TRACK 34 (Mar99-04-s08) Song 21: Karra yeri-ngina [144]
Sung text | Free Translation |
karra yeri-ngin-aka-rri-yitjip-wandhi-nginanga ka-ni dhenggi-diyerri nidin-ngin-akarra yeri meri yigin-ga djindja-wurrikangi-nginanga yenmungirini na pumut pumut kurzi | My dear children!They keep appearing in the distance behind me at the mouth of the Moyle River, my dear country!You boys, come hereI’ve got to stay here at Yenmungirini where the Headache Dreaming is |
This song was given to its composer Philip Mullumbuk by the ghost of Wagon Dumoo following his death. Wagon’s spirit has returned to Yenmungirini, the site of his Dreaming, Pumut (Headache), where he must remain. He can see his male descendants only faintly as they gather at the mouth of the Moyle River. At this time the Dumoo family were living in Philip Mullumbuk’s country at Nadirri near the Moyle mouth, some distance away from their clan estate near Perrederr.
The recording was elicited by Allan Marett at Wadeye in 1999.
Song structure summary
VOCAL SECTIONS 1-3
Melodic section 1
Text phrase 1
Rhythmic mode 1 (without clapsticks)
karra | yeri | -ngin | -a |
SW | child | 1MIN.O | PERF |
My dear children!
ka | -rri | -yitjip | -wandhi | -nginanga | ka | -ni | dhenggi-diyerri | nidin | -ngin | -a |
3MIN.AR | use hands | appear faintly | behind | 1MIN.ADVERS | 3MIN.S.R | walk | place name | country | 1MIN.O | PERF |
They keep appearing in the distance behind me at the mouth of the Moyle River, my dear country!
Melodic section 2
Text phrase 2
Rhythmic mode 1 (without clapsticks)
karra | yeri | meri | yigin | -ga | djindja | -wurri |
SW | child | people | 1MIN.PRO | TOP | here | towards speaker |
You boys, come here
kangi | -nginanga | yenmungirini | na | pumut | pumut | kurzi |
1MIN.SRsit | 1MIN.ADVERS | place name | LOC | headache | headache | 3MIN.SRsit |
I’ve got to stay here at Yenmungirini where the Headache Dreaming is
INSTRUMENTAL SECTIONS 1-2
Rhythmic mode 5a (fast even)
INSTRUMENTAL SECTION 3
Rhythmic mode 5b (fast doubled)