United Cherokee Nations Anthem ("Nasgi")
Written by Myrtle Driver and Paula Nelson for Project Songbird

"Nasgi" Cherokee Nations Anthem (Two - Part Chorus)

Verse 1
Agwagvdula.		I’m wearing a mask.
Tsagvdula-tsu?	Are you wearing a mask?
Hagvdulaga.		Put on a mask!

Verse 2
Ugvdula		        He’s wearing a mask.
Sdagvdula-tsu       Are you two wearing a mask?
Sdagvdulaga 		You two put on a mask!
 
Verse 3
Unagvdula		They are wearing a mask.
Itsagvdula-tsu 	Are you all wearing a mask?
Itsagvdulaga 		All of you put on a mask!

Words taken from recordings by Myrtle Driver
SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photo

Cherokee Mask Song (demo)

words by Renissa Walker, Sara Snyder, and Garfield Long, Jr.


Wahu
Wahu
Wahu

Ulihelisdi iga
Diniyotli
Ulihelisdi iga
Diniyotli

Tsalagi idiwonisgesdi
Itsudetiyvda alihelisdi
Nole tsatseli ayetsasdi
Tsalagi didinogisgesdi

Diniyotli
Nigada idaheliga
Diniyotli
Tsalagi didinogisgesdi

Didadanugitsaga
Doiyusdi itsaduli

Tsalagi Sidvnelv
Kena

Wuhu! 
diniyotli
Wuhu! 
diniyotli
 
Ulihelisdi iga
Diniyotli
Ulihelisdi iga
Diniyotli


Ulihelisdi Iga (Celebration)

John Lennon
Cherokee Translation ©2012 
by Nannie Taylor and Sara Snyder Hopkins

(words in image)

Unadetiyisgv'i (Happy Xmas War is Over)

Cherokee words by Myrtle Driver
Sung by Sara Snyder

kena gvquoselv, pa rum pum pum pum
atse ugvwiyu, pa ru pum pum pum
ohisdodi itsvyohisi, pa rum pum pum pum
otsinedi ugvwiyu, pa rum pum pum pum...
otsilvquodi, pa rum pum pum pum
otsilutsv...

usdi tsisa, pa rum pum pum pum
uyo iyaquodvndegi, pa rum pum pum pum
gesdi gohusdi sgihayola, pa rum pum pum pum
gatsinedi ugvwiyu, pa rum pum pum pum...
dagvnogi sdanige, pa rum pum pum pum
ahulino

ulisdayewu, pa rum pum pum pum
unodena duninogisv, pa rum pum pum pum
aginogisdanv, pa rum pum pum pum
osda aginogistanv, pa rum pum pum pum...
otsilvquodi, pa rum pum pum pum
ahulino



ᎠᎱᎵ  ᎧᏃᎩᏍᏗᏍᎩ  ᎠᏧᏣ  (Little Drummer Boy)

words by Renissa Walker, Sara Snyder, and Garfield Long, Jr.

featuring vocals by Sara Snyder, David Jumper, and New Kituwah students

Wahu
Wahu
Wahu

Ulihelisdi iga
Diniyotli
Ulihelisdi iga
Diniyotli

Tsalagi idiwonisgesdi
Itsudetiyvda alihelisdi
Nole tsatseli ayetsasdi
Tsalagi didinogisgesdi

Diniyotli
Nigada idaheliga
Diniyotli
Tsalagi didinogisgesdi

Didadanugitsaga
Doiyusdi itsaduli

Tsalagi Sidvnelv
Kena

Wuhu! 
diniyotli
Wuhu! 
diniyotli
 
Ulihelisdi iga
Diniyotli
Ulihelisdi iga
Diniyotli


Ulihelisdi Iga (Celebration) - KPEP Final Version

(c)KPEP
music by Sara Snyder

tsigowtisgo datsiktoli
gvti datsiktoli

gatvsgo datsileni
gvti datsileni

gasvnige detsiyesidv 
gvti detsiyesidv

gakvnida tsingo gvti

akiwisvg tsiyvsoli
gvti tsiyvsoli

Five Senses Song (original)

This is the overture from New Kituwah's 2015 Christmas program featuring a Cherokee version of the Nutcracker Suite. 



Cherokee version of "Overture" from Tschaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite

Cherokee words by Sara Snyder and Nannie Taylor

ᎧᎹᎹ ᎯᏃᎯᎵ
Kamama Hinohili 
Butterfly, You’re Flying
_________
 

ᏫᏍᎩᎾᏒᏍᎪᎢ, ᎲᏓᎳᏗᏍᎪᎢ
wisginsvsgo’i, hvdaldisgo’i
you tucked me in, you braided my hair

ᏙᎯᏊ ᏍᏆᎦᏎᏍᏙᎢ
tohigwu sgwagsesdo’i
you always kept me safe

ᎠᏂᎨᎱᏯᏣ ᎤᎾᏍᎦᎳᏍᏙᎢ
anigehyutsa unasgalsdo’i
little girls depend on it

ᎠᎧᏔᏬᏍᎪᎢ, ᎠᎦᏍᏕᏲᎰᎢ
aktawosgo’i, agsdeyoho’i
you brushed my hair and braided it

ᎬᎾᏛ ᎠᎦᏔᏂᏙᎲᎢ
kvntv agtanidohv’i
you took me everywhere

ᎢᎪᎯᏓ ᎬᎳᏍᎦᎳᏍᏙᎢ
igohida gvlsgalsdo’i
I always depended on you

ᏨᏌ ᎿᏛᏁᎭ ᏂᎦᏓ
tsvsa hnadvneha nigada
you did everything alone

ᏕᏣᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᎲᎢ
detsalvwisdanehv’i
you always provided 

sᏈᏍᏓ ᏍᏓᏱ ᏂᎪᏍᏕᎢ
sgwisda sdayi nigosde’i
it must have been very hard

ᎬᎩᎸᏘ ᏂᎨᏒᎾ
gvgilvti nigesvna
I couldn’t sleep at night

ᏂᏗᎦᎳᏍᏓᏂᏒᎾ
nidigalsdanisvna
(it seemed) it wouldn’t be alright


ᏂᎯ ᏕᏍᎩᏃᎩᎡᎰᎢ
nihi desginogi’eho’i
you always sang to me

ᏫᎾᏓᏍᏕᎸᎠᏍᎩ
winadasdelv’asgi
caterpillar

ᎭᏓᎾᏖᎸᏍᎪᎢ
hadantelvsgo’i
you wonder

ᏣᎳᏍᏚᏓ ᎠᏎᏃ ᎭᏍᎩᏓᏍᎨᏍᏗ
tsalsduda aseno hasgidsgesdi
you’re stuck but you can dream

ᎣᏍᏓ ᎠᏍᎩᏓᏍᏗ ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎭ
osda asgidsdi agwaduliha
you dream of great things

ᏙᎯᏊ ᏣᏓᎾᏖᏍᏗ
tohigwu tsadantesdi
don’t worry 

ᎣᏍᏓ ᏂᎦᏓ ᎦᏚᎢᏍᏗᎭ
osda nigada gatuisdiha
I promise you everything is alright

ᎧᎹᎹ ᎯᏃᎯᎵ
kamama hinohili
butterfly, you’re flying

ᎯᏃᎯᎵᏎᏍᏗ
hinohilisesdi
keep flying

ᏣᏚᎵᏍᎬ ᏫᏂᎦᎳᏍᏛᎾ
tsadulisgv winigalsdvna
you want it so make it happen

kamama hinohili

ᏍᎨᎾ ᎢᎦ ᏍᏗᎦᏘᏲᎯ
sgena iga sdigatiyohi
we waited for this day

ᎯᏃᎯᎵ ᏙᎯ ᎠᏕᏗᏳ
hinohili tohi adediyu
you fly so freely

Lyrics by  Nannie Taylor & Sara L. Snyder
melody from “Butterfly Fly Away” (Ballard/Silvestri)
as performed by Miley Cyrus


ᎧᎹᎹ ᎯᏃᎯᎵ (Butterfly Fly Away, as performed by Miley Cyrus)

Cherokee words by Sara Snyder
music from Jump Right In! music curriculum

ᎠᏂᏃᏍᎩ  ᎠᎺᏉᎯ  ᎧᏃᎩᏓ (Song of the Pirates)

from An Addams Family Musical

Cherokee words by Sara Snyder, edited by Myrtle Driver

“When You’re An Addams” (from The Addams Family Musical)

When you’re an Addams
tsigeso Addams
ᏥᎨᏐ Addams
when one is an Addams

You need to have a little moonlight
sunoyi agalisg uduli
ᏑᏃᏱ ᎠᎦᎵᏍᎩ ᎤᏚᎵ
he wants moonlight

When you’re an Addams
tsigeso Addams
ᏥᎨᏐ Addams
when one is an Addams

You need to feel a little chill
kilo uhnawasdisgo’i
ᎩᎶ ᎤᎿᏩᏍᏗᏍᎪ’Ꭲ
he feels a chill

You have to see the world in shades of gray
unegiyusd nigad agowatvd
ᎤᏁᎩᏳᏍᏗ ᏂᎦᏓ ᎠᎪᏩᏛᏓ
he sees everything gray

You have to put some poison in your day
adahi udodi nigohid
ᎠᏓᎯ ᎤᏙᏗ ᏂᎪᎯᏓ
he has a little poison everyday

When you’re an Addams
tsigeso Addams
ᏥᎨᏐ Addams
when one is an Addams

You need to have a sense of humor
galvkdodi uwotsvdi
ᎦᎸᎧᏙᏗ ᎤᏬᏨᏗ
he enjoys humor

When you’re an Addams
tsigeso Addams
ᏥᎨᏐ Addams
when one is an Addams

You need to have a taste for death
alihelisd ayohuhisd
ᎠᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᎠᏲᎱᎯᏍᏗ
he enjoys death

Who cares about the world outside and what it wants from you
udalvgwodi aksesdodi nigesvna
ᎤᏓᎸᏉᏗ ᎠᎩᏎᏍᏙᏗ ᏂᎨᏒᎾ
selfish, uncaring

When you’re an Addams
tsigeso Addams
ᏥᎨᏐ Addams
when an Addams

You do what Addams always do
tsusoyi notsadvneho
ᏧᏐᏱ ᏃᏣᏛᏁᎰ
we do it the same

So keep your sunshine and keep your glee
gesd yogaduli agalihv
ᎨᏍᏗ ᏲᎦᏚᎵ ᎠᎦᎵᎲ
we don’t want sunshine

country music and Tennessee
doyiditsv gaduhv
ᏙᏱᏗᏨ ᎦᏚᎲ
the countryside

Keep your laughter and M.T.V.
gesd yogaduli M.T.V.
ᎨᏍᏗ ᏲᎦᏚᎵ M.T.V.
we don’t want M.T.V.

And all will be alright
nole ayetsasdi
ᏃᎴ ᎠᏰᏣᏍᏗ
and laughter

Do the “twist!”
halsgi “Twist!”
ᎭᎳᏍᎩ “Twist!”
dance the twist

tsigeso Addams (osda tsigeso Addams)
ᏥᎨᏐ Addams (ᎣᏍᏓ ᏥᎨᏐ Addams)

You have an air of special duty
uha ulsged iyudvnedi
ᎤᎭ ᎤᎳᏍᎨᏗ ᎢᏳᏛᏁᏗ
he has an important duty

Late nights out with the Addams
(doyi sunoyi Addams halsdagi)
(ᏙᏱ ᏑᏃᏱ Addams ᎭᎵᏍᏓᎩ)
outside at night, Addams

Just one bite
halsdagi
ᎭᎵᏍᏓᎩ
it bit you

You’re obligated to the clan
nodi (nihi) sidanelv
ᏃᏗ (ᏂᎯ) ᏏᏓᏁᎸ
now you’re family

It’s family first and family last and family by and by
sidanelv agvyitsa nole ulsgwalvdi
ᏏᏓᏁᎸ ᎠᎬᏱᏣ ᏃᎴ ᎤᏍᏆᎸᏗ
family first and last

When you’re an Addams
tsigeso Addams
ᏥᎨᏐ Addams
when one is an Addams

The standard answers don’t apply
asegiyu kanego’i
ᎠᏎᎩᏳ ᎧᏁᎪᎢ
he answers strangely

When you’re an Addams
tsigeso Addams
ᏥᎨᏐ Addams
when one is an Addams

You do what Addams do or… die!
nadvga ase tiyoho….si
ᎾᏛᎦ ᎠᏎ ᏘᏲᎰ……Ꮟ
do it or you’ll die


ᏥᎨᏐ  Addams (When You're An Addams)

Belle - Cherokee Version (Beauty and the Beast)

words by Renissa Walker and Myrtle Driver
music by Renissa Walker and Sara Snyder

ᎯᎪ  ᎢᎦ  (Today)

by George Vann
arrangement by Sara Snyder

ᏴᏫ ᏧᏂᏍᏗ  ᎧᏃᎩᏓ  (Little People Song)

ᎫᏇ  ᎧᏃᎩᏓ  (Quail Song)

words by George Vann
arrangement by Sara Snyder

ᏥᏍᏚ  ᎧᏃᎩᏓ  (Rabbit Song)

ᎠᎦᏍᎦ  ᎧᏃᎩᏓ (Rain Song)

ᏓᎶᏂᎨ  ᏥᏳ  (Yellow Submarine)

ᎯᏍᎩ  ᎢᏯᏂ  ᏧᏂᏍᏗ  ᏥᏍᏕᏥ  (Five Little Mice)

Translated by Tom Belt and Sara Snyder

ᏗᎨᎬ	Digegv	Home (“Where I’m From”)

ᏃᏊ  ᏂᎦᎵᏍᏗ
Nogwu nigalsdi.
Now it is happening

ᎡᏙᏓ  ᎤᏰᎵᏓ
Edoda uyelda. 
Father is the reason

ᏤᏍᏗ  ᏯᏆᏚᎵᏍᎨ  ᏥᎾᏆᎵᏍᏓᏁᎭ
Tsesdi yagwadulisge tsinagwalsdaneha,
I didn’t want that which is happening to me

ᏣᏲᎢ.
Tsayo’i.
You are bad.

ᎣᏍᏓ  ᏂᏣᏛᏁᎸ
Osda nitsadvnelv 
If you believe that you did good

ᏱᏦᎯᏳ  ᏔᎵᏓᏍᏗ  ᎭᏓᎾᏖᎦ
yitsohiyu talidasdi hadantega.
You are mistaken you think

ᎠᎭᏂ  ᏃᏊᏧ  ᎣᏏᏊ  ᎨᎵᏍᎨᏍᏗ
Ahani nogwutsu osigwu gelisgesdi.
Will I think it is okay here?

ᏙᎯᏳ  ᎤᎵᏏᎦ  ᏃᎴ  ᎤᏴᏣ
Dohiyu ulsihga nole uyvtsa
Truly it is dark and cold

ᎸᎯᏳ  ᎠᎾᏗᎲ  ᎦᏛᎩᏍᎬ  ᏥᏲᏝ  ᏥᎨᏒ
(hi)lvhiyu andihv gatvgisgv tsiyotla tsigesv
Long ago I heard them say when I was a child

ᎦᎸᏉᏙᏗ  ᎮᎲᎢ
galvkdodi hehv’i
You should like where you live

ᎤᏙᎯᏳ  ᎨᏎ
udohiyu gese
It must have been true


ᏗᎨᎬ  ᎢᏅᎯ  ᏥᏅᏗᎭ
digegv invhi tsinvdiha
Far away from home, I miss it

ᎨᎵᎠ  ᏥᎨᏒ  ᏙᎯᏳ  ᏥᏅᏗ  ᎥᏊ
geli’a tsigesv dohiyu tsinvdi vgwu
I think I truly miss how it was

ᎦᏓᎾᏖᎭ  ᏗᎨᎬ  ᏣᎩᏲᎯᏎᎳᎯ
gadanteha digegv tsagiyohiselahi
I am thinking of where I came from and I let go of (rejected) it

ᎠᏂᏧ  ᎨᎡᏍᏗ  Ꮓ  ᎠᎴ  ᏂᎪᎯᎸ
anitsu ge’esdi no ale nigohilv
Will I live here now or always?

ᎩᎶᎢ  ᏂᏥᎪᏩᏘᏒᎬᏅ  ᎨᏒ
kilo’i nitsigowtisgvnv gesv
(here where) I am not seeing anyone

ᎠᏎᏃ  ᎠᏍᏕᎵᏴ  ᏥᏄᏛ  ᎨᎠ  ᏱᎠᏓᏍᏕᎵ
aseno asdeliyv tsinudv ge’a yiadasdeli
But my life can change back (again)

ᏍᎩᏚᎲᎦᏃ  ᎭᏂ
Sgiduhvgano hani
Now lock me in here

ᏗᏍᏚᎢᏍᏗ  ᏕᏣᏚᎦ
Disduisd(i) detsadug(a)
Throw the keys

ᏗᎪᎱᏍᏗ  ᏂᎪᎯᎸ  ᏱᎨᏌ
Digohusd(i) nigohilv yigesa
Nothing is forever

ᏗᎨᎬ  ᎢᏅᎯ  ᎦᏓᎾᏖᎦ
Digegv invhi gadantega
I am thinking of home

Home from Beauty Beast - Cherokee Language Vocal by Sara Snyder

Words: G.Vann/M.Driver
Music: G.Vann/S.Snyder (Antistrophe)/J.Hopkins (The Velvet Conspiracy)

Dekanogi tsisgwa, dekanogi tsisgwa
Dekanogi tsisgwa, usdi tsisgwa
The bird sings, the bird sings,
The bird sings, little bird

Tsugv its(a) ukila, Tsugv its(a) ukila
Tsugv its(a) ukila, usdi tsisgwa.
It sits in a tree, it sits in a tree.
It sits in a tree, little bird.

Atlawida tsisgwa, Atlawida tsisgwa
Atlawida tsisgwa, osda udanta
The bird flies away, the bird flies away
The bird flies away. It feels good.

Little Bird Song (ᎤᏍᏗ  ᏥᏍᏆ)

translation - Nannie Taylor & Sara Snyder

ᎫᏘᎭ (Let it Snow)

ᎭᎸᏅ  ᏍᏓᏱ  ᏚᏃᏛᎩ  (Jingle Bell Rock)

ᏔᎳᏚ  ᎢᎦ  ᎠᏕᏘᏲᏍᎬ (Twelve Days of Christmas)

translated by Nannie Taylor & Sara Snyder

kagi iyusdi hi'a uwetsi
Meli unigitsane'i
dinikanowadidohi
usdi'i unaktosde'i
hi'a ugvwiyu
anadadolisdaneha
nula hidadolisda
usdi'i Meli uwetsi

uyo'i unisidi nunvdvnv
undanti ganasa'i
tsun(a)neldi hitsadadolisda
ganiladisgo'(i) kanoheda
yvgi dadayutili
tsigiyohuhisele'i
ugwedali nulistanvgi
usdi'i Meli uwetsi

ᎧᎩ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᎯᎠ ᎤᏪᏥ (What Child Is This)

translated by Nannie Taylor & Sara Snyder
(c)2011 Kituwah Preservation and Education Program

gigage kayvsadv
utsisdalugisgv'(i) awi
ale yihigohi'a
kantsisdaluga-iyusdi
aniso aniy(a) awi
tsuniyesdane'i
gesdadi yanalisgo-
danahe'i tsuneldi

tsukvhad(v) adetiyisgv
Nig(i) hiyanuwese
usgosdi hiyvsadv
yinsinuga-sk adansineg(i)

nasquo aniya awi
unalihelitse'i
Ludoawi kayvsadv
gesdi yitsadiyakewi



ᎷᏙᎠᏫ  ᎩᎦᎨ  ᎧᏴᏒᏛ (Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer)

Recording for Snowbird Language Camp practice

Cherokee Songs

Addams Sidvnela

a...e...i...

Sogwili agwatselino
My horse

Gvnvna datsikilvtani
I’m going to ride it to the road

Sogwili agikaha
I have a horse

Gayvhulo gadu
The saddle is on top

Agwalsgwetuga
I am wearing a hat

Diyvgisdi dagiha
I have spurs

Tsikilvdiha
I am riding

Dagwalel hyakilvda
You can ride a car

Nige osdego’i
[The horse] and I go far

Tsohlo’igwu galtsode
You always just sit at home

Tla kilo gohusdi yagwoseho
Nobody can’t ever tell me anything

Gesdi yisgiyosi
You can’t tell me it

Old Town Road (Cherokee Version)

Sgwatinisesdi Yihowa
Eladi ga'i'sv'i
Tsiwanagaliyu ayv
Tsahlinigidi nihi
Nigohilv, nigohilv
Sgisdelisgesdiyogo

Guide Me Jehovah (North Wind)

Siyo! Seli dagwado'a. You can check out my English-language project at soundcloud.com/stereospread 

My name is Sara Snyder Hopkins. I am the Director of the Cherokee Language Program at Western Carolina University. These translations are by Cherokee speakers and/or me. They can be used for teaching and learning about the Cherokee language. The recordings and texts cannot be reproduced elsewhere without permission. Email me at slsnyder@wcu.edu.

Seli

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