Here’s a song we listened to during one of our evening practice groups that has some nice feel-good vibes. I will definitely be clinging to those vibes as the days get shorter and darker here in the Pacific Northwest. So here are some Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for “Inalåhan gi Kanton Tåsi” by I Gurupun I Mañe’lu. Hope you enjoy it!
| Chamoru | English |
|---|---|
| Manmagof na taotaogue, | Happy are the people |
| Inalåhan gi kånton tåsi. | of Inaråjan, by the sea |
| Mangimen, Manbulachu, | (They are all) drinking, drunk, |
| Manbola, manmannunu. | playing ball, and barbequeing. |
| Lao tåya atburotu, | But there’s nothing bothersome |
| astaki u fanadingu. | until they must leave each other. |
| Lao ola’ mohon ya taiguini | But if only it could be like this |
| todu i tiempu. | all the time. |
| I uriyå-ña sabåna, | Its surroundings are mountains, |
| tronkun niyok yan mångga | coconut trees and mango trees |
| donne’ yan suni, | pepper and taro |
| dågu yan kamuti | yam and sweet potato |
| Tangantångan yan netti, | tangantångan and sword grass |
| esti ha’ guihanmåmi* | this is all we have |
| Lao manmagof na taotaogue, | But happy are the people |
| Inalåhan gi kånton tåsi | of Inarajan, by the sea |
| Tenga an håfa nai okasion, | Often for whatever occasion |
| manmandanña siha i manga’chong | the friends gather together |
| Manmaplaneha para u fanmannunu, | They plan to barbeque, |
| para u fangimen, ya u fanbulachu | to drink, and to get drunk |
| Duru på’go mana’kasi | They are really teasing each other |
| lao u tåya nai mañiente** | but there is never any hurt feelings** |
| Ya manmagof na taotaogue, | And happy are the people |
| Inalåhan gi kånton tåsi | of Inarajan by the sea |
| [dåndån] | [music] |
| Tenga an håfa nai okasion, | Often for whatever occasion |
| manmandanña siha i manga’chong | the friends gather together |
| Manmaplaneha para u fanmannunu, | They plan to barbeque, |
| para u fangimen, ya u fanbulachu | to drink, and to get drunk |
| Duru på’go mana’kasi | They are really teasing each other |
| lao u tåya nai mañienti | but there is never any hurt feelings |
| Lao manmagof na taotaogue, | But happy are the people |
| Inalåhan gi kånton tåsi | of Inarajan, by the sea |
| Hunggan manmagof na taotaogue, | Yes, happy are the people |
| Inalåhan gi kånton tåsi | of Inarajan, by the sea |
| Hunggan manmagof na taotaogue, | Yes, happy are the people |
| Inarajan by the sea | Inarajan by the sea |
Notes
esti ha’ guihanmåmi: In the song it really sounds like they are saying “guihan”, but in the context of the rest of the lyrics we interpreted this as a contracted version of the word “guinahan-måmi” or “what we have”
tåya’ nai mañiente: Jay was saying that in context, this is interpreted as “there are never hurt feelings” but the literal translation would be “nothing is ever felt.”
Lengguahi-ta 