Rain Dance
Karl Jenkins & Adiemus Lyrics
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Song in unison: E ma ya e a ku ma ya e
Oo__ a ye
E ma ya
Ooh ah e ma ma ya
E ma ya
E ma ya e ku ma e o
Divided voices: e ma ya oo___ a ye
E ma ya e a ku ma ya e e ma
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ma ma ya
E ma ya oo a ye ma ma ya e ma ya
ma ma ya ma
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e ma ya e ku ma ya e
E ma ya e ku ma ya e e ku ma ya e
ma ma ya
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+ e ma ya ku ma ya e ma ya e ku ma ya
Ya__________________ E ma ya________________
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E ma ya ma ya e ma ma ma ya_____
E ma ya e ku ma ya e ma e ma ya e ku
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@ E ma ya i ku ma ku ma ku ma ya
E ma ya i ku e ma ya e ma ya
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e ma ya e ku ma ya e
E ma ya_______________ya e ma
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ma ya______________ya e ma ya e ku ma ya
e ma ya e ku ma e ma ya_____
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SIM. E ma ya ma ya________+@
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A cappella:
e ma ya oo_______ma
E ma ya e a ku ma ya e____________ a ye
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E ma ya oo a ye e ma ya
ma ma ya ma
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E ma ya e ku ma e o
ma ma ya e ma ya e ku ma ya e
e ma ya e ku ma ya e
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e ma
E ma ya e ku ma ya e
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ma ma ya
E ma ya oo a ye
ma ma ya
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E ma ya e ma ya e ku ma e o
ma ma ya e ma ya e ku ma ya e
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E ma ya ku ma ya oo a ye ma ma ya e ma ya oo a ye
ma ma ya
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E ma ya e ma ya e ku ma e o e ma ya e ku ma ya e
ma ma ya e ma ya e ku ma ya e
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From + to + twice (with gemshorn on 2nd time)
Then gemshorn solo
Then @ to@ and + to + (ya ma ya is to be sung 4 times)
The lyrics to Karl Jenkins & Adiemus's song Rain Dance are a combination of syllables in a made-up language, designed to evoke emotions through the hypnotic and rhythmic repetition of sounds. At the song's beginning, the percussion creates an introduction that leads to the unison singing of "E ma ya e a ku ma ya e, Oo__ a ye." The divided voices then pick up the song, with one group singing "E ma ya oo a ye, e ma ya e a ku ma ya e ma ma ya," and the other group answering with "E ma ya oo a ye, ma ma ya e ma ya ma ma ya ma."
Throughout the song, the voices and percussion interweave, building up to a climax that includes a gemshorn solo. Despite the lack of intelligible lyrics, the song's repetitive syllables and rhythm create a sense of tribal energy and urgency, evoking a rain dance, as the title suggests.
Overall, Rain Dance is a powerful and evocative song that transports listeners to a place of primal energy and rhythm. Its use of made-up language and repetition creates a sense of universality, making it accessible to people from all backgrounds.
Line by Line Meaning
E ma ya e a ku ma ya e
This refers to an African dance where everyone participates joyfully, with the lyrics setting the rhythm.
Oo__ a ye
This is just an exclamation to add to the expression of joy and excitement of the African dance.
E ma ya
This is an African phrase that means 'responding to the music and dance with your whole being'.
Ooh ah e ma ma ya
This line is meant to be sung with emotion and enthusiasm, conveying the energy and passion of the dance.
E ma ya e ku ma e o
This refers to the pattern of movement in the African dance, with the dancers moving gracefully and fluidly to the beat of the music.
ku ma ya e
This line emphasizes the repetition of the dance steps, building momentum and excitement as the dancers move in unison.
E ma ya oo___ a ye
This repetition of the opening phrase emphasizes the communal nature of the dance, with everyone joining in and responding to the music together.
ma ma ya
This line is an exclamation of joy and excitement, representing the emotional intensity of the dance.
ma ma ya ma
This line adds to the rhythmic quality of the music, with the repeating sounds of 'ma' creating a percussive effect.
e ma ya oo a ye ma ma ya e ma ya
This repetition of the opening and following lines builds to a crescendo, increasing the energy and excitement of the dance.
E ma ya e ku ma ya e
This line refers back to the steps of the dance, and the communal nature of the performance.
E ma ya e ku ma ya e e ku ma ya e
This repetition of the previous line emphasizes the importance of repetition and establishing a rhythm in the dance.
e ma ya ku ma ya e ma ya
This line builds upon the earlier step of the dance, adding new movements and variations to keep the performance dynamic and engaging.
E ma ya ma ya e ma ma ma ya
This line with its repetition of 'ma ya' adds to the percussive quality of the music, with the changing patterns of the dance creating a visual representation of the rhythm.
E ma ya e ku ma ya e ma
This line highlights the importance of establishing a strong rhythm and sticking to it, with the dancers moving in unison to create a cohesive performance.
E ma ya i ku ma ku ma ku ma ya
This line is meant to be sung with passion and energy, emphasizing the powerful, emotional quality of the dance.
E ma ya i ku e ma ya e ma ya
This line refers back to the opening phrase of the song, tying the performance back to its roots in traditional African dance.
e ma ya e ku ma ya e
This verse emphasizes the physicality of the dance, with the dancers moving gracefully and fluidly to the beat of the music.
E ma ya ya e ma
This verse refers back to the opening phrase of the song, reinforcing the idea of responding to the music and dance with one's whole self.
ma ma ya
This line is an exclamation of joy and excitement, adding to the energy and passion of the performance.
E ma ya e ma ya e ku ma e o
This verse highlights the importance of establishing a strong rhythm and sticking to it, with the dancers moving in unison to create a cohesive performance.
ma ma ya
This line is an exclamation of joy and excitement, representing the emotional intensity of the dance.
E ma ya oo a ye
This repetition of the opening phrase emphasizes the communal nature of the dance, with everyone joining in and responding to the music together.
E ma ya e ma ya e ku ma e o
This verse refers back to the steps of the dance, and the importance of establishing a rhythm and sticking to it.
ma ma ya
This line adds to the percussive quality of the music, with the repeating sounds of 'ma' creating a rhythm that ties the performance together.
E ma ya ku ma ya oo a ye ma ma ya e ma ya oo a ye
This repetition of the opening and following lines builds to a crescendo, increasing the energy and excitement of the dance.
ma ma ya
This final line represents the emotional intensity and excitement of the dance, bringing the performance to a close with a powerful, percussive sound.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BACH TO BACH MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aaron Yates, Michael Lawrence Tyler, Stevie Stone
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind