Prayers on the Roof

For everyone still awake past midnight —
Every bill, every mother, every dream:
Send it up.

Phezulu, phezulu — send them up!
Nkosi, siyathandaza — lift us up!
Prayers on the roof tonight,
Prayers on the roof tonight.

Mama's phone light burning in the dark,
One bar of signal, one worn-out heart.
Taxi ranks empty on the avenue,
But heaven left a window cracked, like it knew.
The zinc still holds the day's last heat,
I climb up quiet with my whole tired week.

No big words needed up here tonight,
Just enough faith to strike a light.
When the log drum finds the prayer,
Every bent and broken thing stands upright.

Prayers on the roof — send them up, up,
We have been low but we never gave up.
Prayers on the roof — lift us up, up,
Heaven hear the people when the streets get tough.

For the mothers, for the dreamers, (phezulu!)
For the hands that hold the future, (phezulu!)
Send them up, send them up —
Nkosi, siyabonga.

Young king working double on the night shift,
Keeps a small photo where his whole hope lives.
Counting out the coins for the school fee,
Praying that his daughter gets to be free.
Girl with a notebook full of plans,
Writes her own sunrise with trembling hands.

If I lose my song,
Let the room sing for me.
If my road gets long,
Put a drum beneath my feet.
Every tear that hit the concrete floor,
Every silent knock upon a locked door,
God is keeping every single one —
The midnight weeping brings the morning sun!

Roof! (phezulu!)
Every whispered name a little flame,
The stars lean closer when we came.

The morning is coming, the shadows will break,
The prayers on the roof keep the city awake!

Prayers on the roof — send them up, up,
We have been low but we never gave up.
Prayers on the roof — lift us up, up,
Heaven hear the people when the streets get tough.

The zinc is cooling down,
The sun is touching the edge of town.
Send them up... lift us up.
Siyabonga.