TRACK 31 (Mar99-04-s16) Song 18: Lhambumen [140]
| Sung text | Free Translation |
| karra lhambumen lhambumen kimi-wurri kavulh[-a]karra lhambumen lhambumen kimi-wurri kavulh[-a]aa | He [a Walakandha] has always sung ‘Lhambumen’ to meHe [a Walakandha] has always sung ‘Lhambumen’ to meAa |
This song by Les Kundjil, like Wagon Dumoo’s songs ‘Kubuwemi’ (track 12) and ‘Yendili No. 1’ (track 13) with which it shares a melody and text structure, affirms that Walakandha ancestors are an eternal source of songs about country (see also Marett, 2005, p 127). Lhambumen is one of two billabongs on the Moyle floodplain (the other is Lhambudumbu). This is where the Wallaroo, Wedjiwurang, jumped to from Yederr when he was fighting with the Emu (see Philip Mullumbuk’s song ‘Wedjiwurang’ on track 38). The translation assumes that, as in previous songs, the final perfective marker is suppressed in text phrases 1 and 2. The song’s melody is share
Song structure summary
VOCAL SECTIONS 1-3
Melodic section 1
Text phrases 1-2
Rhythmic mode 1 (without clapsticks)
| karra | lhambumen | lhambumen | kimi | -wurri | kavulh | [-a] |
| karra | lhambumen | lhambumen | 3MIN.S.R say/sing | towards speaker | 3MIN.S.R lie | [PERF] |
He [a Walakandha] has always sung ‘Lhambumen’ to me
Text phrase 3
Rhythmic mode 1 (without clapsticks)
| aa |
| SW |
Aa
INSTRUMENTAL SECTIONS 1-2
Rhythmic mode 5a (fast even)
INSTRUMENTAL SECTION 3
Rhythmic mode 5b (fast doubled)