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


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chamorro Public Service Post #15: Pues Adios, Esta Ki

A lot of people end up visiting this blog because they are searching around the internet for lyrics to Chamorro songs. Over the years I’ve pasted a couple here and there, but haven’t really kept up with it as much as I should. I complain all the time about there not being enough internet presence for the Chamorro language and for Chamorro thoughts and so I feel bad when I inadvertently contribute to that absence. På’go, gaige yu’ gi i gima’ iyo-ku grandfather. Desde i ma’pos’ña na mes, kumakatre gui’. Kana’ hineart attack gui’, ya sumaga’ gui’ gi i espitåt para tres meses. Mana’huyong gi i ma’pos na mes, ya sumåsaga’ gui’ gi i gima’, lao ti ha hulat tumohgue sin ayuda. Kada na puengge måtto yu’ gi i gima’-ña para i tetno-hu pumulan gui’. Gi este na tiempo, tåya’ internet, pues siña hu usa este para bai hu fanhasso. Manhasso yu’ put i lina’la’-hu pat i guinife-hu. Buente i chinathinasso-ku siha lokkue’. Tonight, I was trying to figure out what would be the best song to share the lyrics
Read more

Tuleti

Image
I was racking my brain recently to determine what was the first ever Chamorro song that was featured in a motion picture. Noon Sunday was the first every motion picture to be filmed primarily on Guam, prior to that some minor filming had been done on Guam for World War II and Godzilla films but nothing substantial. Noon Sunday was not set in Guam, but it was the first film to feature extensively the island of Guam. Guam was the locale for a fictional Pacific island that was being taken over by a menacing Asian power. Almost all the speaking roles went to people from off-island (from the US or the Philippines), and Chamorros ended up playing most of the "extra" roles. As a result the film didn't feature any Chamorro music. You do find documentaries and television programs, all locally produced that feature Chamorro songs of at least Chamorros singing songs. Guam's History Through Songs, made by the late Carmen Santos is a perfect example of this. For those of you u
Read more

Guam: The Movie

Image
During the pandemic lockdown on Guam, I was feeling at various points, like so many, stressed and anxious about the world and what was happening and what might happen. I was fortunate to still have a job during the lockdown, and because of technology like zoom and social media, I could still keep up my community work, by teaching classes in the Chamoru language and also history. I also was able to keep up with Fanachu! the podcast for Independent Guåhan. Because of so many people sheltering at home, our audience grew exponentially. One thing that I found myself doing more, like most people with a certain level of privilege and comfort, was watching more things online, on laptops and on my phones. Movie theaters were closed, but Netflix and Youtube were always open, so long as I had data on my phone and wifi in the home. As most people were locked down, sheltering in place, only encouraged to go out and explore for essential tasks or errands, things in general started to shift to becomi
Read more