Music You Can Read®

"Kum Ba Yah"
       
     
"Kum Ba Yah"
 


"Kum Ba Yah," Lyrics, Text Format



Reading, singing, and playing three parts, singing in harmony, and
chord identification: tonic (I), subdominant (IV), dominate (V).

Click to hear melody.
 


Description
 
  • Grade: Fifth

  • Origin: Africa - Traditional

  • Key: F Major

  • Time: 3/4

  • Form: phrases: ABAC - song: AB, chorus/verse

  • Rhythm: intermediate: | ti/ ri ta ti ti |
    syncopation, | ta/a ti ti | ta/a ta | ti ta/ ti ti | syncopation

  • Pitches: intermediate: Mi Fa So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So La

  • Intervals: intermediate: Do/Mi/So ascending tonic arpeggio (I, F), So\Do (P5), Mi\Do (M3), Do/Mi (M3), Do\So (P4), So/Do (P4)

  • Musical Elements: notes: half, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; tied notes, syncopation, vocal slur, three part harmony, chorus/verse, chords: tonic triad (I, F), subdominant triad (IV, Bb), dominate triad (V, C), supertonic triad (ii, Ed - diminished), harmony

  • Key Words: world geography: Africa; "Come By Here," sacred, laughing, crying, praying, singing, camp song, scout song, civil rights song, protest song, prayer song; possessive: someone's

  • Recorder: advanced: practicing B flat, three part ensemble, chord identification

 
 

"Kum Ba Yah"


"Come By Here"

       
    Chorus:  
 

Kum ba yah, my Lord, Kum ba yah!
Kum ba yah, my Lord, Kum ba yah!
Kum ba yah, my Lord, Kum ba yah!
Oh, Lord, Kum ba yah!

 
 
1.
Someone's laughing, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone's laughing, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone's laughing, Lord, kum ba yah!
Oh, Lord, kum ba yah!
 
    Chorus  
  2. Someone's crying, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone's crying, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone's crying, Lord, kum ba yah!
Oh, Lord, Kum ba yah!

    Chorus  
  3. Someone's praying, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone's praying, Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone's praying, Lord, kum ba yah!
Oh, Lord, Kum ba yah!
 
    Chorus  
  4. Someone's singing, Lord. kum ba yah!
Someone's singing, Lord. kum ba yah!
Someone's singing, Lord. kum ba yah!
Oh, Lord, Kum ba yah!
 
    Chorus  
       


Back to top.

 

Additional Formats


music

"Kum Ba Yah," Music Format
click image to enlarge



beats

Click to enlarge: "Kum Ba Yah," Beats Format
click image to enlarge



rhythm

Click to Enlarge: "Kum Ba Yah," Rhythm Format
click image to enlarge



pitch numbers

Click to Enlarge: "Kum Ba Yah," Pitch Number Format
click image to enlarge



solfeggio

Click to Enlarge: "Kum Ba Yah," Solfeggio Format
click image to enlarge



letter names

Click to Enlarge: "" Letter Names Format
click image to enlarge


 
       
     
Music You Can Read is a registered trademark of Music Notes, Inc.