Father Michael sat beside him. He knew the hymn. Everyone in Ha-Tšiu knew it. It was the song of exodus and arrival, of leaving Egypt and finding the small, still voice. “Perhaps you are tired,” the priest offered. “Old age plays tricks on the memory.”
Lefika la ka le sa sisinyeheng. (My unmovable Rock.) sotho hymn 63
The old man looked up. His eyes were the colour of wet slate. “Because Hymn 63 has left my head.” Father Michael sat beside him
To this day, when a Basotho person hears the opening chords of Hymn 63, it triggers a deep emotional response. It is the sound of a grandmother's faith, the sound of a nation's resilience, and the sound of hope anchored in eternity. It was the song of exodus and arrival,
"Pula tsa lehlohonolo, Ha li na ka melupe. Hohle e le liphororo, Le 'na hle u nkhopole." (Showers of blessing fall steadily. They are like waterfalls everywhere; please, remember me too.)
“Morena Jesu, ke rata ho phela… Le ho tsamaea le uena ka khotso…”