Beautiful: Willie Thrasher, translated by Solomon Ratt (y-dialect)

Indigenous Folk/Rock legend Willie Thrasher and his song “Beautiful” were both new to me when Solomon Ratt presented this translation, so I had to learn more. Perhaps the best piece I found was from the May 2020 issue of Native News Online that identifies his 1981  “Spirit Child” LP as a masterpiece.

Sol says he worked out this translation while out cross-country skiing – echoing Willie line by line, and prepared this karaoke video in the same style to support learners. Text follows below, so you can copy and sing along – with Sol, or with Willie himself.

miyonâkwan waciy
miyonâkwan sîpiy
miyonâkwan askiy
miyonâkwan kîsik

mêtoni miyonâkwan
miyonâkwan ôh ôh
mêtoni miyonâkwan
miyonâkwan ôh

miyonâkwan wâyâhcâw
miyonâkwan kîsik
miyonâkwana sîpiya
miyonâkosiwak mistikwak

mêtoni miyonâkwan
miyonâkwan ôh ôh
mêtoni miyonâkwan
miyonâkwan ôh

miyonâkosiwak awâsisak
miyonâkosiwak kisêyayak
miyonâkosiw pîsim
ita mihcêt kâ-âtayôhkêhk

mêtoni miyonâkwan
miyonâkwan ôh ôh
mêtoni miyonâkwan
miyonâkwan ôh.

From YouTube, here is Willie himself:

Translation of Willie Thrasher tune.

 

2 Responses

  1. I like the song. I am learning Cree. joined a Cree class. I use the Itwewina dictionary from U of A but I could not find the translation of wayakaw. Please help.
    Deanna Lerar, CowessessFN.

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