Kumbaya ("Come by Here") is an African-American spiritual song that is commonly associated as a campfire song.
It is heard twice on Married... with Children.
History[]
The song's roots can be traced back to the Southeastern United States and is believed to have originated with slaves of West African origin and may have from a creole language called Gullah. The oldest recording of the song was made in 1926.
The song gained popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, where is was performed by various folk singers as well as being used during the Civil Rights movement.
It is often used during summer camp, where it is sung as a group around a campfire with one person playing a guitar while the others sing along.
The lyrics depict a person begging God for help and imploring that he use divine intervention.
Usage on Married... with Children[]
In the Season 5 episode, "Married... with Aliens", Al brings out a guitar and sings the song with the aliens, while Peg remains asleep.
In the Season 10 episode, "Love Conquers Al" the song is performed twice. First, Dr. Richelieu leads the group in singing the song while they sit on the floor. As the camera pans around, Al is shown sitting away from the group, clinging onto a foam bat and sobbing. Later, after the group returns from a midnight stroll, Ephraim Wanker reveals that he is ready to leave Peg's Mom and has two tickets to go around the world. One of the attendees, Naomi, decides to leave her elderly husband and join Ephraim. As Dr. Richelieu decides to sing "Kumbaya" once more with the group, Peg and Naomi's husband team up and attack Al for managing to ruin two marriages.
Lyrics[]
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya
Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya
Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya
Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbayah
Someone's laughing, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's laughing, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's laughing, Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya
Someone's crying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's crying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's crying, Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya
Someone's praying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's praying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's praying, Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya
Someone's sleeping, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's sleeping, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's sleeping, Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya