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Songs for the Great Feast to the Dead
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Songs for the Great Feast to the Dead

SONGS FROM THE FAR NORTH

SONGS FOR THE GREAT FEAST TO THE DEAD

I

For our children are gone,
While those of our friends remain.
Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Come back, nephew, come back, we miss you;
Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Come back to us, our lost ones,
We have presents for you.
Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Oh, my brother, come back to me,
Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Come back, my brother, I am lonely,
Ai-ya-ya-yai.
My brother come back and we
Will give you a small present,
Ai-ya-ya-yai-yae-yai, etc.
My children, where are you?
Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Come back to us, our children.
We are lonely and sad.
Ai-ya-ya-yai.

II

Come, my brother,
Return to us again;
We wait for you;

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Come, brother, come.
Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Return once more.
Our mother, come back to us.
Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Return, our father;
We wait for you;
Come back to us,
And we, who are lonely,
Will give you food.
Ai-ya-ya-yai.

III

Dead ones, come here;
A-la’-ai-ya’
Come here, do.
sealskins for a tent you will get,
A-la’-ai-ya’
Come here, do.
reindeer skins for a bed you will get,
A-la’-ai-ya’

IV

We will sing a song.
We will go down the current.
The waves will rise;
The waves will fall.
The dogs will growl at us.

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