Introducing HANGGAI - lyrics
Introducing HANGGAI - lyrics
We've had some questions about what the songs mean - here are the translations courtesy of Ilchi's wife, Yang Ran!
01 My Banjo and I
(words Xiao Hu, music Ilchi, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
My beloved white horse,
He takes graceful steps.
My beloved camphor-wood banjo,
It sings my laughter and tears.
The beloved grasslands where I was born,
I will sing my praise to you for ever.
My beloved Mongolian homeland,
I will sing to you playing my banjo.
02 Yekul Song
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
Long long ago, at a remote frontier post, there was a young soldier named Hurnamjr, who came to know a beautiful princess.
Finishing his service and ready to return home, the princess gifted him a black steed to carry him safely on his way.
The majestic stallion was as quick as lightning and the thunderous sound of his hooves kept the wild beasts at bay. The black steed's stride beat Hurnamjr a safe path through the twisted roots and jagged stones.
Harrassed by foes on the road home, the black steed never shirked from battle and delivered him to safety.
Long, long ago there was a black steed…
03 Zhaoderen Nana
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
Needles are forged from iron, Zhaoderen Nana
Hearts are hearts, Zhaoderen Nana
My love to you is immortal,
And wakes me from my nightmares, Zhaoderen Nana
Ceramic bowls are easy to break, Zhaoderen Nana
But we drink our tea all the same, Zhaoderen Nana
Your mother-in-law mistreats you,
Let's escape and enjoy the world of two, Zhaoderen Nana
04 Five Heroes
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
We take the flock of sheep,
And give you the snow-white rams!
Five armed heroes,
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
We take the goats,
And give you the rams with black markings on their fur!
Five armed heroes,
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
We take the oxen,
And give you the bulls with red markings on their fur!
Five armed heroes,
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
We take the mares,
And give you the strong stallions!
Five armed heroes,
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
We take the camel train,
And give you the male camels!
Five armed heroes,
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
We leave you your father,
And your mother, too.
Five armed heroes
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
We take all the livestock,
And leave you the healthy males!
Five armed heroes,
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
05 Flowers
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
Flowers blossoming on the cliff
Are the earliest to fade;
The girl married in a far-off place
Languishes in her lover's arms.
Flowers blossoming in the desert
Are the earliest to fade;
The girl is married now
And by her promise will abide.
Once there were oaths to love,
Once there were sweet dates,
Once there was a warm embrace,
But now you are married in a far-off place.
06 Haar Hu
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
I, a swarthy young man, have fallen for you,
Are you willing to accept my love?
Let us be married without delay,
Are you willing to love me?
Let us sew new clothes, stitch by stitch,
Are you willing to love me?
Let us not hesitate,
Are you willing to love me?
07 Wuji
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
Sanggu dangu, a tale,
Thick fog, thunderous storms,
Aleng gulang, a remote desert,
Wustai Judtai, pouring rain.
Wuji Dajudayou, Muqigai Muren,
Moneng Bayin, pouring rain.
White pagodas, like mountain peaks,
Those white peaks, Wuren Duxi.
Aleng gulang, a remote desert,
Wustai Judtai, pouring rain.
Parents' greetings and watchful gaze,
People's happiness.
Aleng gulang, a remote desert,
Wustai Judtai, pouring rain.
Wuji Dajudayou, Muqigai Muren,
Moneng Bayin, pouring rain.
08 Lullaby (Borulai)
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
Collecting the best wood,
Father makes your cradle.
In the dark winter night,
Mother gathers you in her arms,
Driving out the bitter cold.
Mama's here,
Papa's here.
Don't cry, Borulai,
Mama is here.
09 Drinking Song
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
I present a whole bottle of
Pure and mellow wine,
I pour a cup full for Your Royal Highness,
Strong and fragrant wine.
Let our song never end,
Let our fortunes never decline,
A cup for ever in our hands,
A song for ever in our throats.
Close families cannot be without
Warm and mellow wine,
Fill all the cups and make a toast,
Strong and fragrant wine.
10 Four Seasons
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
When spring arrives,
And the grass shoots appear,
We move to the spring camp,
What a boundless earth,
Such a long, long journey.
When summer arrives,
Lush grass grows,
We move to the summer camp,
What a boundless earth,
Such a long, long journey.
When autumn arrives,
Plants wither and dry,
We move to the autumn camp,
What a boundless earth,
Such a long, long journey.
When winter arrives,
Plants dead and gone,
We move to the winter camp,
What a boundless earth,
Such a long, long journey.
We've had some questions about what the songs mean - here are the translations courtesy of Ilchi's wife, Yang Ran!
01 My Banjo and I
(words Xiao Hu, music Ilchi, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
My beloved white horse,
He takes graceful steps.
My beloved camphor-wood banjo,
It sings my laughter and tears.
The beloved grasslands where I was born,
I will sing my praise to you for ever.
My beloved Mongolian homeland,
I will sing to you playing my banjo.
02 Yekul Song
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
Long long ago, at a remote frontier post, there was a young soldier named Hurnamjr, who came to know a beautiful princess.
Finishing his service and ready to return home, the princess gifted him a black steed to carry him safely on his way.
The majestic stallion was as quick as lightning and the thunderous sound of his hooves kept the wild beasts at bay. The black steed's stride beat Hurnamjr a safe path through the twisted roots and jagged stones.
Harrassed by foes on the road home, the black steed never shirked from battle and delivered him to safety.
Long, long ago there was a black steed…
03 Zhaoderen Nana
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
Needles are forged from iron, Zhaoderen Nana
Hearts are hearts, Zhaoderen Nana
My love to you is immortal,
And wakes me from my nightmares, Zhaoderen Nana
Ceramic bowls are easy to break, Zhaoderen Nana
But we drink our tea all the same, Zhaoderen Nana
Your mother-in-law mistreats you,
Let's escape and enjoy the world of two, Zhaoderen Nana
04 Five Heroes
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
We take the flock of sheep,
And give you the snow-white rams!
Five armed heroes,
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
We take the goats,
And give you the rams with black markings on their fur!
Five armed heroes,
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
We take the oxen,
And give you the bulls with red markings on their fur!
Five armed heroes,
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
We take the mares,
And give you the strong stallions!
Five armed heroes,
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
We take the camel train,
And give you the male camels!
Five armed heroes,
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
We leave you your father,
And your mother, too.
Five armed heroes
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
We take all the livestock,
And leave you the healthy males!
Five armed heroes,
Five heroes who maraud the rich!
05 Flowers
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
Flowers blossoming on the cliff
Are the earliest to fade;
The girl married in a far-off place
Languishes in her lover's arms.
Flowers blossoming in the desert
Are the earliest to fade;
The girl is married now
And by her promise will abide.
Once there were oaths to love,
Once there were sweet dates,
Once there was a warm embrace,
But now you are married in a far-off place.
06 Haar Hu
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
I, a swarthy young man, have fallen for you,
Are you willing to accept my love?
Let us be married without delay,
Are you willing to love me?
Let us sew new clothes, stitch by stitch,
Are you willing to love me?
Let us not hesitate,
Are you willing to love me?
07 Wuji
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
Sanggu dangu, a tale,
Thick fog, thunderous storms,
Aleng gulang, a remote desert,
Wustai Judtai, pouring rain.
Wuji Dajudayou, Muqigai Muren,
Moneng Bayin, pouring rain.
White pagodas, like mountain peaks,
Those white peaks, Wuren Duxi.
Aleng gulang, a remote desert,
Wustai Judtai, pouring rain.
Parents' greetings and watchful gaze,
People's happiness.
Aleng gulang, a remote desert,
Wustai Judtai, pouring rain.
Wuji Dajudayou, Muqigai Muren,
Moneng Bayin, pouring rain.
08 Lullaby (Borulai)
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
Collecting the best wood,
Father makes your cradle.
In the dark winter night,
Mother gathers you in her arms,
Driving out the bitter cold.
Mama's here,
Papa's here.
Don't cry, Borulai,
Mama is here.
09 Drinking Song
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
I present a whole bottle of
Pure and mellow wine,
I pour a cup full for Your Royal Highness,
Strong and fragrant wine.
Let our song never end,
Let our fortunes never decline,
A cup for ever in our hands,
A song for ever in our throats.
Close families cannot be without
Warm and mellow wine,
Fill all the cups and make a toast,
Strong and fragrant wine.
10 Four Seasons
(trad, arr Ilchi/Robin Haller/Matteo Scumaci)
When spring arrives,
And the grass shoots appear,
We move to the spring camp,
What a boundless earth,
Such a long, long journey.
When summer arrives,
Lush grass grows,
We move to the summer camp,
What a boundless earth,
Such a long, long journey.
When autumn arrives,
Plants wither and dry,
We move to the autumn camp,
What a boundless earth,
Such a long, long journey.
When winter arrives,
Plants dead and gone,
We move to the winter camp,
What a boundless earth,
Such a long, long journey.
