Name: Kebruka
Duration: P00H02M03S
Description: This is the theme song of the State of Ngardmau and celebrates working in the bauxite mines in Ngardmau during the early 1940s. While it is celebratory, I sense a hint of subversion in the line “kita er Belau el di mekekerei.”

Kebruka

from Mengemedaol er a Irechar by Ngirchoureng

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This is the theme song of the State of Ngardmau and celebrates working in the bauxite mines in Ngardmau during the early 1940s. While it is celebratory, I sense a hint of subversion in the line “kita er Belau el di mekekerei.”

lyrics

Arumi no singoto
wa hiyoban a kebruka
saireng no stizi ki
hazima er a singoto

Yasumi no singoto
cheluut a mei eltel ongos
el me mengeluut era bedengam
er a bebul a Temekai el Ked

Kaeri er a singoto
matsidosi er a kurand
o tanosi minasang
ki mlo melechong er a diong er a did

Yamano ueni
Ngerchetang a tsikai
saiko no singoto
kita er Belau el di mekekerei

Ato no kotowa
kirael el mora kasiuku
yuhang sumasite
kisang bo el mora Singetsu

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Aluminum work
We travel there by cable car
The siren announces that
it is time to start work

Taking a break from work
a cool wind blows from the east
as it comes, it cools our bodies
as we stand on top of the hill “Temekai el Ked”

Returning from work
waiting for my lover at the playground
and when our fun is done
we bathe at the spot by the bridge

On top of the mountain looking out
the Ngerchetang river in our view
Northern Palau has become very crowded

Later we ask for leave
we travel to go to the work camp
and when we are finished
we can see to the bridge at Singetsu

credits

from Mengemedaol er a Irechar, released June 20, 2018

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Ngirchoureng Oakland, California

Ngirchoureng — Jim Geselbracht and Tony Phillips — perform songs from the Republic of Palau, written in the 1930s thru the 1960s, accompanied by acoustic guitar, mandolin and fiddle in the "old-skuul" style captured on the 1960s Ngerel Belau (local radio station) recordings. Ngirchoureng (ŋirʔouréŋ) translates to “Mr. Hopeful,” and is taken from Kodep Kloulechad’s song “Bai Derengul a Eolt.” ... more