Song Lyrics

Food Celebration

Song of the Spirit Dance

Mother, oh come back,
Mother, oh come back,
Little brother calls as he seeks thee, weeping,
Little brother calls as he seeks thee, weeping.
Mother, oh come back,
Mother, oh come back!
Saith the Father,
Saith the Father.

Wanagi Wacipi Olowan

Ina, hekuye,
Ina, hekuye,
Misunkala ceya-ya omani,
Misunkala ceya-ya omani
Ina, hekuye,
Ina, hekuye!
Ate heye-lo,
Ate heye-lo!

War

Song

Mighty, mighty, great in war,
So was I honored;
Now behold me old and wretched!

Olowan

Okicize iyotan micilaqon,
Miye sni se, iyotiyewakiye-lo!

Song of the Bear Society

    Yonder coming,
    Yonder coming
Lo, the many yonder, he--
                   Yo!

Mine, too, might have been a triumph
Like the many yonder, he-
Yo!

Cried the woman,
    Would that I were like to these,
         The many coming,
         Yonder coming,
         Yonder coming,
Lo, the many yonder, he-
                   Yo!

Mine, too, might have been a triumph
Like the many yonder, he-
Yo!

Now the rising sun hath sent his rays to earth,
    A many coming,
    Yonder coming,
    Yonder coming,
Lo, the many yonder, he-
                   Yo!

Sunbeams o’er the ground are speeding,
Lo, the many yonder, he-
Yo!

Tawi" kuruks

   Rerawha-a
    Rerawha-a
Rerawha-a rera e
                   Yo!

Para riku ratutah
Rerawha- rera e
Yo!

Hi tzapat rakuwaka kuatutah
       Iriritah
       Rerawha-a
       Rerawha-a
Rerawha- rera e
                   Yo!

Para riku ratutah
Rerawha- rera e
Yo!

Rasakura rukuksa rerawha-a
    Rerawha-a
Rerawha-a
    Rerawha-a
Rerawha- rera e
                   Yo!

Rasakura rura whia
Rerawha-a rera e
Yo!

Thanksgiving

Song of the Iruska

Again, Oh Mother-Moon,
                 E-yo!
In thy power, Mother-Moon,
    I put my faith again,
Again, O Mother-Moon,
                 E-yo!

Iruska

Hawa Atira,
                 E-yo!
Atira Tziksu weta Tariruta
    Hawa Atira,
                 E-yo!

Lullaby

Lullaby

Go to sleep,
Baby dear, slumber,
Baby!

Nakahu Naad

Cheda-e,
Nakahu-kahu,
Be-be!

Taken from: The Indians’ Book Songs and Legends of the American Indians by Natalie Curtis New York: Dover Publications, 1950 Song of the Spirit Dance--p. 48,; Song--p. 55; Son of the Bear Society--pp. 105-6; Song of the Iruska--p. 110; and Lullaby--p. 201.