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1.
Gachimayaa 03:47
[ENGLISH TRANSLATION] Today when I came home, there was a good smell in the air. What could it have been? Smelling so delicious… It was something that you made. Was it champuruu? Was it Irichii? Or was it Okinawa soba? But the thing is, I just had a lot to eat! [CHORUS:] What do I do? I want to eat that. But the thing is, I’m already full. What do I do? I want to eat that. What do I do? What a dilemma. “Eat! eat!” is what I’m told, So I know it’s better if I do. And with this aroma, without looking, I can tell it’s really good Was it jiimaami doofu? Was it duruwakaashii? Or was it saataa andagii? But the thing is, I just had a lot to eat! [chours] They say “the hungrier you are, the better it tastes”, but I wonder if I can wait til I’m hungry. [chorus]
2.
Buusaa 03:42
[ENGLISH TRANSLATION] From a long time ago, there was a game called “buusaa” Everyone, from kids to adults can play. This is one type of hand game, But it only uses three fingers [CHORUS:] Instead of rock, paper, and scissors, (buu-saa-sshi) What everyone says is “buu-saa-sshi” (buu-saa-sshi) Instead of rock, paper, and scissors, (buu-saa-sshi) If there’s something you can’t decide on, play buusaa The thumb is “buu”. The pointer finger is “saa”. The pinky finger is “sshi”, simple, right? The thumb is “buu”. The pointer finger is “saa”. The pinky finger is “sshi”, and the rules are: The thumb beats the pointer, but the pinky loses to the pointer. The pinky beats the thumb, but if you throw the same finger, you have to do it one more time!
3.
Shimakutuba 04:08
[ENGLISH TRANSLATION] Our Okinawa was originally it’s own country. How sad are the memories of things that were lost. There’s still beautiful ocean and sky, But we can’t lose anymore from now. If we forget our language, we forget our land. If we forget our land, we forget our parents. Now we live in various parts of the world, So we speak different languages. We can’t forget the language of our homeland. If we lose our language, we will cease to be uchinaanchu [chorus] I don’t want to lose the songs that our ancestors sing I don’t want to forget the things our parents taught us. [chorus] Our homeland was originally it’s own country
4.
Taa yaga? 04:08
[ENGLISH TRANSLATION] I’ve heard the story over and over. You’re so interesting. Your hair is red, and you are smaller than a human being. You are very good fishermen, you catch many fish. You really like fish, don’t you? But you only eat the eyes. I don’t eat the fish eyes, so you can eat all of them. If you ride with us on our boat, we can be best friends! [CHORUS] You live in the Gajimaru (trees), everyone knows. I still haven’t seen you, but I believe in you. Thing you dislike is the octopus. It gives you a gross feeling. You also don’t like the rooster’s call. The sounds makes you run away. I don’t sing like the rooster, so you don’t have to worry. Plus, I only have two hands; I don’t have “eight hands” (octopus) [chorus] You want fire, so you come to my house to steal it. *But if I pass gas, I will be thrown into the ocean. The fire, the gas, both are dangerous, so let’s be careful of each other. [chorus] *Kijimunaa are said to sometimes help humans cross over water by carrying them on their backs. However, if the human were to fart while being carried, the kijimunaa would understandably throw the human off from their back, and into the water.
5.
Mooashibii 03:51
[ENGLISH TRANSLATION] Are you free tonight? Why don’t we go have some fun? I’ll bring this sanshin. Won’t you sing with me? It’s lonely if I sing by myself. Let’s go to the beach. Everyone from the village will be there. While singing, everyone will dance, and the girls will bring their handkerchiefs. What do we do in this situation - I wonder if there’s anyone who doesn’t know. [CHORUS:] Mooashibii, singing and dancing. Mooashibii, even when the sun comes up. I wonder, will you give that handkerchief to me? Feel the sand with your two feet, it feels so nice. I am calmed by the smell of the sea, it heals my soul. But when I hear the sound of the sanshin I get excited. [chorus] Now the *plover cries, “chui, chui” on the beach. But he’ll get happy tonight, Because he won’t be alone anymore. [chorus] *The plover (chijuyaa in Okinawan) is said to make the sound “chui” when it calls/sings. Because chui also means “one person” in Okinawan, the plover is often used in Okinawan songs and poetry as a symbol of loneliness.
6.

about

Songs about Okinawa, in the native Okinawan language (uchinaaguchi).

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released August 18, 2016

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about

Brandon Ufugusuku Ing Kaneohe, Hawaii

Trying to shed some light on indigenous Okinawan language and culture through music.

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