “I’ve decided to reach out to my fans all over East Africa and beyond who have always been supporting me and asking me to sing in Swahili. This is my first ever song in Swahili, but it definitely is not going to be my last.”
Watch music the video to Paradiso here!
English Interpretation of Paradiso:
VERSE 1:
Mama and papa are like the image of God on this earth. I came back from a long journey with a lot of money, and I returned home. I purposely came to thank my parents for everything they have done for me in this world. When I reached home, I met my auntie and my uncle. I saw all my old friends and everybody except my parents. I checked inside the house. Mama and papa were both not there. Then I tried searching behind the house only to find them both in graves.
So this goes to you who still have your parents. Handle you parents like you are handling gold, because without a parent, money and gold is worthless (has no use).
CHORUS:
If I had a mother she would be living in paradiso. If I had a father, he would be living in paradiso. You who still have your parents, treat them with respect, and your life will become much better. Because me, if I had parents, they would be living in paradiso. [Repeat chorus]
VERSE 2:
You can never know what you have until you’ve lost it. You can never know the importance of your parents until they are dead, and at that time, even money is of no more importance to you. You who still have a parent, everything you get in your hands, give to them. Let them eat; let them enjoy. Do not annoy your parents. If you still have them, try to appease them. Do not embarrass them. Never ever bring sadness to their faces. Oh mama! There are certain problems in life that are so hard that you can only talk about them with your parents, because without a parent life is as hard as rock.
BRIDGE:
This song is for you mama! This song is for you papa!
CHORUS:
If I had a mother she would be living in paradiso. If I had a father, he would be living in paradiso. You who still have your parents, treat them with respect, and your life will become much better. Because me, if I had parents, they would be living in paradiso. [Repeat chorus]
VERSE 3:
No matter how rich you might become, a parent is still better. No mater how honourable/great you become, your parent is still better. You can never buy a parent, because a parent is an earthly God. Your parent might be a cripple, your parent might be blind, but if you can, always go and visit them, because your blessings come from your parents.
