Artist: James Horner
Song: Dedication and Windsong
Film: The Mighty (1998)
Lyricists: James Horner, Will Jennings
[Chorus]
Imba wimbo
Wa upepo
Wakati unajua na
[Verse]
Imba wimbo
Wa upepo
Wakati ndoto tamu
[Chorus]
Lala mpaka usiku isha
Upepo wa usiku
Wimbo wako na
Wimbo wangu inaendelea
Upepo wa usiku
Wimbo wako na
Imba wimbo
Wa upepo
Wakati unajua na
[Verse]
Imba wimbo
Wa upepo
(Imba wimbo wa upepo)
Wakati ndoto tamu
(Wakati wakati ndoto tamu)
(Lala mpaka)
[Chorus]
Lala mpaka usiku isha
Upepo wa usiku
(Wimbo wimbo wako na)
Wimbo wako na
Upepo wa usiku
Wimbo wako na
Imba wimbo
Wa upepo
Wakati unajua na
[Verse]
Imba wimbo
Wa upepo
Wakati ndoto tamu
[Chorus]
Lala mpaka usiku isha
Upepo wa usiku
Wimbo wako na
Wimbo wangu inaendelea
Upepo wa usiku
Wimbo wako na
"Dedication and Windsong" was composed by James Horner for the 1998 film The Mighty, based on the novel Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. The song features Swahili lyrics—an unusual and poetic choice for a Hollywood film score—which add a haunting, ethereal quality to the soundtrack.
The Swahili phrases translate roughly to:
| Swahili | English |
|---|---|
| Imba wimbo wa upepo | Sing a song of the wind |
| Wakati ndoto tamu | When a sweet dream |
| Wakati unajua na | When you know with |
| Lala mpaka usiku isha | Stay until late night / Sleep until night ends |
| Upepo wa usiku | Wind of the night |
| Wimbo wako na | Your song with |
| Wimbo wangu inaendelea | My song goes on |
In The Mighty, the song underscores moments of emotional depth and connection between the two young protagonists, Kevin (Freak) and Max (Mighty). The windsong motif represents freedom, imagination, and the unbreakable bond between the characters. The use of Swahili—neither character's native language—creates a sense of timeless, universal longing and wonder, a signature technique in Horner's film scores (also heard in Titanic, Braveheart, and The Land Before Time).
Though never released as a commercial single, "Dedication and Windsong" has become a cult favorite among James Horner fans and soundtrack enthusiasts. The Swahili lyrics are often misheard or misremembered, but they remain a beautiful example of how non-English text can elevate a film's emotional language.
Lyrics transcribed from the original soundtrack. Section indicators ([Chorus]/[Verse]) based on Musixmatch structure.
Last updated: 2026