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Get Adobe ReaderSung for Agnes Cranmer’s great grandfather, Siwidi, Chief of the Ławit´sis
The Kwakwaka’wakw believe that mourning songs should only be heard before noon. Please respect this belief and do not listen to this mourning song in the afternoon or at night.
Kwak´wala
(Chorus)
(Ha-ney ye-a, hey na-nay, ha nai ya-a,
ha na, nai ya ha,
He ne-e, he ney, he-e yi......) (2x)
English
(Crying)
Kwak´wala
(Singer: yells out verse)
“Ya-adziyas” ga nik’la,
“Ya-adzi-kasdziya
Galixdiyasi, T’siłwe’galisa
xa gigamai-dziya”,
nixtłan’s
English
You are great, you will say
you are all great
when they first praised the great chief, we
will say
Kwak´wala
Ha-ney ye-a, hey na-nay, ha nai, ya ha,
Ya-a adzi-ya-si-i ye ye-a, hey na nay, ha-nai, ya ha,
Ya adzi-ka-ha-ha-dzi-ye.... ye-a, hey na nay, ha nai, ya ha,
Xa galexdi-ya-ha-si....... ye ye-a, hey na nay, ha nai, ya ha
La t´sił-wega-li-hisdzi-ye... ye-a, hey na nay, ha nai, ya ha
Xa gigam-mai-ha-ha-dzi-ye.... ye-a, hey na nay, ha nai, ya ha
Ha nai nay, ya ha
English
He is great
They are great
when they first
Praised
The great chief
Kwak´wala
Li tiwak’salisdzi-i-ye ye-a, hey na nay, ha-nai, ya ha,
Lai tawak’sali-hisdzi ye... ye-a, hey na nay, ha nai, ya ha,
Xa ‘walas dłu-hu-hu-gwa-la...... hey-a, he na nay, ha nai, ya ha
Xa awa’wax’stala-ha-ga-li..... ye-a, hey na nay, ha nai, ya ha
Xa yak´ax’sta-la-ha-ga-li....... ye-a, hey na nay, ha-nai, ya ha,
Xa gigam-mai-ha-hai-dzi-ye... ye-a, hey na nay, ha nai, ya ha,
Ha na nay, ya ha
English
He has flown
He is in the sky, the spirit world
he has all the great treasures
He speaks of great things
He is a great speaker
The great chief
Kwak´wala
Li galaxsali-hisdzi-hiye... ye-a, hey na nay, ha-nai, ya ha,
Lai galax’̱sali-hisdzi ye... ye-a, hey na nay, ha nai, ya ha,
Xa ’walas wa-ha-ha-tsi ye....ye-a, hey na nay, ha nai, ya ha
Xa ’Yala-ha-mi-hi-hixw
English
He is the first to travel to the spirit world
They are the first to travel to the spirit world
The great spirit dog
Named ‘Yalamixw