Where can I find traditional lyrics?

wlvrne · 10-20-2006, 09:55 AM

I was wondering if anyone can tell me where I can find the lyrics/words to traditional songs used at pow wows? Lakota is preferred, but I would also like others for my pow wow is very inter-tribal. I'm mainly looking for basic songs for grand-entry, veterans and honor songs. I have searched the internet with no luck. Thanks.........

Coyot_In_The_House · 10-20-2006, 02:27 PM

**billyjoejimbob** · 10-20-2006, 04:41 PM

pay your dues like the rest of us. i had to learn from the people singing the songs who grew up with them. i learned from tapes int he beginning, but most of my knowledge didnt come until the poeple taught me.

some tapes have the words in them, but it is useless unless you UNDERSTAND them. too many people sing word songs without knowing what they are saying or say it all wrong.

Try some old Red Leaf Takoja and porcupine tapes.

highstarproductions.com has the red leaf tapes, i think the words are on the site also.

yellowthunders mama · 10-20-2006, 05:17 PM

I am guessing that there are no family members that could help you out. I understand that. The best way to learn songs is from another person who knows the songs well and the language well. But we are all not that fortunate. I have some Lakota lyrics written down as well as translations but that wouldn't help you with the melody etc... If there are specific songs that you are looking for the words to, it might be easier to help you.

**Kiwehnzii** · 10-22-2006, 03:13 PM

Here's one.

wassa-mattau- ewe
austee-o-per-osis way ya hey
gauttag-et-sum-meds o-hi-o
o-hi-o is okay-o-hey-o-hey
fix-me-up o-hi-o okay-o wey yah hey

(repeat.)

wlvrne · 10-23-2006, 09:03 AM

I didn't mean to step on anyones toes here. I live here in Connecticut so it's hard for me to get info from my elders since they're in S.D. I'm not trying to do this the easy why , I'm trying to do this the right way. I inherited my late father's drum and want to help keep it singing. If I offended anyone I apoligize.

**Kiwehnzii** · 10-23-2006, 09:45 AM

If you're Lakota, why dontcha go see Kenny then? He's right there in Norwalk.

wlvrne · 10-23-2006, 12:14 PM

How do I contact Kenny?.................

**Kiwehnzii** · 10-23-2006, 12:33 PM

There must be some things that you can do for yourself. If you are Lakota, and you know the language, go to powwows, sing, your late father sang, you grew up around your father singing, you live in connecticut, you've heard of Mystic River........ there's a good chance that you might get a clue as to who Kenny is and where you might find him.

The Creator has given you a clear mind, I have given you some info.......... get to work!

wlvrne · 10-23-2006, 01:17 PM

I have heard and seen Mystic River (Mohegan Pow Wow). Mystic River Junior played at my father's pow wow a couple of years ago. My father did not sing since he left AIM. It was his drum but it never sang before I got it. I'm not asking you to do all the work for me, just do as any "brother" would do and put me in the right direction. Dispite my age I'm fairly new to this. My father spent most of his life hiding here in Connecticut not teaching me anything until my daughter was born. I did not think I could just go up to Kenny Merrick and ask him to teach me their songs. I talked to him at Fort Shantock about drumming and his hand painted baseball cap. I'm just trying to find my place.................

**billyjoejimbob** · 10-23-2006, 03:44 PM

KIWE -WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO SING THE BUM KNEES DRUM SONG?!?!?!?!

WOLV-do you still have any traditional family in SD? If I did, I would go there first. Secondly, I would stop going to ALL powwows in CT that Mystic doesnt sing at.

People may mean well at powwows you attend, but they arent the poeple you are gonna learn anything from. You have to learn from the people who know and bring it back to the people at the powwows you attend.

(i had to read that a few times also)

Coyot_In_The_House · 10-23-2006, 08:13 PM

I can just c someones eyebrows getting fuzzy right about now......

**Kiwehnzii** · 10-23-2006, 10:45 PM

I am not your brother.

Dang.

wlvrne · 10-24-2006, 08:57 AM

I knew you weren't my "brother" by your first reply. Your nobody's "brother" by the looks of things. That's the whole problem here. Were do you get off being so high and mighty. I'm just trying to improve my life while your just looking for a fight. Go somewhere else to find it.............

**Kiwehnzii** · 10-24-2006, 09:29 AM

1st post? That was a joke. Getta grip man. Take a joke like the rest of us.

But.......... don't call me brother unless you know me. I don't know you but, I gave you some good advice. Lakota singers (in person) are the best contacts for you. You cannot find any better source than that. The internet sucks when it comes to learning songs.

I am a guy that believes that if I really want something, I'll get out there, work for it, pay my dues, be generous to those who teach me, give thanks for what is given me. That's my way. Believe or not, that too is the Lakota way.

And........... I tease people.

wlvrne · 10-24-2006, 09:44 AM

Your right. I don't know you, so when you joke I don't know that either. I understand that it's important to put in the work. I was just looking for generic songs that everyone has. Maybe I was looking for the easy way out to start. Like I said I'm sort of new to this and sometimes quick to judge. So, taking in what you said I hope that someday we will know each other well enough to call each other "brother" and have it mean something. I apologize if I jumped the gun on you. I hope that we can move forward and that I can learn from this.

10-20-2006, 09:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
wlvrne ŚKE-ĆA'-TAN-KA Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mother Earth Posts: 7	Where can I find traditional lyrics? I was wondering if anyone can tell me where I can find the lyrics/words to traditional songs used at pow wows? Lakota is preferred, but I would also like others for my pow wow is very inter-tribal. I'm mainly looking for basic songs for grand-entry, veterans and honor songs. I have searched the internet with no luck. Thanks......... __________________ ŚKE-ĆA'-TAN-KA

10-20-2006, 04:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
billyjoejimbob Fat Singer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: white guy land Posts: 1,526	pay your dues like the rest of us. i had to learn from the people singing the songs who grew up with them. i learned from tapes int he beginning, but most of my knowledge didnt come until the poeple taught me. some tapes have the words in them, but it is useless unless you UNDERSTAND them. too many people sing word songs without knowing what they are saying or say it all wrong. Try some old Red Leaf Takoja and porcupine tapes. highstarproductions.com has the red leaf tapes, i think the words are on the site also. __________________ There are 2 types of people in the world... Really stupid people who think they are smart and Really smart people who think they are smart.

10-20-2006, 05:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
yellowthunders mama Singer Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 114	What songs are you looking for lyrics to? I am guessing that there are no family members that could help you out. I understand that. The best way to learn songs is from another person who knows the songs well and the language well. But we are all not that fortunate. I have some Lakota lyrics written down as well as translations but that wouldn't help you with the melody etc... If there are specific songs that you are looking for the words to, it might be easier to help you.

10-23-2006, 09:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
wlvrne ŚKE-ĆA'-TAN-KA Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mother Earth Posts: 7	?????????? I didn't mean to step on anyones toes here. I live here in Connecticut so it's hard for me to get info from my elders since they're in S.D. I'm not trying to do this the easy why , I'm trying to do this the right way. I inherited my late father's drum and want to help keep it singing. If I offended anyone I apoligize. __________________ ŚKE-ĆA'-TAN-KA

10-23-2006, 12:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
wlvrne ŚKE-ĆA'-TAN-KA Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mother Earth Posts: 7	Contact.............. How do I contact Kenny?................. __________________ ŚKE-ĆA'-TAN-KA

10-20-2006, 02:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Coyot_In_The_House uhvdlv Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,967

10-22-2006, 03:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kiwehnzii Oldfart Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,871	Here's one. wassa-mattau- ewe austee-o-per-osis way ya hey gauttag-et-sum-meds o-hi-o o-hi-o is okay-o-hey-o-hey fix-me-up o-hi-o okay-o wey yah hey (repeat.)

10-23-2006, 09:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
Kiwehnzii Oldfart Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,871	If you're Lakota, why dontcha go see Kenny then? He's right there in Norwalk.

10-23-2006, 12:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
Kiwehnzii Oldfart Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,871	There must be some things that you can do for yourself. If you are Lakota, and you know the language, go to powwows, sing, your late father sang, you grew up around your father singing, you live in connecticut, you've heard of Mystic River........ there's a good chance that you might get a clue as to who Kenny is and where you might find him. The Creator has given you a clear mind, I have given you some info.......... get to work!

10-23-2006, 01:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
wlvrne ŚKE-ĆA'-TAN-KA Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mother Earth Posts: 7	Ok I have heard and seen Mystic River (Mohegan Pow Wow). Mystic River Junior played at my father's pow wow a couple of years ago. My father did not sing since he left AIM. It was his drum but it never sang before I got it. I'm not asking you to do all the work for me, just do as any "brother" would do and put me in the right direction. Dispite my age I'm fairly new to this. My father spent most of his life hiding here in Connecticut not teaching me anything until my daughter was born. I did not think I could just go up to Kenny Merrick and ask him to teach me their songs. I talked to him at Fort Shantock about drumming and his hand painted baseball cap. I'm just trying to find my place................. __________________ ŚKE-ĆA'-TAN-KA

10-23-2006, 03:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
billyjoejimbob Fat Singer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: white guy land Posts: 1,526	KIWE -WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO SING THE BUM KNEES DRUM SONG?!?!?!?! WOLV-do you still have any traditional family in SD? If I did, I would go there first. Secondly, I would stop going to ALL powwows in CT that Mystic doesnt sing at. People may mean well at powwows you attend, but they arent the poeple you are gonna learn anything from. You have to learn from the people who know and bring it back to the people at the powwows you attend. (i had to read that a few times also) __________________ There are 2 types of people in the world... Really stupid people who think they are smart and Really smart people who think they are smart.

10-23-2006, 08:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
Coyot_In_The_House uhvdlv Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,967	Fuzzy eyebrows... I can just c someones eyebrows getting fuzzy right about now......

10-23-2006, 10:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
Kiwehnzii Oldfart Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,871	I am not your brother. Dang.

10-24-2006, 08:57 AM	#14 (permalink)
wlvrne ŚKE-ĆA'-TAN-KA Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mother Earth Posts: 7	!!!!! I knew you weren't my "brother" by your first reply. Your nobody's "brother" by the looks of things. That's the whole problem here. Were do you get off being so high and mighty. I'm just trying to improve my life while your just looking for a fight. Go somewhere else to find it............. __________________ ŚKE-ĆA'-TAN-KA

10-24-2006, 09:29 AM	#15 (permalink)
Kiwehnzii Oldfart Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,871	1st post? That was a joke. Getta grip man. Take a joke like the rest of us. But.......... don't call me brother unless you know me. I don't know you but, I gave you some good advice. Lakota singers (in person) are the best contacts for you. You cannot find any better source than that. The internet sucks when it comes to learning songs. I am a guy that believes that if I really want something, I'll get out there, work for it, pay my dues, be generous to those who teach me, give thanks for what is given me. That's my way. Believe or not, that too is the Lakota way. And........... I tease people.

10-24-2006, 09:44 AM	#16 (permalink)
wlvrne ŚKE-ĆA'-TAN-KA Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mother Earth Posts: 7	Your right..... Your right. I don't know you, so when you joke I don't know that either. I understand that it's important to put in the work. I was just looking for generic songs that everyone has. Maybe I was looking for the easy way out to start. Like I said I'm sort of new to this and sometimes quick to judge. So, taking in what you said I hope that someday we will know each other well enough to call each other "brother" and have it mean something. I apologize if I jumped the gun on you. I hope that we can move forward and that I can learn from this. __________________ ŚKE-ĆA'-TAN-KA