Oh Freedom & Shosholoza Medley

The Bird Sings Oral Tradition Song Library

Oh Freedom & Shosholoza Medley

A medley arrangement of two South African freedom songs.

Composer & Copyright

Oh Freedom and Shosholoza are both traditional and in the public domain. The Shosholoza arrangement is adapted from the arrangement by Ysaye Barnwell. The medley arrangement of the two songs is by Lisa Goettel.

Recording

Lyrics

Oh freedom, oh freedom
Oh freedom
Freedom is coming oh yes

Oh yes I know, oh yes I know
Oh yes I know
Oh yes I know, oh yes

Oh justice, oh justice
Oh justice
Justice is coming oh yes

~

Shosholoza
Ku Lezontaba
Stimela Sipum’e South Africa

Dig, dig, digging in the sun (hi ya hi ya ho)
Men must work for me (shosholoza)

Wen’ Uyabaleka
Ku Lezontaba
Stimela Sipum’e South Africa

Shosholoza rough translation:

Going forward
Through these mountains
On the steam train to South Africa

You are running away
Through these mountains
On the steam train to South Africa

3 Comments
  • Leon

    Hi Lisa
    We are making a 4minute documentary on Freedom Day in South Africa. We would love to use parts of your track in the documentary. I was wondering how we get permission to use it?

  • Lisa, Thank you SO MUCH for allowing us to use your songs. I direct a Ubuntu choir in Albuquerque. When you do the recordings, with they show up separately somewhere, or again with the recently added songs? Blessings and love, Arana Kalwaic

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