Back to School – English Lyrics

• By: Masaka Kids Africana

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the energetic world of "Back to School" by Masaka Kids Africana! This song is a fantastic way to experience the uplifting spirit of African music, particularly the Afrobeat genre, while also learning about the power of education and hope. Through its catchy rhythms and inspiring lyrics, you can explore themes of ambition, community, and the universal desire for a better future, making it a special piece for cultural and linguistic immersion.

[English]

Masaka kids Africana

It’s time to go to school

Wake up

Let’s go to school

So we never retire

I will never look my back

Pick up your shoes

Pull up your socks

and go….

Let’s go to school

So we never retire

I will never look my back

Pick up your shoes

Pull up your socks

and go….

I wake up in the morning

I wash up my face

I lift up my eyes

and pray

To the Father

To guide me on my way

I look into my future

Just how going to be

I can never be so sad

Worried

in my life

Ndi mugumu nina omusinji (Am strong that I have the foundation)

Okusoma anti gwe’musinji (Education is the foundation)

Is the key to the future

Everywhere I go

Let’s go to school

so we never retire

I will never look my back

pick up your shoes

pull up your socks

and go….

Let’s go to school

So we never retire

I will never look my back

Pick up your shoes

Pull up your socks

and go….

I wannah be a doctor

When I grow up

treat all my friends

and the people at home

Teach them to Love

My Mother

and My Father

My country

Baninamu essubi ddene ( They have too much hope in me )

Wadde fees zabula ( Even though school fees are scarce)

Tokoowa saaba ( Don’t get tired of praying )

you have a dream

in your life

never give up

clean your shoes

pack up your books

pick up your pen

and go

Let’s go to school

so we never retire ….

I will never look my back

pick up your shoes

pull up your socks

and go….

Let’s go to school

So we never retire

I will never look my back

Pick up your shoes

Pull up your socks

and go….

Otulo twokumakya tunyuma ( Morning sleep is so enjoyable )

Naye olina okutweresa ( But you got to sacrifice it )

Okele enkera nga oli muwanguzi ( To become successful )

Ndimunyikivu Kati ngo’ba kilooto (am so persistent to chase my dream)

Enkuuba ekuuba ( The rain is raining on me )

Naye ngenda mu maaso ( But am going forward )

Njagala bukye ( I want to wake up tomorrow )

Nga ndi omu kuba Lodi ( When am one of the richest people)

Ndi mugumu nina omusinji (Am strong that I have the foundation)

Okusoma anti gwe’musinji (Education is the foundation)

Is the key to the future

Everywhere I go

Let’s go to school

So we never retire

I will never look my back

pick up your shoes

pull up your socks

and go….

Let’s go to school

So we never retire

I will never look my back

pick up your shoes

pull up your socks

and go….

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
school /skuːl/ A1	noun - an institution for educating children
go /ɡoʊ/ A1	verb - to move from one place to another
retire /rɪˈtaɪər/ B1	verb - to leave work at the usual age
look /lʊk/ A1	verb - to direct your eyes in a particular direction
pick /pɪk/ A2	verb - to choose or select something
shoes /ʃuːz/ A1	noun - a covering for the foot
socks /sɒks/ A2	noun - clothing worn on feet
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - front part of the head
pray /preɪ/ A2	verb - to speak to a deity or god
future /ˈfjuːtʃər/ B1	noun - the time yet to come
education /ˌɛdʒuˈkeɪʃən/ B2	noun - the process of learning or teaching
dream /driːm/ B2	noun - a series of images or thoughts during sleep or aspirations verb - to have images or thoughts during sleep

Key Grammar Structures

• It’s time to go to school

  ➔ Subject-Verb agreement with "It is"

  ➔ The phrase "It's" is a contraction of "It is". "It" is the subject (singular) and "is" is the verb. The sentence indicates a specific moment or period suitable for the action.

• So we never retire

  ➔ Use of "so" as a conjunction expressing purpose.

  ➔ The word "so" introduces a clause that explains the reason or purpose behind the action in the main clause. In this case, the purpose of going to school is to ensure they "never retire", implying financial security and continued engagement.

• I will never look my back

  ➔ Use of "will" for future intention or determination.

  ➔ The modal verb "will" expresses a firm intention about the future. Here, it conveys a strong resolve not to look back, suggesting a focus on the future and a determination to move forward.

• I look into my future just how going to be

  ➔ Indirect question structure; future tense implied by "going to be"

  ➔ The sentence contains an embedded question using "how". The phrase "going to be" is a common way to express future plans or predictions. The speaker is contemplating what their future will hold.

• I can never be so sad

  ➔ Use of modal verb "can" with adverb "never" for strong negation.

  ➔ "Can never" emphasizes the speaker's strong belief or determination that they will not allow themselves to be excessively sad. It expresses a firm resolve to maintain a positive outlook.

• When I grow up treat all my friends

  ➔ Future action using present simple in a "when" clause; missing "I will" before "treat".

  ➔ The grammar implies a future action linked to the condition of growing up. In clauses of time introduced by "when", the present simple is used to refer to the future. The sentence is grammatically incomplete, as it omits "I will" before "treat". It should ideally read "When I grow up, I will treat all my friends."

• Teach them to Love My Mother and My Father

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose with "to love"; possessive adjectives "My".

  ➔ The phrase "to Love" expresses the purpose of teaching someone. "My Mother" and "My Father" use the possessive adjective "My" to indicate the speaker's parents.