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# This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
# song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
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IMPI by Juluka

Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?

Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
   A       G                	         Bm          A              
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
   A       G                          Bm          A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyezas Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
 G    A       G A    G            A         D       G                  A          G  A
All along the river Chelmsford’s army lay asleep,  Come to crush the children of Mageba
   G                A                D
Come to exact the Realm’s price for peace
 Bm                          G                       Bm                               G GA
And in the morning as they saddled up to ride, Their eyes shone with the fire and the steel
     Bm                       G                                 Bm            A      G
The General told them of the task that lay ahead, To bring the People of the Sky to heel
 A               G                 Bm                 A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
 A               G                Bm                 A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengethinta amabhubesi?
 G             A          G     A   G           A            D
Mud and sweat on polished leather, Warm rain seeping to the bone
  G                     A           G  A        G             A             D
They rode through the season’s wet weather, Straining for a glimpse of the foe
  Bm                  G               Bm                     G GA
Hopeless battalion destined to die, Broken by the Benders of Kings
   Bm                       G                    Bm                   A               G
Vainglorious General and Victorian pride, Would cost him and eight hundred men their lives
 A         G                          Bm           A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
 A         G                          Bm           A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
  G   A           G             A
They came to the side of the mountain
  G          A               D
Scouts rode out to spy the land
  G           A                   G   A
Even as the Realm’s soldiers lay resting
  G              A            D
Mageba’s forces were soon at hand
 Bm                        G
And by the evening the vultures were wheeling
  Bm                             G GA
Above the ruins where the fallen lay
 Bm                 G
An ancient song as old as the ashes
       Bm             A              G
Echoed as Mageba’s warriors marched away
  A        G                          Bm           A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
   A       G                          Bm           A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
   
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?

Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
  A         G                         Bm           A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?
  A         G                         Bm           A
Impi! wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?

This may not be perfect, but I noticed there was nothing on the site for either Juluka or Johnny Clegg, so I had to try.  If you haven’t heard this music, you are missing out.  It is some of the coolest, craziest, most beautiful music ever made.  I must say, I would like to 
know about the story behind the song.  If anyone, Johnny Clegg included, could drop an
e-mail and explain the inspiration behind this song, I would be anxious to learn more about it.  Please write at fhowell@audubon.k12.ia.us

This was co-transcribed by Frank Howell of Iowa and Frank Gilbert of Quebec.