This song needs no introduction – everyone knows it back to front and inside out. But who doesn’t want to know how to sing Galway Girl in Swahili? Well, quite. And, believe me, Google Translate is on fire with this one. First let’s enjoy the original video…
Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran
Time for Google Translate to work its magic. For all those who have ever found themselves wondering how to sing Galway Girl in Swahili, you are in luck.
Msichana wa Galway
Alicheza fiddle katika bendi ya Ireland
Lakini alipenda kwa mtu wa Kiingereza
Akampiga shingo na kisha nikamchukua kwa mkono
Akasema, “Mtoto, nataka tu kucheza”
Nilikutana naye kwenye barabara ya Grafton haki nje ya bar
Alishiriki sigara nami wakati kaka yake alicheza gitaa
Aliniuliza nini ina maana ya wino wa Gaelic kwenye mkono wako?
Alisema ni moja ya nyimbo za rafiki yangu unataka kunywa?
Alimchukua Jamie kama mkimbiaji, Jack kwa ajili ya kujifurahisha
Alipata Arthur juu ya meza, na Johnny akipanda bunduki
Alizungumza zaidi, kunywa moja tena kwenye bar
Kisha kuweka Van kwenye jukebox, akainuka kwenye ngoma, unajua
Alicheza fiddle katika bendi ya Ireland
Lakini alipenda kwa mtu wa Kiingereza
Akampiga shingo na kisha nikamchukua kwa mkono
Akasema, “Mtoto, nataka tu kucheza”
Na msichana wangu mzuri wa Galway
Wewe ni msichana wangu mzuri wa Galway
Unajua ananipiga kwenye mishale na kisha akanipiga kwenye bwawa
Kisha akanibusu kama hakuna mtu mwingine ndani ya chumba
Kama amri za mwisho ziliitwa, ilikuwa wakati aliposimama kwenye kitanda
Baada ya kucheza kwa Cèilidh, kuimba kwa tunes za biashara
Sijawahi kusikia Carrickfergus alipowahi kuwa mzuri
Acapella katika bar kutumia miguu yake kwa kupigwa
Oh ningeweza kuwa na sauti hiyo ikicheza kurudia kwa wiki
Na katika chumba hiki kilichojaa, kuapa alikuwa akiimba kwangu, unajua
Alicheza fiddle katika bendi ya Ireland
Lakini alipenda kwa mtu wa Kiingereza
Akampiga shingo na kisha nikamchukua kwa mkono
Akasema, “Mtoto, nataka tu kucheza”
Msichana wangu mzuri wa Galway
My yangu yangu ni yangu msichana wangu Galway
My yangu yangu ni yangu msichana wangu Galway
My yangu yangu ni yangu msichana wangu Galway
Sasa tumeondoa ushuhuda wetu na ni kufunga muda
Nilikuwa nimechukua mkono wake, mkono wake ulikuwa umechukua yangu
Nguo zetu zote harufu ya moshi, whisky na divai
Tunapojaza mapafu yetu na hewa ya baridi ya usiku
Nilitembea nyumbani kwake akanipeleka ndani
Kumaliza Doritos na chupa nyingine ya divai
Naapa mimi nitakuweka kwenye wimbo ambao ninaandika
Kuhusu msichana wa Galway na usiku kamilifu
Alicheza fiddle katika bendi ya Ireland
Lakini alipenda kwa mtu wa Kiingereza
Akampiga shingo na kisha nikamchukua kwa mkono
Akasema, “Mtoto, nataka tu kucheza”
Msichana wangu mzuri wa Galway
My yangu yangu ni yangu msichana wangu Galway
My yangu yangu ni yangu msichana wangu Galway
My yangu yangu ni yangu msichana wangu Galway
I don’t know about you, but I would love to see a video of someone who speaks Swahili singing these lyrics in time with the music! The lyrics look amazing. I have no idea how accurate they are, but I know how we can find out! Back to Google Translate to translate Msichana wa Galway back into English:
The Galway Girl
He played a fiddle in the Irish band
But he liked the English man
He struck the neck and then took him by the hand
He said, “Child, I just want to play”
I met him on the Grafton road right outside the bar
He shared cigarettes with me when his brother played a guitar
He asked me what meant the Gaelic ink on your hand?
Did he say it’s one of my friend’s songs you want to drink?
He took Jamie as a runner, Jack for fun
He found Arthur on the table, and Johnny climbing a gun
He talked more, drink one again on the bar
Then put Van on the jacket, got up on the dance, you know
He played a fiddle in the Irish band
But he liked the English man
He struck the neck and then took him by the hand
He said, “Child, I just want to play”
With my beautiful Galway girl
You are my beautiful Galway girl
You know he hits me on the arrows and then hits me on the pond
Then kissed me if no one else was in the room
As the last orders were called, it was when he stood on the bed
After playing for Cèilidh, singing for business tunes
I’ve never heard Carrickfergus ever been good
Acapella in the bar using his legs to be beaten
Oh I could have that voice repeating a week
And in this room full, swearing was singing to me, you know
He played a fiddle in the Irish band
But he liked the English man
He struck the neck and then took him by the hand
He said, “Child, I just want to play”
My beautiful Galway girl
My mine is my girlfriend Galway
My mine is my girlfriend Galway
My mine is my girlfriend Galway
We have now removed our testimony and it’s over time
I had taken his hand, his arm had taken me
All our clothes are smell of smoke, whiskey and wine
When we fill our lungs with the cold air of the night
I walked to his house and took me in
Finish Doritos and other bottles of wine
I swear I’ll put you in the song I’m writing
About the Galway girl and the perfect night
He played a fiddle in the Irish band
But he liked the English man
He struck the neck and then took him by the hand
He said, “Child, I just want to play”
My beautiful Galway girl
My mine is my girlfriend Galway
My mine is my girlfriend Galway
My mine is my girlfriend Galway
Well, Google Translate, you have excelled itself – this song is full of gems. Some of them are slightly worrying. I mean “He struck the neck and then took him by the hand / He said, “Child, I just want to play”” sounds rather more threatening than “Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand / And said “Baby I just wanna dance””.
Equally, I have no idea what poor Ed has done to deserve being hit on the arrows and then hit on the pond, and why is Johnny climbing a gun?
I’d say that extract is a perfect example of why you should only ever use Google Translate with extreme caution!
Take a look at the other songs from the Google Translate does Song Lyrics series:
Round #1 – Perfect by Fairground Attraction
Round #2 – Bewegung by Ohrbooten
And why not head over to our Facebook page to tell us what you think or even suggest some future contenders for Google Translate does Song Lyrics…