Kåntan Chamoru: Ta Baila Na Dos

Here are Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for “Ta Baila Na Dos” by the Olomwaay Band. I love this song because it really captures the feeling I have when there’s Chamorro cha-cha music playing at a party, and I’m waiting to dance (or rather, waiting for Jay to dance with me!). Jay and our Saturday evening practice group helped me clarify the lyrics on this song because there were some words I couldn’t catch, so big thank-you to all of them! Hope you enjoy this song 🙂

Chamorro	English
Matåtåchong yu’ ya hu li’e’ i todus na mambábaila	I’m sitting down and I see everyone that is dancing
I musika sumen a’gang, i satge esta kalálamten	The music is very loud, the floor is already moving
Mungnga’ mamåhlao todus sa’ puengen-miyu på’gu	Don’t be ashamed everyone because now is your night
Fanbaila’ sa’ esti ha’ i uttimo’	Dance because this is the last one
Mumámanman yu’ un råtu mientras yu’ manánangga’	I was dazed/amazed for a moment while I was waiting
Kontentu siñiente-ku sa’ guaha otro gi un bånda	I felt content because there are others on one side
I puengi, hoben yan fresku, hagas ha’ nánangga’ yu’	The night, young and fresh, has been waiting for me for a long time
*Para bai hu malibettå	*For me to let loose
Kao siña ta baila na dos?	Can the two of us dance?
Kao un tungo’ ha’ chumacha?	Do you know how to chacha?
Esti ha’ uttimo’ na kånta, para hågu yan guahu	This last song is for you and me
Put fabot, maila’ yan ta cha-cha (na dos!)	Please, come and we will chacha (the two of us!)
Mumámanman yu’ un råtu mientras yu’ manánangga’	I was dazed/amazed for a moment while I was waiting
Kontentu siñiente-ku sa’ guaha otro gi un bånda	I felt content because there are others on one side
I puengi, hoben yan fresku, hagas ha’ nánangga’ yu’	The night, young and fresh, has been waiting for me for a long time
*Para bai hu malibettå	*For me to let loose
Kao siña ta baila na dos?	Can the two of us dance?
Kao un tungo’ ha’ chumacha?	Do you know how to chacha?
Esti ha’ uttimo’ na kånta, para hågu yan guahu	This last song is for you and me
Put fabot, maila’ yan ta cha-cha	Please, come and we will chacha
Kao siña ta baila na dos?	Can the two of us dance?
Kao un tungo’ ha’ chumacha?	Do you know how to chacha?
Esti ha’ uttimo’ na kånta, para hågu yan guahu	This last song is for you and me
Put fabot, maila’ yan ta cha-cha (na dos!)	Please, come and we will chacha
Ta cha-cha-cha (na dos!)	We will chacha (the two of us!)
Na dos (na dos!)	the two of us (the two of us!)

Notes

*Para bai hu malibettå: This lyric can be translated literally as “For me to be free.” But as pointed out in the comments, in the context of the song it would be better to translate this as “For me to let loose” or “For me to let go.” In other words, the night is waiting for the person to let themselves be free enough to dance. 🙂