Name: Mengesang a Reng
Duration: P00H02M23S
Description: The song was first collected in 1963 by the musicologist Barbara Smith who recorded a group of matamatong dancers in the State of Kayangel accompanying their dance with this song. I suspect that this song is quite a bit older than that. During our visit, we were told by a mechas at the Old Age Center that this was composed by Yonat (Jonathan) Meluat of Airai.

Mengesang a Reng

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

The song was first collected in 1963 by the musicologist Barbara Smith who recorded a group of matamatong dancers in the State of Kayangel accompanying their dance with this song. I suspect that this song is quite a bit older than that. During our visit, we were told by a mechas at the Old Age Center that this was composed by Yonat (Jonathan) Meluat of Airai.

lyrics

Mengesang a reng el anata
lomais e di cheleuid e ngoura renguk
Mengob a lomiboid er a
belual keltang e ngak a kurusii

Tosinga kureyuku
mak kol di mo mekera cheldechedechak
el di kulab e anata,
e uoi merur el me mengesang

Beluad a kekerei el beluu
ma blid a kal chacheroid e ochedengei
me sel kuk bekul engelakl
e aleko kisa sungata rekau

Sayo saraba betik er a renguk
meral di kau el tang a chosengkok
mak mo uram er a rebldekek
e chumechemur itial renguk

-----
The troubled heart who is my sweetheart
It wanders just in confusion and is starting to take my heart
Back and forth it traveled yet
where is its home? And I am in pain

Before my days end
I will just tell my story
of how I brought my loved one
to become ashamed and troubled

Our village is a small place
and our houses aren’t far from each other, sweetheart
and you and I were almost close to passing
and apparently I saw your shadow

Goodbye, my sweetheart
It is truly just you that is the one who troubles me
I will have resentment toward my ancestors
and keep breaking this heart of mine

credits

from Mengemedaol er a Irechar, released June 20, 2018

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