A couple of Saturdays back, my friend Alicia voted for our practice group to listen to this song. It’s such a beautiful song, with lyrics that go straight to the heart. I’m pretty sure all of us were teary-eyed by the end, trying to hold it together in front of each other in the study group. So here are the Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for Kantåyi Ham by Pacific Cool.
| Chamoru | English |
| Un puengi, ha chiku i famagu’on-ña | One night, he kissed his children |
| Sa’ para u hanao ta’lu agupa | Because he was going to go again tomorrow |
| Inagang ni che’cho’-ña | He was called by his work |
| Lao dos simånas ha’ gue’ tåtte | But he had only been back two weeks |
| Enao etmås patgon nai muna’kåti | That’s what made the youngest child cry |
| Ayu na ha saosao i lago’-ña, ya ilek-ña: | That’s when he wiped his tears and said |
| Tåta, kantåyi ham fan ni mås ya-mu na kantå-mu | Dad, sing to us please your favorite song |
| Sa’ ennao nai na kånta i mås ya-hu | Because that song is my favorite |
| An siakåsu na ti un bira hao taimanu ilek-mu | If in case you don’t come back like you said |
| Esta yå, in hingok i kantå-mu | Already, we heard your song |
| Un diha, ha chiku i asaguå-ña | One day, he kissed his spouse |
| Sa’ para u dingu nai i tano’-ña | Because he would be leaving his land |
| Sumaonao nai gi gera | Joining in the war |
| Ya ayu ha’ minañao-ña | *And that was his/her fear |
| Kao para u apmam i hinanao-ña | Would his journey/time away be long |
| Ayu na tuhu i lago’-ña ya ilek-ña | *That is when his/her tears fell and he/she said |
| Asaguå-hu, kantåyi ham fan ni mås ya-mu na kantå-mu | My spouse, sing to us please your favorite song |
| Sa’ ennao nai na kånta i mås ya-hu | Because that song is my favorite |
| Yan siakåsu na demålas hao gi karera | And in case you are unlucky in (your) path |
| En fin in hingok kantå-mu ni in guaiya | In the end, we heard your song that we love |
| Tåta, kantåyi ham fan ni mås ya-mu na kantå-mu | Dad, sing to us please your favorite song |
| Sa’ ennao nai na kånta etmås ya-hu | Because that song is my favorite |
| An siakåsu na ti un bira hao taimanu ilek-mu | If in case you don’t come back like you said |
| Esta yå, in hingok i kantå-mu | Already, we heard your song |
| Asaguå-hu, kantåyi ham fan ni mås ya-mu na kantå-mu | My spouse, sing to us please your favorite song |
| Sa’ ennao nai na kånta i mås ya-hu | Because that song is my favorite |
| Yan siakåsu na demålas hao gi karera, | And if in case you are unlucky on (your) path |
| En fin in hingok kantå-mu ni in guaiya | In the end, we heard your song that we love |
| Manetnon, manetnon i familiå-ña | They gathered, his family gathered together |
| Pa’ u madespidi i chelun-niha | For their brother to be bid farewell |
| Sa’ inagang ni saina | Because he was called by the lord |
Notes
*For these lyrics, we interpreted them as being from the point of view of the spouse who is being left behind as their husband leaves for war.
Lengguahi-ta 