Mondina

The sky awakens at dawn all in gold
Mondina, as you walk singing, with a joyful heart
The dawn breeze caresses your golden curls
In the wide rice fields, you live your little world
Your face reflects on the water, more beautiful than a flower
 

Eliuliulì, eliuliulà, life is so beautiful at this lovely age
Eliuliulì, eliuliulà, like a little swallow, love will come one day!
 

From the old bell tower, the noon chimes ring
Mondina, burned by the sun, to that sound of bells
You smile and devour your happy meal, because
You know how hard that bread costs you
You know that every table, at this hour, smells for you!
 

Eliuliulì, eliuliulà, life is so beautiful at this lovely age
Eliuliulì, eliuliulà, like a little swallow, love will come one day!
 

Night approaches, it’s already the time of the Ave Maria
Mondina, why don’t you smile at this hour of love?
You look at the sunset and sigh: 'Where is my love?'
Is he perhaps on the mountains, near your old shepherd
Or by the ancient path, waiting for you?
 

Eliuliulì, eliuliulà, life is so beautiful at this lovely age
Eliuliulì, eliuliulà, like a little swallow, love will come one day!
 

Mondina

The sky awakens at dawn all in gold
Mondina, as you walk singing, with a joyful heart
The dawn breeze caresses your golden curls
In the wide rice fields, you live your little world
Your face reflects on the water, more beautiful than a flower
 

Eliuliulì, eliuliulà, life is so beautiful at this lovely age
Eliuliulì, eliuliulà, like a little swallow, love will come one day!
 

From the old bell tower, the noon chimes ring
Mondina, burned by the sun, to that sound of bells
You smile and devour your happy meal, because
You know how hard that bread costs you
You know that every table, at this hour, smells for you!
 

Eliuliulì, eliuliulà, life is so beautiful at this lovely age
Eliuliulì, eliuliulà, like a little swallow, love will come one day!
 

Night approaches, it’s already the time of the Ave Maria
Mondina, why don’t you smile at this hour of love?
You look at the sunset and sigh: 'Where is my love?'
Is he perhaps on the mountains, near your old shepherd
Or by the ancient path, waiting for you?
 

Eliuliulì, eliuliulà, life is so beautiful at this lovely age
Eliuliulì, eliuliulà, like a little swallow, love will come one day!
 

Just Friendship

Our relationship
Is sometimes distant, sometimes close, and unpredictable.
Between us, we never discuss it,
Is it just an act or an escape?
 

As we continue to play along with this plot,
We share a tacit understanding throughout its twists and turns.
We both know the inevitable end,
Yet we can't escape this trap.
 

I just want to hold you tight, moving from strangers to familiar once more,
With all my effort, how did we stop moving forward?
Letting go and holding on simultaneously, such a deeply painful game,
I should never have stepped into your world.
 

Holding you tight again, is it ambiguity or just friendship?
If it's not true feelings, why is it so hard to part?
Like a shooting star, it flashes a moment of beauty,
After its brilliance, I will lose you again.
 

As we continue to play along with this plot,
We share a tacit understanding throughout its twists and turns.
We both know the inevitable end,
Yet we can't escape this trap.
 

I just want to hold you tight, moving from strangers to familiar once more,
With all my effort, how did we stop moving forward?
Letting go and holding on simultaneously, such a deeply painful game,
I should never have stepped into your world.
 

Holding you tight again, is it ambiguity or just friendship?
If it's not true feelings, why is it so hard to part?
Like a shooting star, it flashes a moment of beauty,
After its brilliance, I will lose you again.
 

After its brilliance, how can I bear to let go?
 

Massif-Ngangi

Oh Ngangi, exalted be our lord!
And forever!
Oh ngangi, good day John!
Oh Ngangi!
Oh ngangi, give me the key, John!
And forever!
Oh ngangi, the day shall come!
Oh Ngangi!
Oh Ngangi, I offer my salutations!
And forever!
Oh Ngangi, to the rhythm of the drum!
Oh Ngangi!
Oh ngangi, exalted be our lord!
And forever!
Oh ngangi, today is your day, John!
Oh ngangi!
 

He shall leave, he shall leave, he shall leave
Malembe, malembe now!
Next year I shall offer my songs again!
Malembe, malembe now!
Two beats of the drum, two beats only!
Malembe, malembe now!
Two hits to the front, two hits to the back!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Saint John of the Congo, shaved head!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Take off your hat to see you dance!
Malembe, malembe, now!
He shall leave, he shall leave, he shall leave
Malembe, malembe, now!
And next year who shall play the drums for him?
Malembe, malembe, now!
If Saint John knew today was his feast!
Malembe, malembe, now!
From the sky he would come down and give happiness!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Malembe, malembe, malembe now!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Today is your feast, John, today is your feast day John!
Malembe, malembe, now!
I offer my farewells, and my farewells to my slave owner!
Malembe, malembe, now!
He shall leave, he shall leave, he shall leave, yes, he shall leave!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Saint John of the Congo, shaved head!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Take off your hat to see you dance!
Malembe, malembe, now!
If you don't take it off, I shall sob!
Malembe, malembe, now!
If you take it off, I'll sing to you!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Oh Saint John, Saint John shall leave!
Malembe, malembe, now!
The upcoming year I shall parade his statue again!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Two hits, ladies, two more hits!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Two hits to the drumskin, two hits for Saint John!
Malembe, malembe, now!
He shall leave, he shall leave, he shall leave, yes, he shall leave!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Malembe, malembe, malembe now!
Malembe, malembe, now!
If Saint John knew today was his feast day!
Malembe, malembe, now!
From the sky he would come down and depart joy!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Today is your feast, John, today is your feast, John!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Malembe, malembe, malembe now!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Saint John of the Congo, shaved head!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Take off your hat so I may see you dance!
Malembe, malembe, now!
I offer my farewells, farewells to my slave owner!
Malembe, malembe, now!
He shall leave, he shall leave, he shall leave, yes, he shall leave!
Malembe, malembe, now!
Two more hits to the drumskin, only two hits more!
Malembe, malembe, now!