This Year's King

Maliki!

Tawalisha Maliki!

Tawalisha Maliki!

Maliki pa mwaka huu!

Days and days and nights and nights

All roll, all roll

Dusty ground and scraggly trees

All roll together, roll into one.

Scents and zephyrs, sounds and sights

All roll, all roll

Allies, friends and enemies

All roll together, roll into one.

But here we stand at a landmark!

Here we stand in the shadow of the throne

Here we stand at the milepost tall

And it's here we stop to sing!

So pause for a while

Take your peace for a while,

And pay your regards to this year's king!

Malkia!

Tawalisha Malkia!

Tawalisha Malkia!

Malkia pa mwaka huu!

Burs and twigs stuck into your pelt

All roll, all roll

Past connections, sweet and sour

All roll together, roll into one.

Passions sparked and feelings felt

All roll, all roll

Secrets told, abuse of power

All roll together, roll into one.

But here we stand at a landmark!

Here we stand in the shadow of the throne

Here we stand in the infinite core

Amazed at what we've seen!

So lift your neck

To the top of the trees

And pay your regards to this year's queen!

Nothing grows forever on the earth

As we know all too well.

And if no king lasts forever at the height

Of the earthly carousel...

Then the only sense is in changing

To a new and beautiful pride.

The ride won't last forever,

But we can speed up the ride!

Sensual gains and crushing losses

Roll, all roll

Newborn cubs and fraternal ties

All roll together, roll into one.

Power plays and double crosses

Roll, all roll

Sober truths and brilliant lies

All roll together, roll into one.

But here we stand at a landmark!

Here we stand in the shadow of the throne

Here we stand at a turning point

And we ask what it will bring!

We’ll see who we are

And we’ll smile at the sight

And pay our regards to this year's queen and king!

Pay our regards to this year's king.