Tobiera

from Mengemedaol er a Irechar by Ngirchoureng

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This 6/8 song was first recorded in 1936 by the anthropologist Iwakichi Muranushi as it was being sung a-capella as part of a matamatong, or line dance. The composer is currently unidentified, but the song is said to have been composed in 1931. The source of the melody, and possibly the words in the chorus (which are not Palauan), is the Eastern Caroline island of Chuuk. Our arrangement was inspired by the fiddle playing of Akiwo Ngiratechekii of Aimeliik’s Tungelbai Band in the 1960s. More info: wp.me/s6WC5Y-tobieira

lyrics

Adidil e ng kebesengei
me ng belsechel a riid e ma
Kremiid a renguk a di kiei meng chelmengem

Tobie–e, tobie–ira
Tobie–e, tobie–ira

Ng meketeketa e a kuk lotka
le ngak el kora milsa medam
risei er chomei loumatematong el seinendang

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Dreaming of the evening
and it is time to depart and
I left, but my heart stayed to be your companion

It’s been such a long time
It’s been such a long time

It’s been so long that I can barely recall
because I kind of saw your face
when those young people came to dance

credits

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

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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