Our practice group listened to the song “Ekgo'” or “Eggu'” by Chamolinian last month, as we were drawn by both the title and the catchy tune. This song is from the perspective of a married woman, talking about everything she must endure from her jealous husband. So just be warned, as the lyrics mention poor treatment of a spouse. The Chamorro lyrics with an English translation and some notes are included in this post. Enjoy!
| Chamoru | English |
| Ai na inekgo’ i asagua-hu | Oh my spouse is so jealous |
| Ai na dinilikao | Oh so delicate |
| Todu ha’ cha’ot-ña, bene’ yan mekkup | He is allergic to everything, lipstick and makeup |
| ya kontodu i paopao | and including the perfume |
| Annai para bai hånao macho’cho’ | when I will go to work |
| Ha chopchop agagå-hu* | he sucks my neck |
| Ti ya-ña modå-hu, | he does not like my fashion, |
| sa’ mampos ma’lak i magagå-hu | because my clothing is too bright |
| Ai na minakkat esti na kastigu | Oh, this punishment is so difficult |
| Agaga’ dinigridu kulang ma’acha matiyu | The bruise is red like it was struck with a hammer |
| Hu pula’ kadena, tåya båli-ña | I took off my necklace, it had no value |
| Gi agagå-hu | on my neck |
| Ai na pinigan** | Oh the burning ember |
| Kulan ha’ mohon, loklok i hagå-hu | It’s as though my blood was boiling |
| Annai hu baba’ i balakbak-hu | When I opened my bag |
| Hokkok sinahguan-ña | It’s contents were gone |
| Si mahaderu todu ha’ chalappon | The rascal scattered everything |
| gi uriyan guma’ | around the house |
| Ai na minakkat esti na kastigu | Oh, this punishment is so difficult |
| Agaga’ dinigridu kulang ma’acha matiyu | The bruise is red like it was struck with a hammer |
| Annai hu penta i papakes-hu | When I painted my fingernails |
| ilek-ña kulan bruha | He said it was like I was a witch |
| Annai hu bokbok pa’lu sehas-hu | When I plucked the rest of my eyeybrows |
| ilek-ña kulan macheng | He said it was like I was a monkey |
| ilek-ña kulan macheng | He said it was like I was a monkey |
| ilek-ña kulan macheng | He said it was like I was a monkey |
Notes
*Ha chopchop i agagå-hu: The word chopchop means “to suck” and in this usage, it implies that the husband gives his wife hickies. This is matched with the later phrases, when she says it’s pointless for her to wear her necklace because her neck is already bruised (with hickies, which are red.)
**pinigan: We could not really make out this word, but we thought it to be pinigan, which means a burning ember. We went with this word, since it also matches the imagery of the following line, loklok i hagå-hu. But let me know in the comments if you hear something different!
Lengguahi-ta 