Setbisio Para I Publiko #39: An Mo'na Hao

For my intermediate Chamoru coffeeshop classes, which during the current lockdown, have been moved online, we translate a Chamoru song into English each week. We listen to the song twice, go over the lyrics, sometimes talk about the cultural dimensions of the song or the metaphors and history that it invokes. It is one of my favorite ways to teach the language, since it involves not only teaching the language itself, but also making connections across generations and sometimes using the nostalgia that people have to encourage further learning.

My lyrics are often from just listening since few Chamoru albums include lyrics. This means that sometimes my lyrics are slightly to noticeably off. But even years after doing this regular assignment, I still learn new things from this exercise, even for myself. Sometimes I hear lyrics in a new way and realize I was singing them wrong for years.

Last week, at the request of one of my students, we translated the song "An Mo'na Hao" by Daniel de Leon Guerrero, which is a Chamoru cover of the song "If You Get There Before I Do" by Colin Raye. It is a touching song in English and still works the heartstrings in Chamoru as well.

Lyrics are included below:

*********************

An Mo’na Hao Ki Guahu
Daniel DLG

Hu taitai este un kåtta
Tinige’ nanå-hu biha guihi na tiempo
Ai sesso ha kåtga gi betså-ña si tatå-hu bihu
Ilek-ña siña ti un komprende, håfa lahi-hu kumuilelek-ña
Lao gof mangguaiya hu as bihå-mu
Lao ti maguaiya hu ni’ mañainå-ña

Kumontråta para bei in ali’e’
Un puengi ya bei in falågu
In asagua yan para bei in fanggaifamilia
Gi otro båndan tåno’
Lao annai ti måtto duru tuhu i lago’-hu
Ya enao nai lahi-hu I katta
Hu sodda’ guihi na tiempo

Ilek-ña an mo’na hao ki Guahu
Nangga yu’ guini
Sa’ siempre ha’ bai hu fåtto, este hao bai prometi
Lao yanggen ti måtto yu’, ya mungga hao mannangga
Ai un diha siempre, para ta ali’e’ ta’lo neni
An ha sedi yu’, si Yu’os tåta

Hu taitaitai ta’lo ayu na kåtta, anai måtai si nanå-hu biha
Eståba lokkue’ si tatå-hu bihu tumåtanges gi fi’on-ña. 
Ai tåya’ hu li’e’ kumåti sen åpmam na tiempo
Lao anai tumekkon ya ha ñangon despues ayu ha chiku

Estague mo’na hao
Deskånsa neni
Sa’ siempre ha’ ta ali’e’ hit ta’lo
Ya este hao bai hu prometi
Lao yanggen ti måtto yu’
Pues kai ha’ tiempo-ku
Lao un diha siempre
Ta ali’e’ ta’lo neni
Guenao guatu
Gi sagan paradisu


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