Traditional Navajo Love Song by Herman and Radmilla Cody

Details

Description

This song is entitled "Song and Dance Romance," on the CD entitled "Seed of Life" by Grammy-nominated Native American artist Radmilla Cody. She sings the song with her uncle, Herman Cody. This song is sung in the style of traditional Navajo social songs, chants with lyrics between the chants.

It is a non-ceremonial social song typically sung during public events, song and dances, or during school performances. Only Davis Mitchell is known for singing this song.

This song is more contemporary in that older Navajo songs do not typically have a storyline like this song does.

Since it is Valentine's Day, and not everyone has the "perfect" love life, here is a story about apologizing and making it work out! Here are the lyrics for those interested:


Doo nił hózhó̜ó̜góó shits’á̜á̜ ííníyá.
You were upset when you left me.

Doo shił hózhó̜o̜ da shits’á̜á̜ ííníyá.
I was upset when you left me.

Niyéél bee asínítł’ó̜o̜ atiinji̜’ íínílwod shits’á̜á̜ ííníyá.
You gathered up your bags, ran to the road, when you left me.

T’óó ga’ sá̜ hazlí̜í̜’ shits’á̜á̜ ííníyá.
There was an argument when you left me.

T’óó ga’ sá̜ hazlí̜í̜’ shits’á̜á̜ ííníyá.
There was an argument when you left me.

Wóshdé̜é̜’ ńdíídááł, t’óó ga’ ná hásááh, shits’á̜á̜ ííníyá.
Come back, you’ve been missed since you left me.

Áádóó ga’ shaa néínídzáago ga’ nizhónígo nináánéit’ash dooleeł.
And when you come back to me, we’ll be together again.

Áádóó ga’ shaa néínídzáago ga’ nizhónígo náásiikée dooleeł.
And when you come back to me, we’ll home again.

Doo nił hózhó̜ó̜góó shits’á̜á̜ ííníyá.
You were upset when you left me.

Doo shił hózhó̜o̜ da shits’á̜á̜ ííníyá.
I was upset when you left me.

Nicheii shaa níyá, niná’ídíłkid. T’óó bił hweeshne’.
Your grandpa visited me, asking about you. I told him about it.

K’ad shí̜í̜ t’óó ná nit’ooka̜a̜ł
He’s probably now pleading with you

Baa nidíídááł. Yéego ná hásááh bits’á̜á̜ ííníyá.
Go back to him/her. You’re really missed since you left him/her.

Áádóó ga’ shaa néínídzáago ga’ nizhónígo nináánéit’ash dooleeł.
And when you come back to me, we’ll be together again.

Áádóó ga’ shaa néínídzáago ga’ nizhónígo náásiikée dooleeł.
And when you come back to me, we’ll home again.


I've been posting traditional Navajo songs in honor of Valentine's Day and I think this one will be the last one for the year! Enjoy & Happy Valentine's Day!