Umfowethu uyahlupha -- angazi impela ukuthi uqonda ukwenzani
(My brother bothers me -- I really don't know what he's up to)
Umfowethu uyahlupha -- ukhuluma izinto engingazazi
(My brother bothers me -- he speaks of things I have never heard)
Umfowethu uyahlupha -- wenza sangathi uyangingcokolela
(My brother bothers me -- it's as if he is trying to put me down)
Umfowethu uyahlupha -- maka yeke ukungikhulumela kabi
(My brother bothers me -- he should stop talking behind my back)
Nakho-ke usetshela abangane bakhe
(There! he is telling his friends)
Anginguyena owalekhaya, ngiwakwa-next door
(That I am an illegitimate child, that I come from 'next door')
Elakwabani?
(Whose child is this?)
Elakwabani ivezandlebe
(Whose is this child with his ears sticking out?)
Selicwayisa amehlo livezandlebe
(It is blinking its eyes, this child of questionable origins)
Umfowethu uyahlupha -- sakhula naye saqudelana
(My brother bothers me -- we grew up together always competing)
Umfowethu uyahlupha -- ngamehlula njalo noma ngani
(My brother bothers me -- I always beat him in every way)
Umfowethu uyahlupha -- umdala kodwa ungathi usemncane
(My brother bothers me -- he is older than me but he never acts his age)
Umfowethu uyahlupha -- ngisuphotha ikhaya kodwa yena akanandaba
(My brother bothers me -- I send money home, but he doesn't care...)
Nakho-ke usetshela abangane bakhe
(There! he is telling his friends)
Anginguyena owalekhaya, ngiwakwa-next door
(That I am an illegitimate child, that I come from 'next door')
Elakwabani?
(Whose child is this?)
Elakwabani ivezandlebe
(Whose is this child with his ears sticking out?)
Selicwayisa amehlo livezandlebe
(It is blinking its eyes, this child of questionable origins)
Khuzani khuzani
(Admonish, admonish)
Khuzani, webaba noma
(Admonish him, Dad and Mom!)
Elakwabani?
(Whose child is this?)
Elakwabani ivezandlebe
(Whose is this child with his ears sticking out?)
Selicwayisa amehlo livezandlebe
(It is blinking its eyes, this child of questionable origins)