Karakui – Okinawan Pop Culture

Warabigami
Lyrics by Misako Koja / Music & Arrangement by Kazuya Sahara
from the album “Ama Kakeru Hashi (Bridges Over Heaven)” (DM-002)

tiN kara nu migumi, ukiti ku nu shige ni
Nmari taru nashigwa, wami nu mui sudati

irayoo hei, irayoo hoi
irayoo kanashi umi nashigwa

nakuna yooya heiyoo heiyoo
tida nu hikari ukiti
yuuiri yooya heiyoo heiyoo
masasa ati tabori

nachi nu shichi kuriba, shida kaji yu ukuti
fuyu nu shichi kuriba, fuchukuru ni dashoti

irayoo hei, irayoo hoi
irayoo kanashi umi nashigwa

nakuna yooya heiyoo heiyoo
tsuki nu hikari ukiti
yuuiri yooya heiyoo heiyoo
ufutchu nati tabori

ami kaji nu fuchiN, wataru ku nu uchiwa
kajika takana toti, nashigwa hana sakasa

irayoo hei, irayoo hoi
irayoo kanashi umi nashigwa

nakuna yooya heiyoo heiyoo
tiN nu hikari ukiti
yuuiri yooya heiyoo heiyoo
takatchu nati tabori

English Translation (via CD booklet)
A blessing from heaven
Into this world
You are born, my baby,
I will take care of you
Irayo hei, irayo hoi, irayo
My dearest child
Don’t you cry, heiyo heiyo,
May the sun shine on you
Be a good boy, heiyo heiyo
Please grow up
In miraculous health

When summer comes,
I will send you a cool breeze
When winter comes,
I will hold you to my bosom
Irayo hei, irayo hoi, irayo
My dearest child
Don’t you cry, heiyo heiyo,
May the moon shine on you
Be a good girl, heiyo heiyo,
Please grow up
To adulthood

Though stormy winds may blow
As you go through this world
I will shelter you from the storm,
so you may bloom like a flower
Irayo hei, irayo hoi, irayo,
My dearest child,
Don’t you cry, heiyo heiyo,
May the heavens shine on you
Be a good human beings(1),
heiyo, heiyo,
To lead a worthy life

(1) This line can possibly be changed to: ‘Be good human beings’ or ‘Be a good human being.’ -Richie

Background:
Most may have first heard a version of this song from popular J/O-pop artist Rimi Natsukawa who sings it in Japanese. This, the original, was written and performed by Misako Koja (from the first generation Nenes) who penned it before the birth of her first grandchild in February of 1997.