TRACK 14 (Mar88-05-s11) Song 11: Yerre Ka-bindja-maka Ka-mi
Sung text | Free translation |
(Vocal section 1) | |
yerre | Yerre |
ka-bindja-maka ka-mi | He was singing |
ii | Ii |
nye-bindja nya-mu-ngarrka nn | You sing it for me, nn |
(Vocal section 2-3) | |
yerre | Yerre |
nye-bindja nya-mu-ngarrka nn | You sing it for me, nn |
ii | Ii |
ka-bindja-maka ka-mi | He was singing |
This song is unusual in two respects. First of all, the song-giving ghost seems to be referring to a third person, perhaps another singer present in the dream. Some doubt remains, because the high degree of nasalisation in the vocal production when singing makes it difficult to distinguish between the first and third person forms of the verb –mi ‘to sit’ (nga-mi versus ka-mi). Nevertheless, we have regularly been given the translation ‘he sings’ rather than ‘I sing’ for vocal section 1. Secondly, in vocal sections 2 and 3 the singers reverse the order of the two text phrases from that occurring in vocal section 1. The significance (if any) of this shift from ‘he was singing it, you sing it for me’ to ‘you sing it for me, he was singing it’ is unclear. At the beginning of the third vocal section Barrtjap gives a high call (representing the voice of the Wunymalang ghost) while the backup singer, Lambudju, continues to sing the text.
Song structure summary
VOCAL SECTION 1
Melodic section 1
Text phrase 1
Rhythmic mode 5c (fast uneven quadruple)
yerre |
SW |
Yerre
Text phrase 2
Rhythmic mode 5c (fast uneven quadruple)
ka | -bindja | -maka | ka | -mi | nn |
3MIN.S | sing | PERF | 3MIN.S | sit | SW |
He was singing
Melodic section 2
Text phrase 3
Rhythmic mode 5c (fast uneven quadruple)
ii |
SW |
Ii
Text phrase 4
Rhythmic mode 5c (fast uneven quadruple)
nye | -bindja | nya | -mu | -ngarrka | nn |
2MIN.IR | sing | 2MIN.IR | sit IR | 1MIN.IO | SW |
You sing it for me, nn
INSTRUMENTAL SECTION 1
Rhythmic mode 5c (fast uneven quadruple)
VOCAL SECTIONS 2-3
Melodic section 1
Text phrase 1
Rhythmic mode 5c (fast uneven quadruple)
yerre |
SW |
Yerre
Text phrase 2
Rhythmic mode 5c (fast uneven quadruple)
nye | -bindja | nya | -mu | -ngarrka | nn |
2MIN.IR | sing | 2MIN.IR | sit IR | 1MIN.IO | SW |
You sing it for me, nn
Melodic section 2
Text phrase 3
Rhythmic mode 5c (fast uneven quadruple)
ii |
SW |
Ii
Text phrase 4
Rhythmic mode 5c (fast uneven quadruple)
ka | -bindja | -maka | ka | -mi |
3MIN.S | sing | PERF | 3MIN.S | sit |
He was singing
INSTRUMENTAL SECTIONS 2-3
Rhythmic mode 5c (fast uneven quadruple)
CODA
Rhythmic mode 5c (fast uneven quadruple)
yit ngayi ngayi yit ngowe …