Nursery RhymesTonga Lullaby
Tonga LullabyTonga Lullaby
A lullaby from Zimbabwe

Tonga Lullaby

Key: A minor~54 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsOriginal · Tonga, Zimbabwe
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Tonga Lullaby Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by the Tonga people of Zimbabwe’s Zambezi Valley, a region shaped by the great Zambezi River and Lake Kariba. Here you will find the lyrics, meaning, and chords.

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Lyrics & chords

An original arrangement, with guitar & piano chords above each line.

Verse

Am Dm Am
Sleep now, little one, the great river’s flowing wide,
Dm Am E7
the fishing nets are resting now, along the water’s side.
Am Dm Am
Sleep now, little one, the valley wind is still,
Dm Am E7
tomorrow’s sun will climb these banks, above the Zambezi hill.
In English

What the words mean

“Sleep now, little one, the great river’s flowing wide, the fishing nets are resting now, along the water’s side. Sleep now, little one, the valley wind is still, tomorrow’s sun will climb these banks, above the Zambezi hill.”
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Chords — guitar & piano

Am
x
Guitar
CEA
Piano
Dm
xx
Guitar
DFA
Piano
E7
Guitar
EBG#
Piano
Good to know

What “Tonga Lullaby” Means

The Tonga people live along the Zambezi Valley in northern Zimbabwe, a region shaped by the great Zambezi River and, more recently, Lake Kariba. This original lullaby draws on the river and valley images central to Tonga life.

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