Kumbaya, My Lord | The Riverside Gospel Group Lyrics, Meaning & Videos

Someone's singing Lord, kumbayaSomeone's singing Lord, kumbayaSomeone's singing Lord, kumbaya Someone's crying Lord, kumbayaSomeone's crying Lord, kumbayaSomeone's crying Lord, kumbayaOh Lord, kumbaya

Kumbaya My Lord
The Riverside Gospel Group Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya

Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya
Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya
Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya

Oh Lord, kumbayah

Someone's crying Lord, kumbaya
Someone's crying Lord, kumbaya
Someone's crying Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya

Someone's praying Lord, kumbaya
Someone's praying Lord, kumbaya
Someone's praying Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya

Oh Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya

Oh Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya


Overall Meaning

The Riverside Gospel Group's song "Kumbaya My Lord" is a spiritual song that originated in the African American community. The song's lyrics demonstrate a strong sense of community and a desire for connection to a higher power. "Kumbaya" itself is believed to be derived from the Gullah language spoken by the people of the Sea Islands, a chain of coastal islands stretching from South Carolina to Florida. The Gullah word "kum ba yah" translates to "come by here."


The repeating refrain of "Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya" is a call to the Lord, asking for his presence and guidance in times of trouble. The second verse reveals that someone is singing, crying, and praying to the Lord, reflecting the idea that the song is used as a form of communal prayer. The song's repetitive structure adds to its meditative quality and creates a sense of shared experience.


While the song has religious roots, it has been adopted and adapted by various social justice movements over the years. During the civil rights movement in the 1960s, "Kumbaya" was often used as a protest song, with lyrics altered to reflect the struggle for equality and justice. More recently, the song has been used in anti-bullying campaigns and as a symbol of interfaith unity, once again demonstrating its ability to unify people across different backgrounds.


Line by Line Meaning

Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Pleading to God for help and guidance in times of need and trouble.


Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya
Someone is expressing their faith and belief in God through song.


Someone's crying Lord, kumbaya
Someone is asking God for mercy and comfort during times of sorrow and pain.


Someone's praying Lord, kumbaya
Someone is seeking God's intervention and divine assistance in their lives.


Oh Lord, kumbaya
An appeal to God to hear the prayers and cries of those in need and to provide them with love and compassion.


Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EMANUEL DIAKHATE, GONTSE DIAKHATE, - DP, SANDI ANTON STRMLJAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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