Lyrics, Background and More for
Kumbaya

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Lyrics

[Note: May be sung as either "Kumbaya" or "Come By Here".]

Come by here, my Lord, come by here
Come by here, my Lord, come by here
Come by here, my Lord, come by here
Oh, Lord, come by here

Someone's cryin' my Lord, come by here
Someone's cryin' my Lord, come by here
Someone's cryin' my Lord, come by here
Oh, Lord, come by here

Someone's prayin' my Lord, come by here
Someone's prayin' my Lord, come by here
Someone's prayin' my Lord, come by here
Oh, Lord, come by here

Someone's singin' my Lord, come by here
Someone's singin' my Lord, come by here
Someone's singin' my Lord, come by here
Oh, Lord, come by here

Someone's sleepin' my Lord, come by here
Someone's sleepin' my Lord, come by here
Someone's sleepin' my Lord, come by here
Oh, Lord, come by here

Come by here, my Lord, come by here
Come by here, my Lord, come by here
Come by here, my Lord, come by here
Oh, Lord, come by here

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What Does Kumbaya Mean?

Kumbaya means "Come by Here" in Gullah. Gullah is the creole dialect of the former slaves living off the South Carolina and Georgia coast. The song was originally known as Come By Yuh. It is a spiritual song from the 1930’s and was revived during the folk revival of the 1960’s when Joan Baez began singing it on tour and later recorded it. The Joan Baez version is available from iTunes as well.