Info
The Yokut Tachi people (of California, USA) would sing songs each morning at dawn. This song was the last one before they began work. (source: Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to sing, read, and play, Eleanor G. Locke, 1981)
Lyrics
(Native American folk song – Yokut Tachi Tribe)
Ha no ma ha no ma,
ha no ma ha na na-a
ha no ma ha na na-a
ha no ma ha na na
ha no ma ha na na
ta wa na tsar hay yay
ta wa na tse hey yay
ta wa na tsay hay
ha na ma ha na na
(repeat 3 times or ad lib.)
Words are most likely syllables with no meaning.
See also
- Country / Culture: US / Native American
- Subject: morning
- Harmony: I, IV, V
- Melody: repeated tones / D,E,G,A,B
- Meter: mixed
- Rhythm: anacrusis
- Scale: pentatonic
- Tones: s,l,drm
- Source: Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to sing, read, and play, Eleanor G. Locke, 1981
- Info about the Yokut Tachi people
- PDF of song with chords
- MIDI file
- Listen to the melody
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Is there an English translation? Thank you!
Many Native American songs use syllables with no meaning. Since my source did not mention a translation, I am guessing this is the case with this song also. 🙂