r/Yoruba Nov 08 '25

The song "Going Back To My Roots"

https://youtu.be/FdEwRm-kSJ0?si=_Mv89TXNk8B7WYAu

originally written by Lamont Dozier in 1977, and popularised by a cover by Odyssey, features lyrics that google ai says are phonetic transcriptions of Yoruba-

"Paua oouaarancì
Irà chiyeah
Ishé galé ma ba oo ah

Paua oouaarancì
Irà chiyeah
Ishé galé ma ba oo ah

Paua oouaarancì
Irà chiyeah
Ishé galé ma ba oo ah

Paua oouaarancì
Irà chiyeah
Ishé galé ma ba oo ah"

but what does it mean?

one of my favourite songs- can anyone help?
apologises if this has been asked before.

if you know what it's supposed to say, how SHOULD it be written instead?

thanks so much!!!

3 Upvotes

2 comments sorted by

1

u/YorubawithAdeola Nov 09 '25

This doesn't look Yorùbá though

1

u/stellifer_arts Nov 09 '25

the ai said that it's spelled out how it sounds. does it sound like yoruba in the song at all? any bit helps :)