Maybe it’s Solomon Ratt’s photo in a crocheted Rastafarian hat, maybe it’s because Spring is finally springing, but I was reminded of this great Bob Marley song that might be perfect for a whole bunch of tiny Cree immersion students to sing somewhere. So I attempted a translation (below).
The third link in my to my memory is this viral dance recital video (that might make a kind of choreographic suggestion). https://youtu.be/iKRsclxBZGg
I really hope there’s a teacher somewhere ready to take this hint and make a video. I’ve also added a YouTube karaoke video below.
[Full disclosure: When I try to do translation without help, I kind of identify with the little blonde girl on the far right. So thanks, Ben Godden for giving my first round translation an upgrade. And thanks to Dolores Sand for the “real speaker” upgrade, and to Solomon Ratt for approving the message of “kiyâm!” And thanks to anyone else who helps find errors!]
Three Little Birds. Bob Marley (translated by Arden Ogg)
kâya nânitaw itêyihta.
kahkiyaw kîkway ka-miywâsin!
nikamo: kâya nânitaw itêyihta
kahkiyaw kîkway ka-miywâsin!
niwaniskân
nipâhpihkwân
nisto piyêsisak
nitiskwâhtêmihk
ê-nikamocik
miyo-nikamowina
“kâ-ititin kiyâm!”
kâya nânitaw itêyihta.
kahkiyaw kîkway ka-miywâsin!
nikamo: kâya nânitaw itêyihta
kahkiyaw kîkway ka-miywâsin!
ᑳᔭ ᓈᓂᑕᐤ ᐃᑌᔨᐦᑕ᙮
ᑲᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᑮᑿᐩ: ᑭᔮᒼ ᐆᒪ!
ᓂᑲᒧ: ᑳᔭ ᓈᓂᑕᐤ ᐃᑌᔨᐦᑕ
ᑲᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᑮᑿᐩ: ᑭᔮᒼ ᐆᒪ!
ᓂᐹᐦᐱᐦᒁᐣ
ᓂᐢᑐ ᐱᔦᓯᓴ
ᓂᑎᐢᒁᐦᑌᒥᕽ
ᐁ ᓂᑲᒧᒋᐠ
ᒥᔪ ᓂᑲᒧᐏᓇ
“ᑳ ᐃᑎᑎᐣ ᑭᔮᒼ!”
ᑳᔭ ᓈᓂᑕᐤ ᐃᑌᔨᐦᑕ᙮
ᑲᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᑮᑿᐩ: ᑭᔮᒼ ᐆᒪ!
ᓂᑲᒧ: ᑳᔭ ᓈᓂᑕᐤ ᐃᑌᔨᐦᑕ
ᑲᐦᑭᔭᐤ ᑮᑿᐩ: ᑭᔮᒼ ᐆᒪ!
Don’t worry about a thing,
Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin: don’t worry about a thing,
Cause every little thing gonna be all right!
Rise up this mornin,
Smiled with the risin sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin, (this is my message to you-ou-ou:)
Singin: don’t worry bout a thing,
Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin: don’t worry (dont worry) bout a thing,
Cause every little thing gonna be all right!
