Guitar Songs
During my stays many younger people composed songs using western or neo Pacific tunes. This style probably started in the 1960s and was very popular among people in their teens and early twenties during my stays in the 1980s. The songs often describe specific events. Find guitar songs but without texts here.
Listen to the following song:
Ttoka hakatonu toku taina
A koe poki mea he mea e sala
Mai te henua e ttoka ki te tama
Teelaa e laoi ki a kilaatou
Mea i te mea e laoi ki henua
Ki mea too lono ki tele laoi
Kiaina ko he tama hakakinokino
Too lono koia ki tele laoi
He ohialia na mea katoa
Na mea laa e oti ku heai
Taaua ki noho koia o hakahiahia
I a taaua koi noho i te malamana nei
Watch carefully my brother
Lest you make any mistakes,
Because the island watches for the person
Who is good to them.
Do the things that are good for the island
In order to make your reputation good.
No matter your an evil person,
Just make (sure) your reputation (is) good.
Do not desire for everything.
Those things don’t last.
We (2) will live only for happiness
For as long as we live in this world.
Explanation: Advice to a younger sibling.
*********************************************************
Too a nau ko hano i a koe
Taaua ki olo hakatahi
I te vaka koe ka hano au naa
Ki hiti ai toku aloha
Lautama he alohalia mai a nau
I toku aloalo tani atu nei
E oti te tulana ku au
Taaua ki paanaki ai
Tapa mai muu nau ko lono
Te tulana hea koe au ai
Ko kanakana atu ki a koe
I too tuu mai ki uta
Take me to go with you
So that we can go together
On the boat (on which you will leave) that has just arrived
To (leave together will) end my sorrow.
My age group do not feel pity for me
On account my paddling and crying (as he paddles to the boat).
It will end and the time will come
When we (my love and I) will reunite.
Tell me so that I will know
What time you will return
So that I can prepare for you
When you are facing towards shore (on the arriving boat).
Explanation. The arrival of the boat to Sikaiana often ofaten means that lovers, friends and family will be parted. This was very popular departure song during my stays.
**************************************************************************
Akonaki ake tinana tau tama
Ki hakalono ki au talatala
Ki iloa e ia te hakateletele
Teelaa taatou e nanapa ai
Too aavana laoi tiaki e koe
Ki too ohia ki te moko uli
Tinana lihutia I oo tuputupu
Ku kee ma hahine o Sikaiana
Tinana, Tupuna teenei too laoi
He pulepulelia mai a nau
A nau ka hano o sesee he kiona
Mo taatou i “namba hula”
Mother instruct your child
To obey your speech (teachings)
So she will know the plans
That we are ashamed of.
Your proper husband has been left by you
As result of your desire for the ”black lizard” (Melanesian).
(Your) mother is sad as a result of your behavior
Which is different from the (other) women of Sikaiana.
Mother, Guardian, this will be for your well being.
Don’t try to be possessive of me.
I will go to seek a new place
For us at number “hula” (a reference to place names in Honiara).
Explanation: Before the island’s conversion to Christianity in the 1930s, marriages were arranged. After the conversion, marriages were left to the preferences of the couple. But sometimes parents and relatives tried to influence the choice of a spouse. In this song relatives are trying to prevent the marriage of the woman to someone from another ethnic group. The last stanza is from the woman’s perspective.
******************************************************************
Hetuu o te lani
He tokaia
Saele o te tama
Te malama ma te laa
Moe oo kalemata
Koe ki he kite
Te ata o te tama
Tiaa o te laa
Tama o te lani
He napalia
Te ola o te tama
E oti ku heai
The star (elder) in the sky
Is not watching
The behavior of the child,
The moon (granddaughter) and the sun (son).
Close your eyes,
So that you won’t see
The beauty of the child
The rays of the sun.
Child of sky
Feels no shame (he acts as if nothing happend);
(He thinks) When a person’s life
Is over, nothing remains. (After dying, there will be no shame.)
Explanation: A song about family conflict.
*******************************************************************
Hakatele nau ki te hahine
Too sikulu kahina koe ki hano
Tani ohia I toku manava
Tele silani i te ata o Sina
Nau e ohia ki hokotahi
Too i a koe ki too manava
Na hetuu o te lani ki tapa koia
Te halona nei ku peehea mai
Noho taaua hakapaanaki
Toku hau hano koe ni kau mai
E ttaka ma nau i te moana
Te maanoni ku takoto i ttai Tearoku
Te tinana e pupui te kalemata
Manava e sahiho ki te vai soa
Tapa tahi ei nau e ki a koe
Te hakateletele e ko lautona
I think about the woman,
Your school has summoned you to go.
I cry from desire in my heart.
The reflection in the ocean of themoon.
I wish that once
You would decide in your heart (about the romance).
The stars of heaven must tell me
How our relationship is going.
(Once) We lived together.
The garland you gave me
Travels with me abroad (everywhere);
The fragrance is at the seaside of ”Tearoku” (Tenaru).
The mother blocks your vision;
The heart turns to the love relationship.
I always call for you;
My thinking (feelings) will last forever.
Explanation: A love song, a common theme in love songs.
*************************************************************************
He matani e lulusa i te kau poo
I manava o henua
E takai poi pasiosio
Teelaa e seu Hale
Penapena nau toku hale
He hitiake mona he loki
Mai a nau e he iloa e nau
Te tulana e au ai
Lave mai te matani I te poo
Taalaki naa toku tootoka
I te tulana nau e moe ai
I loto toku hale
Seua aaku mea katoa
I te mahi o te matani
Mai a nau he tama moe mate
I te kau aho nei katoa
The wind shakes on every night
In the heart of the island;
It spins like a cyclone
That will destroy Hale (the largest islet).
I build my house,
But forget its lock,
Because I do not know
When it (the wind) will come.
The wind arrives in the night;
It opens the door
At the time that I am sleeping
Inside my house.
All my things are destroyed
In the force of the wind
Because I am a person who sleeps deeply
All the time.
Explanation. A song about a the problems caused by young men sneak into houses and try to have sex with sleeping women. This is called ttolo, ‘creeping’. These young men are compared to a storm that smashes houses.
********************************************************************************
Toku tamana i aluna
Ni kau mai toku ata
Ko ttaka mmao ma a nau
I kalemata o Manu
Te tinana, te tupuna
Teenei he tuputupu
Toku halona ni kau mai
Ko he tuu i te vaka aitu
Toku lautama i te henua
Nau ka tuu I te maaketi
Te silani o tanaloa
Ko hano tautali ai
Hutia liakina mai
Ko pili i te anake
The Father Above (God)
Gave me my beauty
To travel far with me
In the eye of Manu (star constellation).
The mother, the guradian
They have one manner of behaving.
My journey has come
Do not stand in the boat with spirits (do not join friends).
(I call to) my age group on the island
I will stand in the market (I am for sale).
The sparks of a shooting star (A husband she is forced to marry).
I must go follow him.
(I am) pulled apart and abandoned
To wreck on shore in the east.
Explanation. A song about a young woman who is being pressured to marry someone she does not desire.
*************************************************************************
Aloha ooku tama
Te tulana ku au
Taatou ku mea muli peehea
Hitiake nau
Too soi ki a nau
I taku nohoana nei
Hakalanomea
Na mea ni sala I a nau
Te akonaki ku moe i te manava
Hitiake nau
autou laoi
Taatou ki poloaki
He tani mai
Te hatu manava
A nau e huli mai muli
Sorry, my people
The time has arrived;
There is nothing more to be done. (I must leave.)
I remember
Your aid to me
During my stay here.
Forget
The things that I did wrong;
The social instruction remains in my heart.
I remember
Your goodness.
We must say goodbye.
Don’t cry to me,
My true love,
I shall return again.
Explanation. Another departure song.
*************************************************************************