TRACK 2 (Rei74-01-s15) Song ii: Walakandha No. 6 [105]

Like ‘Walakandha No. 8’, this song underlines the fact that songmen have no say in whether they receive songs or not. Lying with one leg crossed over another in ‘number four leg’ is a posture associated with song-creation. [106] The ‘jungle’ mentioned in the song lies behind Truwu beach near the Nadirri outstation. The part of speech ‘-wurri’ simply means ‘toward the speaker.’ It is sometimes glossed as ‘[singing] to me’ and sometimes as ‘[facing] towards me.’ The vocable text in text phrase 1—yene yene—reproduces the sung utterances of the Walakandha. Spirit-language texts that contain very similar vocables occur not only in other Mullumbuk songs but also in Belyuen singer Billy Mandji’s ‘Duwun Crab Song’ (chapter 6, track 7). Some rhythmic characteristics of this song resemble the stylistic practice of Jimmy Muluk (see further details in the music analysis section).

This is the first of three songs sung at a circumcision ceremony at Wadeye in 1974, recorded by the lay missionary, Lesley Reilly (née Rourke).

Song structure summary

VOCAL SECTIONS 1-4

Melodic section 1

Text phrase 1

Rhythmic mode 1 (without clapsticks)

Aa yene yene

Melodic section 2

Text phrase 2

Rhythmic mode 1 (without clapsticks)

A, the Walakandha always manifests himself

lying down with one knee bent over the other and singing to me (or facing me) in the jungle

INSTRUMENTAL SECTIONS 1-3 (non-final)

Rhythmic mode 5*

INSTRUMENTAL SECTION 4 (final)

Rhythmic mode 5b (fast doubled)