Lyrics

Yangalele, yangalele, yangalele, yangalele.

When I stepped out this morning there were a lot of cars zooming by but a little bird landed on a branch right in front of me so I said, “Hey, muana ndege. Sango nini?” And the little bird said, “Sango te! Doo doot doo…” whistling

On the corner, I saw a yellow school bus pulling away and there was a mom and a little kid there, waving goodbye so I said, “Hey, mtoto. Sango nini?” And my little neighbor said, “Sango te! Doo doot doo…” whistling

Yangalele, yangalele, yangalele, yangalele. Make it a good day, a good day, oh, my Tantine say (repeat)

As I reached the park I ran into my auntie. I call her Tantine. She always wears fun, colorful clothes and she’s so happy. I said, “Mbote, Tantine! Sango nini?” And my Tantine said, “Sango te! Yangalele, yangalele...”

Make it a good day, a good day, oh, my Tantine say. (repeat)

Yangalele, Yangalele, Yangalele, Yangalele.

Hello, Hola, Mbote, Han, Habari, Genki, Sangonini, Oli otya, Boozhoo, Bonjour, Nabad Miyaa, Nyob zoo, Whas’up? Whas’up? Whas’up? Yo! Yo! Yo!

Oh, my Tantine say,
Yangalele, yangalele, yangalele, yangalele.

Make it a good day, Tantine say. Make it a good day, a good day, oh, my Tantine say. repeat
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Yangalele (yawn-gaw-LAY-lay) means “happiness” in Kikongo.

Lingala words: Sango nini (“How are you?”), Sango te (“Doing great!”), Tantine (Aunt).

Greetings: Hello (English), Hola (Spanish), Mbote (Kikongo), Han (Dakota), Habari (Swahili), Genki (Japanese), Sango nini (Lingala), Oli otya (Ugandan), Boozhoo (Ojibwe), Bonjour (French), Nyob zoo (Hmong), Nabad miyaa (Somali), Whas’up? Yo! (American slang)