Pakaka Neni Famatkilu

My time with Lulai Lumuhu is filled with dancing and singing.

Desiree always said that she would pay attention to my voice while she was in the womb. When she heard others, like Sumåhi and Akli'e' she would kick and move. But when I was speaking to her she would stop and listen.

Ti siguguro yu' esta på'go, kao este kumekeilekña na ya-ña i bos-hu pat ti ya-ña i bos-hu. Kao ha respepeta yu', pat kao inespåpanta?

I try as much as possible to sing Chamoru songs to her, knowing that she'll hear English and other songs from just about everywhere else, she'll be hearing Chamoru from me. The song that soothes her the most is "I Puti'on." Akli'e' and I do a nice duet of the song for her to help calm her when she is cranky.

Over the years I've collected several dozen Chamoru children's songs from before World War II, many of which are fragments. Songs then were different then the way we think about them now. People took tunes they liked and made up the words, sometimes the words might make sense, sometimes they might be silly. People tend to remember certain pieces that were commonly said, but the rest of the song was up to a father, a mother, a grandparent or a child to make up.

"Frere Jacques" or "Are you Sleeping?" is a song that came into Guam during the Spanish period and Chamorus would make up their own verses based on people in their family or around the ranch.

One song that I really enjoy singing to little Lulai is "Pakaka' Neni" which is a Chamoru version of "Hush, Little Baby." This song came into Guam either in the late 1930s or late 1940s, and parents or teachers can change the lyrics to fit whatever is around the house or in your life. I've included the lyrics below, but remember that you can always change the items to whatever your kids might want or like. For example "Pakaka' Neni Famatkilu, Bai fahåni hao ni ipad-mu." In case you are getting your baby a tablet instead of a ring.

Pakaka’ Neni

Pakaka’ Neni Famatkilu

Bai fahåni hao un aniyu

Yanggen malingu i aniyu

Bai nå’i hao potserås-mu

Yanggen ma’tot potserås-mu

Bai nå’i hao ga’-mu ga’lågu

Yanggen malågu i ga’lågu

Bai nå’i hao bisikletå-mu

Yanggen båba i redå-ña

Bai nå’i hao un chandiha

Yanggen hokkok i chandiha

Un tiniroru as Nånan biha

Hush baby

Hush baby be quiet

And I will buy you a ring

And if the ring gets lost

I will give you bracelets

And if the bracelets are broken off

I’ll give you a dog

And if the dog runs away

I will give you a bike

And if the tire is bad

I’ll give you a watermelon

And when the watermelon is gone

You will be rocked to sleep by your grandmother