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THE ZEITUNTSI ARMENIAN MOTHER'S CRADLE SONG By Raffi Translated from Armenian by Daniel Janoyan Glendale, California, December 15, 1999 Do your NANIG*, my beautiful child, You do your NANIG, NANIG, NANIG. Do your NANIG and you grow quick I'll sacrifice myself for you, my only kid. With a mother's hands I will be rocking Your cradle very calmly and quietly. And your late father's memories I will relate to you by singing softly. Your father resembled a powerful lion That brave, courageous YERVANT, For his people he had enthusiasm, A lot of love, and sympathy. One day he mounted his black horse And galloped towards the enemy, Taking with him his proud subjects He went to fight the enemy. The enemy was called RAVO That gigantic barbarian Hit your father in his heart Using his soul piercing arrow. He hit your father and killed him Taking his cattle along with him. He ransacked his tents Leaving us with nothing at the end. Do you NANIG, my only hope, Do your NANIG, so you may grow quick. And to your abandoned people You'll be in lieu of your father the leader indeed. Our mountains that are with flowers full, Our fields that are with grass full, Are being grazed by foreign cattle And those that belong to the enemy. The cold waters of our crystal clear springs Are being polluted by dirt lips And the breasts of the enemy Are being decorated by our flowers. Our free and proud nation Has been left with shameful memory. It has been lead to be enslaved By the conqueror's conquest. While we as aliens and without a leader We are roaming from mountain to mountain Longing for aid that is foreign Making us equal to the pure earth. As slaves, disrespectful and with no honor, As a dirty nation having no shame, The enemy spits at us And slaps us into our face. I will tell you, "Do your NANIG, O my angel. I will tell you, "Do your NANIG," by singing. I will tell you, "Do your NANIG," by singing. By singing lamentations and by weeping! When by God's will you grow old, Take your father's bow and arrow Mount into his horse And once again be the leader of your nation. Into his metal shield You too pierce your dagger. You too drink happily Those two fierce blood drops. Drink, and let your mother's Burned and fiery heart cool down! Drink, and let your father's Longing bones be happily calmed down! I will tell you to do your NANIG and to sleep, O you innocent just angel of mine. Go to sleep, because you're the only one Who is an inspiration to your mother indeed! * NANIG means lullaby |