life

LIFE

Lyrics/sánit: Nils-Aslak Valkeapää
Music/nuohtta: Mari Boine

I wanted to give you a gift, Life
hand it over to love
and kiss
the cheeks of brothers and sisters
those who did not have the strength
who lost faith
in the Kingdom, the Authority, and
Righteousness
in man
in tomorrow

and one more wish, Life
fly far
give life
to the people
who no longer are
and those who shall soon disappear

yes, and one single thing, Life
I wish
those
who see light and beauty
who know man and love
who await the dawn and believe in it
that joy makes its nest and beauty

that happiness fills the nest
and love

Translation: R. Salisbury, L. Nordström and H. Gaski

daughter

DAUGHTER OF THE SUN

Lyrics/sánit: A.Fjellner/ H.Gaski
Music/nuohtta: Mari Boine/Gjermund Silset

By the holy threshold of the hut
lies the daughter of the Sun Njávešeatni
Tired of life’s heavy burdens
Longing away to a different place
she prepares for her final journey

She who tamed the wild reindeer
as a gift for the children of the Sun
At the head of her bed stands her son
the evil Áhčeseane’s demise
At the foot, a girl
Njávešeanes young daughter

The Sun’s beautiful daughter speaks
barely audible, weak of voice
Listen to her words, remember them!
The beautiful daughter of the Sun says:
Sun sets, night comes
Darkness engulfs beautiful Sápmi

Morning comes, will it not?

The Sun wanes, the wolves converge
sneaking about in the cloak of night
Wily on their hunt

Morning comes, will it not?

The Sun sinks, the flock thins
plague ravages, insects pester
Children search in the darkness

Morning comes, will it not?

The Sun’s daughter journeys to her father
as the Sun wanes, she travels toward the light
bringing the Sun’s children with her

Morning comes, will it not?

Translation: Nancy Sipe

risten2

RISTEN

Lyrics/sánit: Risten Sokki
Music/nuohtta: Traditional/Neumark

I was born in 1954
I write with a Macintosh
Stars show the way
Foremothers
lift torches
when necessary

Sinews are strong
the ax even stronger
Great-grandfather’s head
on frozen ground
in October of 1854

So they tore up the sinews
which tied you to the gnarled birch
Your veins they cut
your thoughts
Your head
they sent to Christiania

When I was born
the earth had
hidden your grave
But the stars
are there
and foremothers
lift torches
when necessary

Translation: Nancy Sipe

eagle

EAGLE MAN/CHANGING WOMAN

(Buffy Sainte-Marie)

Eagle man
climbing the skies
red light of evening
falls like rain
Rainbows my yarn
the sky is my loom
I will weave sunsets
later on

Snow woman
climbing the wind
blue light of the winter
fills her baskets
Oh changing woman
dance on the weather
Lightning and feathers
mark her trail

Life lovers
splinting the worlds
healing the broken
and the lame
Reach out to me
give me your hands
we close the circuits
of time

Angel ranger
stay here by me
guide my transmission
of energy
Oldest religion
simple and clear
pour out a lesson
into our dreams

Translation: Nancy Sipe

gods

GODS OF NATURE (EMBODY THEM)

Lyrics/sánit: Mari Boine
Music/nuohtta: Mari Boine, Gjermund Silset

Their hardened talk
their hardened state
their hardened smile
their hardened laws
They drain me
suffocate me

Raging rivers
howling winds
lightning
flashes
Gods of nature –
Embody them
with Earth mother’s spirit

Their double talk
their double state
their double smile
their double laws
They drain me
suffocate me
drain me
suffocate me

Raging rivers
howling winds
lightning
flashes
Gods of nature –
embody them
with Earth mother’s spirit

Translation: Nancy Sipe

west

WEST OF MOON AND SUN

Lyrics/sánit: A.Fjellner, H.Gaski,
Music/nuohtta: Roger Ludvigsen, Traditional

Beyond the northernmost star
west of the moon and Sun
lie mountains of silver and gold
Rocks for the firing, rocks, and adorn
The gold glimmers, the silver shimmers
peaks are mirrored in the sea
Suns, moons, and stars
smile upon the mountain’s brow

Translation: Nancy Sipe

higher

HIGHER THAN ALL THE MOUNTAINS

Lyrics/sánit: Sámi proverbs and riddles
Music/nuohtta: Mari Boine

It is hard to make progress barefoot
Nothing is built by talk alone

The father on the verge of being born
the son already running in the woods

Higher than all mountains
lower than the heather –
a path when walked upon

A bird flying low
blood dripping from it wings –
a boat when rowed

In the darkness, an eye stares
showing others the way –
the moonlight revealing
a road for friends

Translation: Britt Rajala, Nancy Sipe

thou

THOU SHALT NOT

Lyrics/sánit: Mari Boine
Music/nuohtta: Hege Rimestad, Mari Boine, Helge Norbakken

Thou shalt not adorn thee
the touch of silk was not for you
You were not to desire
nor covet colorful weaves
Thou shalt not savor
not sin with carefree abandon
not defend those called wanton
though they were your own daughters

If you were still here,
my mother
I would adorn you
gather silk and pearls for you

They told you not to dress up
the touch of silk was not for you
You were not to desire
not to hope for colorful weaves
They told you not to enjoy
not sin with carefree abandon
not to defend those called wanton
though they were your own daughters

If you were still here,
my mother
I would adorn you
I would bring you gold and silver
If you were still here
my mother
I would
adorn you
wreath you,
embrace you
in silver and gold

Translation: Nancy Sipe