Gilvve gollát

When two music lovers met, one a Sámi and one a Norwegian, both from NRK (the Norwegian Broadcasting Company), something special happened – new ways of working together that not many had considered before. Already at the first meeting, the question was raised about when the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, the people’s own orchestra, would play Sámi music.

When it was learned that NRK Sápmi would be the host for the WITBC (World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference), it seemed like the time had come for this to happen. What if KORK could come to Kautokeino and have a concert with Mari Boine? In this way, the Sámi hosts could present their greatest musical star, who, of course, would be the best representative for the occasion.

People the world over are deeply influenced by the music of Mari Boine. She has never considered one audience to be more important than another, so when asked by NRK Sápmi to perform this kind of concert, her answer was again a positive one.

As a natural representative for the Sámi people, this little lady with the big voice tells the story of her people. She tells it with the voice she was born with – in a mixture of the most fragile of tones to the strongest of howling chants, alternating between the ever so weak and then to the almost invincible.

– Wenche Marie Hætta, Editor in chief, NRK Sápmi

trilobihta

TRILOBIHTA LÁVLLA

Sánit & šuokŋa: Mari Boine
Heivehan: Per Ekdahl

Váldde čiega askkái mu
Čiŋat lanjjat muinna maid
Mun nu du luhtte vuoiŋŋastan
Amal go lean bákti muollanan

Agálašvuođas bolttasan
Meara botnis fearadan
Million’ jagiid vuorddašan
Mun nu du luhtte vuoiŋŋastan

Lean go ártet jearat don
Nu go mun ge dajan mun
Ráhkistan du nie go leat
Váldde čiega askkái mu

song

SONG FROM A TRILOBITE

Lyrics & Music: Mari Boine
Orchestral version: Per Ekdahl

Come and hide me
in your embrace
Decorate your rooms
with me as well
I am at peace
when I’m with you
Maybe
because
me also
I am a mountain eroded by time

One who tumbled up from eternity
One who drifted around on the bottom of the sea
For millions of years waiting to come alive
I am at peace
when I’m with you

Do you find me weird
you ask
You’re just like me
I say
I love you the way you are
Come and hide me in your embrace

gula

GULA GULA

Sánit & šuokŋa: Mari Boine
Heivehan: Frode Fjellheim

Gula gula nieida gánda
Gula máttut dál du čurvot
manin attát eatnama duolvat
mirkkoduvvot guoriduvvot
mirkkoduvvot guoriduvvot

Gula jiena nieida gánda
Gula máttaráhkuid jiena
eana lea min buohkaid eadni
su jos soardit ieža jápmit
su jos soardit ieža jápmit

Letgo diktán iežat báidnot
leatgo iešge mielde gilvvus
Gula máttut dál dus jerret
itgo don muitte gos don vulget
itgo don muitte gos don vulget

Dus leat oappát dus leat vieljat
Lulli – Ámeriihkka arvevuvddiin
Ruonaeatnama geađgerittuin
Itgo don muitte gos don vulget
Itgo don muitte gos don vulget

Gula gula nieida gánda
Gula máttut dál du čurvot
manin attát eatnama duolvat
mirkkoduvvot guoriduvvot
mirkkoduvvot guoriduvvot

Gula jiena nieida gánda
gula máttaráhkuid jiena
Eana lea min buohkaid eadni
Su jos soardit ieža jápmit
Su jos soardit ieža jápmit

hear

HEAR THE VOICES OF THE FOREMOTHERS

Lyrics & Music: Mari Boine
Orchestral version: Frode Fjellheim

Gula brother Gula sister
Hear the voices of our foremothers
Why have you defiled the earth
Poisoned depleted
Poisoned depleted

Listen brother Listen sister
Hear the song of our ancestors
Eatnan, our mother, is Earth
If we kill her
we also die

Did you get snared in the fiction
That symbiosis is competition
Hear our forefathers’ question
Do you know where you are from

You have brothers
You have sisters
in the Amazonian rainforests
on the windswept cliffs of Greenland

Do you remember where you come from

goaskinviellja

GOASKINVIELLJA

Sánit & šuokŋa: Mari Boine
Heivehan: Frode Fjellheim

Goaskinviellja
goaskinviellja
goas
goas
goas besan
duinna fas girddašit

Guhkikin davvin
dávggáid vuolde
oidnen mun
oidnen mun
oidnen du
vielljaid girdimin
oidnen sin
balvvaid voul’ luoitimin

Gohččo jearrat
gohččo jearrat
geat
geat
čatne du soajáid
nie čavgadit
čatne du soajaid
niue čavgadit

Gohččo jearrat
gohččo jearrat
geat
geat
čatne du soajáid
nie čavgadit
čatne du soajáid
nie čavgadit

Goaskinviellja
goaskinviellja
goas
goas
goas beasan
duinna fas girddašit

eagle

EAGLE BROTHER

Lyrics and melody: Mari Boine
Orchestral version: Frode Fjellheim

Eagle brother
eagle brother
when
when will you let me
fly with you
again

Far up north
under the Great Bear
I saw
I saw your brothers
soar
I saw them
loose themselves
under the endless sky

They said
go ask
go ask
who
who tied your wings
tied your wings
so tightly

Eagle brother
Eagle brother
when
when will you let me
fly with you again

dutnje

DUTNJE

Sánit & šuokŋa: Mari Boine
Heivehan: Øivind Westby

Don go leat mu guossis
dovddan lieggasa ilu
Don go leat mu lahka
dovddan ráfáiduvvá siellu
Dus lea astu gullat beroštit
Dus lea dilli jearrat bisánit
Don go leat mu guossis
dovddan luovvanit čuolmmat
Don go leat mu lahka
fuopmán beaivváš mo ligge
De čuvggodit buot sevdnjes lanjat
liegganit vel galbmun čiegat
Mus nu miella dajat

Doala min ja min mánáid
doala min
mii dárbbašat du lieggasa
Doala min du salas
doala min du salas

Gákcilogi fargga
ja du gieđat ain nu lášmat
Sánit seammá ivdnái
go hearvvat du ránuiguin
Ovddešáiggiin ságaid muitalat
Herve it
it čiegat
muittašat
Eallilan nisu
du čalmmiin oainnán ráfi
Vásihan maid baháid
du váibmu lihkká rabas
Viisodat dus salaid dievva
itge dainna čevllohala
nugo nu máŋga eará

Doala min ja min mánáid
doala min
mii dárbbašat du lieggasa
Doala min du salas
doala min du salas

you

TO YOU

Lyrics & melody: Mari Boine
Orchestral version: Øivind Westby

Being with you
gives me warmth
Being with you
gives my soul relief
You have the presence
to listen
to take time
You have the presence
to answer
to use time
When you are with me
I feel the closed begin to open
When you are with me
I can feel the sun again
Dark rooms let in light
Cold nights start to melt
An urge within me cries

Hold us
Hold the children of our time
Wrap us in your warmth
Hold us
Cradle us

Soon eighty
Your hands still fast at work
Your words full of colours
The patterns that you weave
Without glossing over
Without covering up
You tell of time passed
Elder
Woman
In your gaze I see peace
Though you travelled through pain
Your heart remains open
You carry your wisdom
Without the need for conceit

When you are with me
I feel the closed begin to open
When you are with me
I can feel the sun warm
Dark rooms let in light
Cold nights start to melt
And urge within we cries

Hold us
Hold the children of our time
Wrap us in your warmth
Hold us
Cradle us

jearrat

JEARRAT BIEKKAS

Sánit: Nils-Aslak Valkeapää
Šuokŋa: Mari Boine
Heivehan: Frode Fjellheim

Jearrat biekkas manin dat bossu
jearrat manin jogat golget
jearrat biekkas manin lasttat gahččet
manin geassi
manin skábma

Iige gullo earágo biegga šuvvá
Iige gullo go biekka šuvvan
Iige gullo earágo biegga šuvvá
Iige gullo go biekka šuvvan

Čalmmiid meaddil
oainnuid ráidu
eallima vuosttaš suoibo lávkkit
unna suorbmažat láibume eatni čiččiid
vuosttaš bánit
vuosttaš sánit
rávis olmmožin rahpaseapmi
oaidnit šat earágo olles agi fuola
ja sii geat eai šat vájalge earágo muittus
ievttás máilmmi jávkan guolbaniid

Iige gullo earágo biegga šuvvá
Iige gullo go biekka šuvvan

Jearrat biekkas manin dat bossu
jearrat manin lottit girdet
jearrat biekkas manin lasttat gahččet
manin geassi
manin skábma

Iige gullo earágo biegga šuvvá
Iige gullo go biekka šuvvan
Iige gullo earágo biegga šuvvá
Iige gullo go biekka šuvvan

wind

TO ASK THE WIND

Lyrics: Nils-Aslak Valkeapää
Melody: Mari Boine
Orchestral version: Frode Fjellheim

To ask the wind
Why it blows
Why the stream flows
Why the leaves fall
Why the summer
Why the dark time, skábma

The answer you get is the wind
All you hear is its whisper
The answer you get is the wind
All you hear is its sighs

In your mind’s eye
Visions cascade
Life’s first wavering steps
Small fingers caress
Mother’s soft breasts
First teeth
First words
Soon maturity’s burdens
Leaden cares and memories tell
Of all that is gone to yesterday

The answer you get is the wind
All you hear is its whisper

To ask the wind
Why it blows
Why the stream flows
Why do leaves fall
Why the summer
Why the dark time, skábma

The answer you get is the wind
All you hear is its whisper
The answer you get is the wind
All you hear is its sigh

boadan

BOAĐAN NUPPI BEALDE

Sánit & šuokŋa: Svein Schultz & Mari Boine
Heivehan: Per Ekdahl

Du álbmás čállosat
jávohis gohččumat
agálaš duohkot deike johtin
Mu jiekŋavuolgimat
du garra gilddosat
Vuoi dáid dihkkákeahtes luottaid

Du álbmás čállosat
jávohis gohččumat
agálaš duohkot deike johtin
Mu jiekŋavuolgimat
du mosko máilmmet
Vuo dáid dihkkákeahtes luottaid
Jos don mu nama dajašit

Soaiggehahtti suoivanis
álddagasaid albmi vihtanin
dovddastan ráhkisvuohtan
Du nástegokšasa vuol’
luoitilan biekka miel’
Dá mu váibmu, prinsan

Jos don mu nama dajašit

other

I COME FROM THE OTHER SIDE

Lyrics & melody: Svein Schultz & Mari Boine
Orchestral version: Per Ekdahl

Your fragrant words
filled with unspoken invitations
Me forever searching
My ice breaks, cascading
your strict prohibitions
Oh, always these unmarked paths

Your fragrant words
filled with unspoken callings
Me forever moving
My ice breaks, cascading
your closed in worlds
Oh, all these unmarked paths
If you would only say my name

Within a shadow of fear
witnessed by a lightning sky
I confess my love
Under your blanket of stars
I let myself go with the wind
Here
I give you my all
To you, the prince of my heart

If you would only say my name

butterfly

BUTTERFLY

Lyrics: Merle Collins
Music: Mari Boine & Roger Ludvigsen
Arr. Frode Fjellheim & Roger Ludvigsen

Butterfly
trapped in a mold of
molten steel
wings open
poised for flight
Caught by more
than the matter seen
wish I knew
where history been

Wish I knew
where they make the fire
that melt the steel
that make the prison
to hold the butterfly
that spirits made

beaivelottas

BEAIVELOTTÁŠ

Sánit: Merle Collins
Šuokŋa: Mari Boine & Roger Ludvigsen
Heivehan: Frode Fjellheim & Roger Ludvigsen

Beaivelottáš
ruovdehámat gillarii
suddaduvvon
Rabas soajáigun
gárvvis girdilit
Oaidnemeahttun
fámuid giddagasas

Go dieđášin
mii su dohko dagahii
Go dieđášin
gos dan dola gávnnašii
mii daid ruvddiid suddadivčče
maigun giddagasaid ráhkadit
gos ipmiliid-sivdnidu’n
beaivelottážiid
giddagasas atnet

elle

ELLE

Sánit: Rawdna Carita Eira
Šuokŋa: Mari Boine
Heivehan: Frode Fjellheim

De rahpasii giđđaeatnu fas
de dulvvi miel luoittašeimme
jiekŋaidja fertii viimmat vuollánit

De girdilin biellocizážiin
de joradin guovssahasain
vuoibmás vuoiŋŋahagas šogadeimme ovttas
mu bieggabártnážan

De rahtase jienaheamit fas
de golggiihii sátnerávdnji
gálbmon gáttiin go mii viimmat gávnnadeimmet
mu bieggabártnážan

Go váccašat ealloravddas de
go guođohat suhkesoivviid
almmiravda ealáska ja sugada
mu bieggabártnážan

elle

ELLE

Lyrics: Rawdna Carita Eira
Melody: Mari Boine
Orchestral version: Frode Fjellheim

So the spring river is open again
We let ourselves enter its flow
Long nights of ice finally over
My dearest son of the wind

Surely I fly with the bluethroat
Surely I dance the Aurora
A powerful breath we exhale as one
My dearest son of the wind

Like the ice our silence breaks open
Words flow over the frozen ground
When at last we gather by the shore
My dearest son of the wind

As you walk with the reindeer
Among their tall, branching antlers
The entire sky is moving, alive
My dearest son of the wind

doppe

MU VÁIBMU VÁDJUL DOPPE

Sánit: Brorson
Šuokŋa: Swedish folk tune
Heivehan: Frode Fjellheim

Mu váibmu vádjol doppe gos Jesus riegádii
mu jurdagat leat dasa buot oktii čoahkanan
Das lea mu aibbašeapmi, das oskku dávvir lea
ja nuvt in vajáldahte dan juovlaija mun

Eai hearráid čikŋás lanjat lean dutnje čiŋahun
dus livččii dušše gohččut, ja livccet ožžon buot
De manne it don čiŋain lean iežat gárvvohan
vai livčče gonagasat du gieđa cummistan

Gal cizážis lea beassi ja liekkus suodji maid
ja beškoš maiddái gávdná su idjamášu ge
ja ledjonis lea biedju gos ráfis oažžu leat
mu Ipmilan son veallá vel earáid stáljas ge

hymn

HYMN

Lyrics: Brorson
Melody: Swedish folk tune
Orchestral version: Frode Fjellheim

My heart always lingers
in the birthplace of Jesus
My thoughts there gather
as their main sum
There is my longing at home
there has my faith its prize
You I never could forget
blessed Christmas night

A sparrow though has its nest
and sacred resting space
A swallow shouldn’t need to ask
for nightly shelter and peace
A lion knows its cave
Where it’ll find its calm
Should then my God have to hide
in others’ stable and straw?

gilvve

Sánit: Mari Boine
Šuokŋa: Mari Boine, Roger Ludvigsen & Helge A. Norbakken
Heivehan: Øivind Westby

Beaivi min eadni
beaivi min áhčči
beaivi min eadni-áhčči
Beaivi min eadni
beaivi min áhčči
beaivi min eadni-áhčči
Gilvve gollát
gilvve gollát
gilvve gilvve gollát

Golle min guovlluid
golle min guovlluid
golle min goavve guovlluid
Gilvve golliid
gilvve golliid
gilvve gilvve golliid
Golle min guovlluid
golle min guovlluid
golle min goavve guovlluid

Jorat mánáidat Háhtežan eatnamis eret
Jorat mánáidat goarránan gáttid guođđit

Beaivi min eadni
beaivi min áhčči
beaivi min eadni-áhčči
Beaivi min eadni
beaivi min áhčči
beaivi min eadni-áhčči

Jorat mánáidat Háhtežan eatnamis eret
Jorat mánáidat goarránan gáttid guođđit
Jorat mánáidat Háhtežan eatnamis eret
Jorat mánáidat goarránan gáttid guođđit

gold

SOW YOUR GOLD

Lyrics: Mari Boine
Melody: Mari Boine, Roger Ludvigsen & Helge A. Norbakken

Sun, our mother
Sun, our father
Sun our motherfather

Sow your gold
sow your gold
sow, sow your gold

Spread your gold on our horizons
Spread your gold on our horizons
Spread your gold on our horizons
Spread your gold on our horizons

Spin your children into dances
away from Háhtežan’s domain
Make them abandon
her barren beaches

Sun, our mother
Sun, our father
Sun our motherfather

Sow your gold
sow your gold
sow, sow your gold

Spin your children into dances
away from Háhtežan’s domain
Make them abandon
her barren beaches
Spin your children into dances
away from Háhtežan’s domain
Make them abandon
her barren beaches

osllos

ALLA HEARRÁ GUHKKIN OSLLOS

Sánit: Mari Boine
Šuokŋa: Arnold Strals
Orchestral version: Øivind Westby

Alla Hearrá guhkin Osllos
asttat gullat maid mii bivdit
Mi geahččat TV juohke beaivve
ii gullo sámegiella

Alla Hearrá guhkkin Osllos
asttat gullat maid mi bivdit
Mui gullat rádio juohke beaive
illá gullo sámegiella
Attašit middjiide veahá eambbo

du giella nu gievra lea
mi ballat dat fargga njiellá min
du giella nu gievra lea

Høye Herre langt der nede i Oslo
Har du tid til å høre på oss
Vi ser på Tv dag kveld etter kveld
Men hører ingenting på vårt eget språk

Høye Herre langt der nede i Oslo
Har du tid til å høre på oss
Vi hører på radio dag etter dag
men hører knapt noen ord på vårt eget språk
Kunne du gi oss littegrann mer

Språket ditt har så stor makt
Vi frykter det snart sluker opp vårt
Språket ditt har så stor makt

Høye Herre langt der nede i Oslo
Har du tid til å høre på oss
Du vet du har makt til å hjelpe oss
La språket vårt høres ved siden av ditt

Alla Hearrá guhkkin Osllos
asttat gullat maid mi bivdit
Dus fápmu lea min veahkehit
Várjalit min giela
Mo galgat oažžut du áddet

ii dal šat dilli leat
hállat ja lávdegottiid bargagoahtit bidjat
dál hoahppu hoahppu hoahppu lea

Attašit middjiide veahá eambbo
Du giella nu gievra lea
Mi ballat dat fargga njiella min
Du giella nu gievra lea

oslo

HEY MR. ALMIGHTY DOWN THERE IN OSLO

Lyrics: Mari Boine
Melody: Arnold Strals
Orchestral version: Øivind Westby

Mr Almighty Down There in Oslo
Would you please lend an ear
Every day we see on the TV screen
Nary a word of Sámi

Hey Mr Almighty Down There in Oslo
Could you please bend your ear
Every day we hear on the radio
Nary a word of Sámi

Pray, could you give a little more
Your language is so bloody strong
We fear it will soon devour ours
Your language is so bloody strong

Mr Almighty Down There in Oslo
Could you please lend an ear
Every day we see on the TV screen
Nary a word in Sámi

Hey Mr Almighty Down There in Oslo
Could you please lend an ear
Every day we hear on the radio
Nary a word of Sámi

Pray, could you give a little more
Your language is so bloody strong
We fear it will soon devour ours
Your language is so bloody strong

Mr Almighty Down There in Oslo
Could you please lend an ear
You know you’ve got the power to help
Our language to stand next to yours

(O Lord, lead us not into temptation
but save us from evil
and the kingdom, the power, the glory, forever will be yours)

O sir, turn not away from the question
Your action is needed
To free up our TV, our radio, our airwaves, forever
for us all

Pray, could you give a little more
Your language is so bloody strong
We fear it will soon devour ours
Your language is so bloody strong

English lyrics translations by Julie Whitehorn, Nancy Sipe, Judith Sofranko
Eangalasgillii jorgalii: Julie Whitehorn, Nancy Sipe, Judith Sofranko