[Verse 1]
Yila ka zaŋ nyɛla la ka yuun pahi
Ti di ŋun nyɛla, ti yuli hali zaŋ kpahi
Ti yeli laɣim pam, ka suŋmɔɣu be nyɛla
Miɣim ka pahi, ka dabi ka yɛlɛla
Ti tuma n-ti yuli n-ti di mɔɣu
Dagbon suŋmɔɣu ni, ti di yɛlgu
[Chorus]
Yila ka zaŋ ni, nyɛla la pahi
Nayi laŋga, ka suŋmɔɣu pahi
Dagbon zaŋ ni, ka ŋun nyɛla
Ti ka di yɛla, ama ti di suŋmɔɣu
[Verse 2]
Bihi niŋ ka zaŋ kpahi
Ti di laɣim suya n-ti ni
Ka ŋun kpahi, ti di laɣim
Ti yuli ka suŋmɔɣu ni
Zaŋ kpahi, ama ti suŋmɔɣu pahi
Dagbon ni, ti di yɛlgu
[Chorus]
Yila ka zaŋ ni, nyɛla la pahi
Nayi laŋga, ka suŋmɔɣu pahi
Dagbon zaŋ ni, ka ŋun nyɛla
Ti ka di yɛla, ama ti di suŋmɔɣu
[Outro - Dagbani]
Zaŋ kpahi, ti ka di yɛla
Dagbon suŋmɔɣu ni, ti di laɣim
[Instrumental / Dub Break]
(Offbeat skank, warm bassline, light organ swells — space for echo and dub delay on chant lines)
[Verse 1 - English]
Back when the nights were cool and bright
Under the stars, we'd dance till light
Singing songs of freedom, love in the air
Laughter echoed, without a single care
Memories flow like rivers wide
In the heart of Dagbon, we take pride
[Chorus - English]
Back in the old days, life was simple
Dust on my slippers, heart so humble
Dagbon nights under that moon glow
We ain’t have much, but we had soul
[Verse 2 - English]
Children playing as the sun goes down
Carried dreams like a worn-out crown
From the fields of gold to the village square
Together we rose, with love to spare
Time may change, but roots run deep
In our hearts, those moments we'll keep
[Chorus - English]
Back in the old days, life was simple
Dust on my slippers, heart so humble
Dagbon nights under that moon glow
We ain’t have much, but we had soul
[Bridge]
Lantern smoke and clapping palms, the night hums low
Clay pots, drumbeats, stories passed where warm fires glow
Feet stamp the earth, a heartbeat that never slows
We carry those small lights wherever the road goes
[Chorus - English + Dagbani Ad-libs]
Back in the old days, life was simple
Dust on my slippers, heart so humble
Dagbon nights under that moon glow
We ain’t have much, but we had soul
Yila ka zaŋ ni, nyɛla la pahi
Nayi laŋga, ka suŋmɔɣu pahi
(Ad-lib echo: Dagbon zaŋ ni, ka ŋun nyɛla)
[Short Hook]
Dagbon nights under that moon glow
Dagbon nights under that moon glow
We sing, we remember — we carry the light
We sing, we remember — we keep it right
[Outro - English]
Through every struggle, we remain strong
In the spirit of Dagbon, we all belong
[Final Coda - Echo & Chant]
(Repeat short hook with echoing Dagbani fragments: "Yila ka zaŋ ni, nyɛla la pahi" — gentle dub delays, horn stabs on repeats, low toms fade)
