Porcupine Singers Vol 6

Rabbit Songs of the Lakota (Part Two)

Canyon Records
Singers: Severt Young Bear, Calvin Jumping Bull, Ronnie Theisz, Melvin Young Bear, Tom Thunder Hawk

WOKIKSUYRE: MEMORIES
The Rabbit Dance Songs performed on Part Two (CR-6192-C, Porcupine Singers, Vol. 6) and Part One (CR-6191-C, Porcupine Singers, Vol.5) are sung for those who enjoy traditional Lakota music. In addition, they were selected carefully to portray how the changing lifestyle of Lakota people can be seen in the songs performed over the decades since the turn of the century. These two albums document the changing conditions of Lakota life of the last seventy-five years.
Song descriptions and translations are by Severt Young Bear, Ronnie Theisz and Calvin Jumping Bull. Several of the songs are recalled here thanks to the memory of the Porcupine Singers, Irving Tail, who was ill at the time of the recording. This album is dedicated to Uncle Henry Young Bear.

Play song

Name

Performed by

Description

Native Words

Translation

Notes

Black Hills Special Composed by Arthur Bear Shirt in the 1940's and reminds us that the Black Hills of South Dakota have been a mystical place in the Lakota world view even for lovers. Dearie, Iyotan cila na
nicaje un omatanin wacin ye.
Iwanyankaye Hesapa ta unyin kte.
Dearie, I love you very much.
I want people to talk about me using your name.
Think about it and
we'll go to the Black Hills.
Sioux
Wherever You Are Song Wherever You Are Song is another typical song of romantic longing expressed by the woman. Dearie, Ehank'ecun ehank'ecun
iyotancila ye.
Dearie, tokiya yaun esa ohiniya ciksuyahe.
Dearie, I always, I always liked
you very much.
Dearie, wherever you are,
I will remember you always.
Sioux
Homewrecker Song Homewrecker Song, originating in the late 1950's, shows the woman to be the aggressor as she threatens the fabric of a home. Dearie, tawicuya tunna nicinca
ota yesa waste cilaka waun we.
Wacin ki tiwahe
najuju cinyin kte.
Dearie, you are married and have many kids,
but I still love you very much.
If I want to,
I can break up your home.
Sioux
Take Me Home Song (Toni Special) No Lakota words. It again documents the cultural change of the woman playing the aggressor in addressing her lover, this time even in English. Dearie, take me home,
take me back to Porcupine.
If you don't take me home,
I will tell Mama on you.
Sioux
Raisin Special From the early 1940's, shows how the efforts at secrecy are constantly threatened by public rumor. Dearie, wicoiye otaye
wicoiye otaye itokasniye.
Wancala wiconiye
Toksa iyecetu kte.
Dearie, too many rumors, too many rumors
are going around about us.
Don't worry!
There is only one life to live.
Someday everything will come true.
Sioux
Gabriel Special Gabriel Special reveals the seamier side of some social dances which involved alcohol and related problems. Dearie, heca misni yunkan.
Canksa yuhalawan onicuwa
keyapca cante iya mapaye.
Dearie, I would have never though of it.
They said a cop was chasing you
so my heart is beating fast.
Sioux
Name Calling Song Represents the reflection of alcohol abuse in certain Rabbit Songs since the 1950's. Drinking is not mentioned in the Rabbit Songs of the 1930's and 1940's. After World War II, the tragic impact of alcoholism increases greatly and references in Rabbit Songs grow more frequent. Dearie, wacin sni ska itomni mayaya.
Heca nuna oyagloka ca nita
wicu ki imayugin na oste maglaye.
Dearie, I didn't want to but you got me drunk.
Then you went and talked about me.
Your wife asked me then she said a lot of bad
things to me.
Sioux
Song Of The Mistreated Woman Song Of The Mistreated Woman speaks of the abuse of the woman who complains to her lover. Miye cinkala higna waye sni ye sa.
Iyotiye kiya mayuha ye.
Inawakina niye unkunk kte.
I didn't marry him on my own.
He is mistreating me.
Now I will divorce him and marry you.
Sioux