Last week Jay and I went to see Pacific Cool perform in Portland, and it was such an enjoyable night. When they played a set of cha-cha songs, we danced to every.single.song. And I’m still a bit tired from that night, but it was worth it. And so, continuing on my streak of Pacific Cool songs, here are Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for “Lalåhi” which is so much fun to sing. Listen and enjoy 🙂
| Chamorro | English |
| Esti che’cho’ i lahi | This is the work of the man |
| Guini gi i kostumbre-ta | Here in our custom |
| Humånao ya macho’cho’ | He goes and works |
| Para u supotta i familiå-ña | To support his family |
| Lao yanggen påkpåk bietnes | But when/if Friday hits |
| Ya esta gue’ malitira | And he is already released from work |
| I salåppe’ tunanas guatu gi as neni | The money goes straight to baby |
| Sa guiya para u finahan i lateria | Because she is the one who will buy the canned food |
| På’go nai na tiempu, hita ni lalåhi, | Nowadays, we who are the men |
| ta såsångan na hita i man | We say that we are the ones who are the man |
| Lao måttu i pagamientu, | But payday has arrived |
| guaha atgumentu | There is an argument |
| Sa’ ti ha nå’i yu’ ni salåppe’-hu si Na’ | Because mom did not give me my money |
| Gaige ham gi gima i che’lu | We are at the house of (my) sibling |
| Gigimen, manmamagof | We’re drinking and happy |
| Bineg ha’ yu as Yuña’ (Junior) | Junior begged me |
| Sa’ para u maigo gi gima primu | Because he will sleep at the cousin’s house |
| Ilek-hu, “Nangga låhi-hu” | I said, “Wait, my boy” |
| Sa’ esti ti disision-hu | Because this is not my decision |
| An hu seddi hao pon maigo’ gi gima tihu-mu | If I let you sleep at your uncle’s house |
| Ai sempri malalåtdi si tatå-mu | Ai, your father will definitely be scolded |
| På’go nai na tiempu, hita ni lalåhi, | Nowadays, we who are the men |
| ta såsångan na hita i man | We say that we are the ones who are the man |
| Bineg ha’ yu gi as Yuña’, | Junior begged me |
| para u maigo gi as tihu-ña | to sleep at his uncle’s place |
| Ilek-hu, “Hånao faisen nai si Na’ “ | I said, “Go and ask mom” |
| [dandan] | |
| Hamyu ni lalåhi, ekungok yon kumprendi | Those of you who are men, listen and understand |
| Sa’ hamyu ha’ fambendi | Because you are the only ones who sell |
| Na (La’?) esti sumuseseddi | That this is the experience |
| Ilek-mu na mandaggi | You say that it’s a lie |
| Lao bira ha’ i matå-mu | But just turn your eyes/face |
| Sa’ ina’atan hao ha’ nu i asagua-mu | Because you are being looked at by your spouse |
| Ya ilek-na ya nangga låhi i na’-mu* | And she says, “Wait man, for your food”* |
| På’go nai na tiempu, hita ni lalåhi, | Nowadays, we who are the men |
| ta såsångan na hita i man | We say that we are the ones who are the man |
| Lao mungnga nai che’lu-hu | But don’t, my brother |
| Ma na’fåttu nai gi ilu-mu | Have that get into your head |
| Sa’ sumen tåya hit nai sin i woman | Because we are really nothing without the woman |
| Sa’ sumen tåya hit nai sin i woman | Because we are really nothing without the woman |
| Sa’ sumen tåya hit nai sin i woman | Because we are really nothing without the woman |
Notes
Nangga lahi i na’-mu: The na’-mu literally translates to “your food” but in this context it means “what is coming to you” or the results of your actions. In English, we might say, “Wait for what’s coming to you.”
Lengguahi-ta 