Songs of the Tlingit
SONG OF QAQATCGUK
TLINGIT
The man who thought he had perished
dreams thus about himself:
I keep feeling
as if I had gotten home.
dreams thus about himself:
I keep feeling
as if I had gotten home.
SONG OF WOMAN'S PREMONITION
Already I am going,
I am going to die.
I have dreamed of my son.
I am going to die.
I have dreamed of my son.
SONG OF RAVEN
That Raven must have been a great fellow.
He went down under the sea.
Then they pulled up his nose.
He went through the town for his nose.
When it was given him he started to fly out of doors.
He flew out with it.
Why! instead of looking like himself, he looks as if he ought
to have a drink.
After you have done as he has done you can wander about the
entire world-beach.
He went down under the sea.
Then they pulled up his nose.
He went through the town for his nose.
When it was given him he started to fly out of doors.
He flew out with it.
Why! instead of looking like himself, he looks as if he ought
to have a drink.
After you have done as he has done you can wander about the
entire world-beach.
CRADLE SONG FOR A GIRL
If I do not take anything to the party
I shall be ashamed,
I shall be ashamed.
Little girls, listen.
Little girls, listen.
I shall be ashamed,
I shall be ashamed.
Little girls, listen.
Little girls, listen.
CRADLE SONG
Let me shoot a small bird
for my younger brother.
Let me spear a small trout
for my younger sister.
for my younger brother.
Let me spear a small trout
for my younger sister.
SONG OF LITTLE-LAKE-UP-ABOVE
(When his people expected others to come with food to give them a feast)
It is before my face every day.
And when I sleep I always think of you.
I long much for you.
Thinking about you comes to me
like a sudden sickness.
And when I sleep I always think of you.
I long much for you.
Thinking about you comes to me
like a sudden sickness.
SONG OF SORROW
(By a woman whose brothers were drowned and their bodies not recovered)
Your reef has beaten me,
Kágwantan's children.
But take pity on me.
I wonder what I always attend to
when I wake up in the morning.
Sometime I might see my brothers.
Kágwantan's children.
But take pity on me.
I wonder what I always attend to
when I wake up in the morning.
Sometime I might see my brothers.
COMPOSED BY SMALL-LAKE-UNDERNEATH
(About a drifting log found full of nails, out of which a house was built. Sung when a feast is about to be given for a dead man)
I always compare you to a drifting log
with iron nails in it.
Let my brother float in,
in that way.
Let him float ashore
on a good sandy beach.
I always compare you, my mother,
to the sun passing behind the clouds.
That is what makes the world dark.
with iron nails in it.
Let my brother float in,
in that way.
Let him float ashore
on a good sandy beach.
I always compare you, my mother,
to the sun passing behind the clouds.
That is what makes the world dark.
KAGWANTAN SONG FOR THE FEAST
(When a slave is to be killed)
The words of people
now snow me under,
the words of worthless people.
The words of people
now snow me under,
the words of worthless people.
SUNG BY THE WOLF FAMILIES
(Coming to a feast)
A rich man is coming.
Your feelings you keep silent.
When it is ended,
thus they always say:
"It is all gone."
A rich man is coming.
Your feelings you keep silent.
When it is ended,
thus they always say:
"It is all gone."
AT A GREAT FEAST
We are also going to be invited
to Killisnoo.
High-cast people
are going to eat.
to Killisnoo.
High-cast people
are going to eat.
BY NAQUALI
I wonder what my future life
will do to me.
will do to me.
SONG OF FOR-A-TOWN SPIRIT
(About the Táqdentan, because when the latter came to Juneau to drink they did not pay any attention to the Auk people.)
I observe how people are treated
after they are dead,
and therefore I drink
before I die.
What you did was very selfish,
Táqdentan's children.
But I do not blame you
for your words.
It is this Raven's fault.
I observe how people are treated
after they are dead,
and therefore I drink
before I die.
What you did was very selfish,
Táqdentan's children.
But I do not blame you
for your words.
It is this Raven's fault.
BY NIGOT
What do you think I live for?
I live to drink whiskey.
Have pity on me,
foam children.
I live to drink whiskey.
Have pity on me,
foam children.
BY TSAKAK
It is only crying about myself
that comes to me in song.
that comes to me in song.
BY ONE OF THE LENÉDI
(About Juneau when gold was first found there)
Do not talk any more,
Lenédi's children.
You are ahead
of all the people in the world.
Do not talk any more,
Lenédi's children.
You are ahead
of all the people in the world.
AN ANGRY SONG COMPOSED BY SEXDAGWET
(Against Little Raven, a blind man of Tongas)
Just as if a man chased him
out on the beach
because of someone's talking,
Little Raven threw himself
before my words.
I do not feel even a little numb.
That fellow, Little Raven,
whose words
they are always reporting to me,
can not see anything.
Just as if a man chased him
out on the beach
because of someone's talking,
Little Raven threw himself
before my words.
I do not feel even a little numb.
That fellow, Little Raven,
whose words
they are always reporting to me,
can not see anything.
(On the same subject)
Little Raven,
I hate what you keep saying,
because you are a slave's son
and can see nothing.
I hate to have you talk to me
because you have spots all over your face
like a big sea cucumber
and look like a slave.
Don't you know that,
because you can not see anything,
you big slave's son,
you keep picking up sand
instead of dipping into the dish?
BY DEAD-SLAVE
(About a woman named Poor-orphan, who was a very poor girl, but afterward became the richest woman in Wrangell)
I used to make fun
of this poor little girl at Wrangell
when she was very small.
of this poor little girl at Wrangell
when she was very small.
BY A SHAMAN OF THE KÁGWANTAN NAMED KAGANK
It is only on account of Strong Drink
that you pity me.
Why don't you also love me?
that you pity me.
Why don't you also love me?
BY UNDER-A-BLANKET
(About the son of Luknaxádi, whose brother was killed in compensation for the killing of her brother)
His mind is just like mine,
Lubnaxádi's children.
So that I am beginning to love him.
I wonder what I always look for
when I wake up in the morning.
Sometime I might see my brothers.
Lubnaxádi's children.
So that I am beginning to love him.
I wonder what I always look for
when I wake up in the morning.
Sometime I might see my brothers.
BY MAN-THAT-IS-NOT-ALL-RIGHT
(About Princess Thom)
Even from a house of Strong Drink
men get away,
but not from you,
Raven woman.
Even from a house of Strong Drink
men get away,
but not from you,
Raven woman.
BY AMONG-THE-BRANT
(When his wife had been taken from him)
Like one who desires Strong Drink,
I never sleep,
Toqyédi's children.
Like one who desires Strong Drink,
I never sleep,
Toqyédi's children.
(On the same subject)
My own mind is very hard to me.
It is just as if
I were carrying my mind around.
What is the matter with you?
My own mind is very hard to me.
It is just as if
I were carrying my mind around.
What is the matter with you?
BY OTHER-WATER
(Over a dead man)
My younger brother has brought me
great joy of laughter.
If I knew the way they go,
I would go right to him.
My younger brother has brought me
great joy of laughter.
If I knew the way they go,
I would go right to him.
BY JOINED-TOGETHER
(When all his friends went down the rapids at Gonaxó and were drowned)
I always look expectantly
to see some one
stand up in front of the town
and in the bay.
I always compare my brothers
to the people the duck tribe saved.
They went right down under the earth
like those high-cast people.
to see some one
stand up in front of the town
and in the bay.
I always compare my brothers
to the people the duck tribe saved.
They went right down under the earth
like those high-cast people.
BY HERE-IS-A-FEATHER
(When his brother died)
It is as if my grandfather's house
were turning over with me.
Where is the person who will save me?
It is as if my grandfather's house
were turning over with me.
Where is the person who will save me?
BY MAN-FOR-HIMSELF
I love you from my heart,
Tsaguédi's children.
You are the only one
I will die with.
Tsaguédi's children.
You are the only one
I will die with.
BY CGWATC
(About an uncle who had died)
I always think within myself
that there is no place
where people do not die.
I always think within myself
that there is no place
where people do not die.
MOURNING SONG OF SAKWET
(About her brother who was drowned)
I am like the people
who were killed
by the south wind.
I am like the people
who were killed
by the south wind.
(On the same subject)
Perhaps my brother went
into the sun's trail
so that I can never see him again.
Perhaps my brother went
into the sun's trail
so that I can never see him again.
PEACE-SONG AFTER A GREAT WAR
If you had died,
Kágwantan's children,
I would have cut off my hair for you
I love you so much
I would have blackened my face for you,
Kágwantan's children.
Kágwantan's children,
I would have cut off my hair for you
I love you so much
I would have blackened my face for you,
Kágwantan's children.
SONG OF A HUMMING-BIRD DEER
I am feeling very lonely away.
I am going to my uncle's town.
I am singing inside, my masters.
I am crying about myself.
I am going to my uncle's town.
I am singing inside, my masters.
I am crying about myself.
BY LQENA
(When he was the only one of his people saved and his enemies wanted to make peace with him. He danced as a deer, singing this song and at the end of it cut in two the man standing next to him)
I did this way regarding myself.
I would not let what my conscience
said to me, pass.
Before his death I saw his ghost.
At once he stabbed
and killed Cadasíktc.
I would not let what my conscience
said to me, pass.
Before his death I saw his ghost.
At once he stabbed
and killed Cadasíktc.
BY QAUCTE
(Who married a Téqoedi woman)
After you have been drinking
you had better stop talking
about how well you were brought up,
Téqoedi's children.
What one of you thinks about it.
when he is sober?
After you have been drinking
you had better stop talking
about how well you were brought up,
Téqoedi's children.
What one of you thinks about it.
when he is sober?
LOVE SONG OF A TAGISH WOMAN
Why have I come to you
to Dyea from far inland
only to find
that you have gone away?
Here I am,
crying for you.
to Dyea from far inland
only to find
that you have gone away?
Here I am,
crying for you.
LOVE-SONG OF SIQUET, THE DANCER
I wonder what this coming July morning
will be like.
My mind is very weak
thinking that I shall be unable
to see my sweetheart.
will be like.
My mind is very weak
thinking that I shall be unable
to see my sweetheart.
BY RAVEN-SKIN
(When his sweetheart abandoned him)
If one had control of death
it would be very easy
to die with a Wolf woman.
It would be very pleasant.
If one had control of death
it would be very easy
to die with a Wolf woman.
It would be very pleasant.
MOURNING-SONG OF THE KÁGWANTAN
It is his own fault
that this man of the Wolf people died.
Do not lay the blame on anyone else.
that this man of the Wolf people died.
Do not lay the blame on anyone else.