Iyo Mbimenya (If I Had Known) Lyrics by Gentil Misigaro

(Sung in Kinyarwanda)

Refrain:
Iyo mbimenya, simba nararize (If I had known, I would not have cried)
Iyo mbimenya, simba naratinye (If I had known, I would not have been afraid)
Iyo mbimenya, simba nararize (If I had known, I would not have cried)
Iyo mbimenya, simba nararize (If I had known, I would not have cried)

Mfasha menye ko mpora ndinzwe iteka (Help me to remember that I’m always protected)
Uzi ibindushya n’ibindemerera (Help me remember that my trials and burdens)
Urabanza ukabisuzuma neza (You first weigh them before they reach me)
Iyo menya ko biba ari ibipimo (If I had known that those were just tests)
Iyo menya, ko biba ari amasomo (If I had known that those were life lessons)
Iyo mbimenya, simba narihebye (If I had known, I would not have lost hopw)
Iyo mbimenya, simba nararize (If I had known, I would not have cried)

(Refrain)

Nibutse ko n’imihengeri ijya ikumvira (I remember that even the storms obey You)
Namenye ko nta n’umusozi, wakunanira (I know that no mountain is impossible to You)
Namenye ko no m’ubutayu, uhashyira iriba (Now I know that even in the desert, You provide water)
Iyo mbimenya simba naratinye (If I had known, I would not have been afraid)
Iyo mbimenya simba nararize (If I had known, I would not have cried)

(Refrain)

Bridge:
Humura amaso yanjye y’umwuka (Open my inner/Spiritual eyes)
Ndebe ingazo zinkikije (That I may see the chariots surrounding me)
(Repeat)

(Refrain)