Baba Ese (You Are The Pillar That Holds My Life), Part 2

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part 2 in a three part series on the Nigerian song "Baba Ese" and similar titles. "Baba Ese" is Yoruba for "Thank you, Father". In the context of religious songs, the word "father" means "Father God".

Part 1 and Part 2 of this series focus on selected Yoruba versions of this song. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/baba-ese-you-are-pillar-that-holds-my.html for Part 1 of that series.

Part 3 of this series focuses on several additional versions of this song have include the line "You Are The Pillar That Hold My Life". Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/baba-ese-you-are-pillar-that-holds-my_4951.html for Part 3 of that series.

Numbers are assigned to these featured videos throughout the three blog posts in this series.

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PART 2
In the first post to this series I wrote that the song "Baba Ese" is an old song from Yoruba (Nigeria) culture. I also indicated that I was unsure if that song was used for pre-Christian worship, however it is definitely embraced by Christians now. Here's another video of "Baba Ese" being sung by Christians:

Video Example #5: Ese o Baba- Lionel Petersen @ 2008 Festival of Life



Ade Roi, Uploaded on Oct 26, 2008

Lionel Petersen @ R.C.C.G 2008 Festival of life
the unchangeable lord

Editor: As a reflection of how the Yoruba song "Baba Ese" has become widely known outside of Nigeria, West Africa, the featured vocalist in this video, Lionel Peterson, is from South Africa and this concert was held in the United States.

The entire lyrics to this song may have been shown on a large screen during the concert. Here's only a small portion of those lyrics that were captured by the video:

Baba, Ese O Baba
(Father, thank you Father)
Ese O Baba
(Thank you Father)
Awa dupe Baba
(We’ve come to thank you Father)

-snip-

Here's a post that was written on that video's viewer comment thread wrote:
"yoruba has gone global. God is good. Ese Baba adupe Oluwa
-femigirl; October 2011; http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=6R1n5GP_ghI

-snip-

Here is another version of this song that is sung for Christian worship & praise:

Video Example #6: Baba Ese featuring Sister Funmi Aremu


Uploaded by sergephilo on Feb 5, 2010

This song is a testimony of how God's mercy can heal and restore the brokenhearted. It's sung in Yoruba and features Sister Funmi Aremu.
-snip-
Baba Ese
(version featuring Sister Funmi Aremu)

The words of this version are transposed on the video screen. Here are those words:

Thank you
Father thank you
Thank you
I can only praise you.
When I look at how the world is going
I once was crying and crying broken hearted
That I was sick no father, no mother
There was no confidence for me.
I lacked money, friends deserted me.
But the Rewriter of Destiny came and healed me.
comforted me.
Blessed me with money
honored me with friends.
Father, I can only praise you!
Thank you Father thank you!
Thank you, I can only praise you!
Thank you for my life.
Thank you for my work.
Thank you for my family.
(Thank you Father)
Thank you, I can only praise you!
Thank you.
Father, thank you.
Thank you!
I can only praise you!
Thank you.
Father, thank you.
Thank you.
If I only had ten thousand tongues.
for the praise of my Saviour
The glory of my God and King
The triumph of His Grace.
Thank you!
I can only praise you!
Thank you for my home.
Thank you!
I can only praise you!
Thank you for all my relatives.
Thank you!
I can only praise you!
Thank you for your mercy.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
(I can only praise you)
Thank you Father. Thank you, Thank you Father!
(I can only praise you)
Thank you Father for my life!
(I can only praise you)
Thank you Father for my work!
(I can only praise you)
Thank you Father. Thank you! Thank you Father!
(I can only praise you)
Thank you Father for my life!
(I can only praise you)
Thank you Father for my work!
(I can only praise you)
Thank you Father. Thank you! Thank you Father!
(I can only praise you)
Thank you Father. Thank you! Thank you Father!
(I can only praise you)
Thank you Father for my life!
(I can only praise you)

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Video Example #7: I just want to say (Baba o Ese)



Uploaded by l0ser25 on May 17, 2011

sooo tired as u can see but we fought the fatigue and praised and worshiped God lol

-snip-
I'm not sure where this video was taped.

Here is a question & response from that video's viewer comment thread http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3pPs-ledvA&feature=related :

"The hook you sing ending in hallelujah before "imela imela..." what does that mean?
-MzRoxiie90 ; October 201l

**
@MzRoxiie90 It means "We bow before you Lord"
-l0ser25 ; November 2011

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Video Example #8: African Kids 4 Christ: Ose Baba (Yoruba)



Uploaded by jasonlohrmd on Apr 30, 2010

From the DVD "All About Jesus"

Editor:
Unfortunately, the English translation of the Yoruba words that were transposed on the video screen were cut off. From reading the titles of other "Baba Ese" videos, I gather that "Ose Baba" is written in Yoruba as "O Se Baba". Although the arrangement and tune of this song differs from other versions of "Baba Ese" songs that I have found online, I still believe that it is a member of the "Baba Ese" family of songs.

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