Mangketang

from Mengemedaol er a Irechar by Ngirchoureng

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$1 USD or more
Buy the Full Digital Album

about

Mangtekang [pork fat] -- is not about food but celebrates a place in Meyungs. [I'm using the currently accepted spelling (Mangtekang) rather the spelling most people seem to use (mantekang)]. Mangtekang is the name of a dock near the present hospital in Meyungs, and got its name because at that place the fish are all very fatty. According to this song, Mangketang was also the special place of two lovers. But, of course, things went wrong and the specialness went out of the place. This is one of many "kingelled" songs in Palauan music, celebrating a place where two lovers meet.

The earliest recording we have of this song is from Barbara Smith's recording of the Friday Night Club in Koror on 10/8/1963 with Kui-Roi Arurang singing backed by a mandolin and guitar. More info: wp.me/p6WC5Y-pi

lyrics

Kuureng er a llemelted mo omerolled
me a oiloled er a uchul a chang er a Mangtekang
me a denga er ngii e ke domes el mor
Ngerur me a Ngerechebal

Mak kora mlo mengeuid e mousubes
Cheldechedechad el kmal betok e mak di medengei
me oiloled e ochedengei
me aikel mle kingelled

Aikel mle kingelled el uchul a ngas
a mekelekeltang leng keteketel el di diak a debong
Kol oingerang kede momes
eng dikea bok merur

Me eng dikea bok merur e melebedebek
er a osioled el ngar emel a Mangtekang
e dikea mei me bo desa e di
ngera ikal moruul

-----
I wish for our right to take our journey
to the place we play at the base of the jetty at Mangtekang
and it is there where we look out toward
Ngerur and Ngerechebal

I kind of made a mistake, so forgive me
Our stories are many, and only I know
and our place to play, sweetheart
those were our places

Those that were our places at the foot of the Ngas tree
are getting cold because what we built together, we no longer go to it When can we see each other
and no longer be ashamed?

And I will no longer be ashamed to remember
our proper place is just inside Mangtekang
and we will no longer come and see it and
what have you been doing?

credits

from Mengemedaol er a Irechar, released June 20, 2018
Jim Geselbracht (mandolin and vocal) and Tony Phillips (guitar)

license

about

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