Deep Forest - Sweet Lullaby
текст песни

Main vocals by Afunakwa (Northern Malaita, Solomon Islands)

(Baegu)
Sasi sasi ae ko taro taro amu
Ko agi agi boroi tika oli oe lau
Tika gwao oe lau koro inomaena
I dai tabesau I tebetai nau mouri
Tabe ta wane initoa te ai rofia

Sasi sasi ae kwa dao mata ole
Rowelae e lea kwa dao mata biru
I dai tabesau I tebetai nau mouri

Sasi sasi ae ko taro taro amu
Ko agi agi boroi tika oli oe lau
Tika gwao oe lau koro inomaena
I dai tabesau I tebetai nau mouri
(repeat x 3)

==eng==

Little brother, little brother, stop crying, stop crying
Though you are crying and crying, who else will carry you
Who else will groom you, both of us are now orphans
From the island of the dead, their spirit will continue to look after us
Just like royalty, taken care of with all the wisdom of such a place

Little brother, little brother even in the gardens
This lullaby continues to the different divisions of the garden,
From the island of the dead, their spirit will continue to look after us

Little brother, little brother, stop crying, stop crying
Though you are crying and crying, who else will carry you
Who else will groom you, both of us are now orphans
From the island of the dead, their spirit will continue to look after us

==interpritation==

The Baegu lullaby heard in Sweet Lullaby is from Northern Malaita (Solomon Islands) recorded by ethnomusicologist Hugo Zemp. The song is called Rorogwela and is sung by Afunakwa.

The lullaby is about a young child crying because his parents are not around. In response his older brother sings this song to comfort, as well as tell him the reality, with an appeal for his deceased parents to protect this child in the land of the living (local ancient belief is that the dead care for loved ones they left behind).

A great thanks goes to Celsus Eloga Talifilu, and his relatives, who helped to transcribe and translate the lyrics of this lullaby. Celsus is son of Saverio Talifilu who was the Baegu headsman that organized the recording session with Hugo Zemp which took place in 1969 in their village called Fulinui.

====

Below are the lyrics to the entire Rorogwela lullaby, with the portions used in Sweet Lullaby highlighted:

Sasi sasi ae taro taro amu
Ko agi agi boroi tika oli oe lau
Tika gwao oe lau koro inomaena

Sasi sasi ae na ga koro ma koro
mada maena mada ni ada I dai
I dai tabesau I tebetai nau mouri
Tabe ta wane initoa te ai rofia

Sasi sasi ae kwa dao mata ole
Rowelae e lea kwa dao mata biru
Na rowelae e lea kwa dao mata luma
Rowelae e lea sasi sasi ae
Angi angi boro ti ka oli oe lau

Iaia rofia ro aro aro
Nau ne na wela wane ku adedite amu

Sasi sasi ae ko taro taro amu
Ga koro ma koro da maena fasi koro
Koro inomae na ka sasi sasi ae

ahre aro a teai roro roroa
tea roa roa roai roa

==eng==

Little brother, little brother, stop crying, stop crying
Though you are crying and crying, who else will carry you
Who else will groom you, both of us are now orphans

Little brother, little brother our mother and father
They have died and now live in on the island of the dead
From the island of the dead, their spirit will continue to look after us
Just like royalty, taken care of with all the wisdom of such a place

Little brother, little brother even in the gardens
This lullaby continues to the different divisions of the garden,
And even to each house visited, this lullaby seems endless
Little brother, little brother
though you are crying and crying, who else will carry you

oh oh…my heavens.. be quiet, be quiet
I am just a boy what have I done to you

Little brother, little brother you stop crying
Our mother and our father have died
Both of us are now orphans, little brother, little brother.