Thanks to Sol for sharing his interpretation of “Willin'” by Linda Ronstadt and Lowell George. It will be fun to see who can record it first.
Willin’ (interpreted in Plains Cree) | English equivalent to Sol's interprretation | |
nikî-nanîmiskên nikî-sâposci-kimiwanisin nikî-minihkwêskin mâka kêyâpic nikî-âhkamêyimon | ᓂᑮ ᓇᓃᒥᐢᑫᐣ ᓂᑮ ᓵᐳᐢᒋ ᑭᒥᐘᓂᓯᐣ ᓂᑮ ᒥᓂᐦᑵᐢᑭᐣ ᒫᑲ ᑫᔮᐱᐨ ᓂᑮ ᐋᐦᑲᒣᔨᒧᐣ | I’ve walked against the wind soaked by the rain I was a drunk But still I was willing |
nikî-pâh-pîhtwâskin misiwêskamik nikî-pimâcihon misiwêskamik nikî-wanihon mâka kêyâpic nikî-âhkamêyimon | ᓂᑮ ᐹᐦ ᐲᐦᑤᐢᑭᐣ ᒥᓯᐍᐢᑲᒥᐠ ᓂᑮ ᐱᒫᒋᐦᐅᐣ ᒥᓯᐍᐢᑲᒥᐠ ᓂᑮ ᐘᓂᐦᐅᐣ ᒫᑲ ᑫᔮᐱᐨ ᓂᑮ ᐋᐦᑲᒣᔨᒧᐣ | I smoked a lot I travelled all over I was lost all over But still I was willing |
cawâscêsihk nikî-wîkin wêpinikanihk nikî-ohci-mîcison âh, kî-kitimâkan, kî-âyiman mâka kêyâpic nikî-âhkamêyimon | ᒐᐚᐢᒉᓯᕽ ᓂᑮ ᐑᑭᐣ ᐍᐱᓂᑲᓂᕽ ᓂᑮ ᐅᐦᒋ ᒦᒋᓱᐣ ᐋᐦ, ᑮ ᑭᑎᒫᑲᐣ, ᑮ ᐋᔨᒪᐣ ᒫᑲ ᑫᔮᐱᐨ ᓂᑮ ᐋᐦᑲᒣᔨᒧᐣ | I’ve lived on the streets Eaten from garbage bins Oh, pitiable, hard times But still I was willing |
nitôtêmak nikî-wîcihikwak niwâhkômâkanak nikî-sîhkimikwak nikî-atoskêhikawin êkwa mîna nikî-âhkamêyimon. | ᓂᑑᑌᒪᐠ ᓂᑮ ᐑᒋᐦᐃᑿᐠ ᓂᐚᐦᑰᒫᑲᓇᐠ ᓂᑮ ᓰᐦᑭᒥᑿᐠ ᓂᑮ ᐊᑐᐢᑫᐦᐃᑲᐏᐣ ᐁᑿ ᒦᓇ ᓂᑮ ᐋᐦᑲᒣᔨᒧᐣ᙮ | My friends helped me My family encouraged me I was given work Once again I was willing. |
You can find a karaoke track on YouTube for the original song in English by Linda Ronstadt and Lowell George:
One Response
I loved the song and love the translation.