this is a cover of "ma da'len somniar" from dragon age, a great video game that you should all play if you have not yet. i took the original lyrics from "world of thedas: vol. 2", added repeats of them to make more of a chorus and ending, and made up the tune myself.

lyrics / language belong to bioware!
tune belongs to me!
cover art belongs to bioware!

Lyrics: 
Elgara vallas, da'len (sun sets, little one)
Melava somniar (time to dream)
Mala taren aravas (your mind journeys)
Ara ma'desen melar (but i will hold you here)

Iras ma ghilas, da'len (where will you go, little one,)
Ara ma ne'dan ashir (lost to me in sleep?)
Dirthara lothlenan'as (seek truth in a forgotten land)
Bal emma mala dir (deep within your heart)

Elgara vallas, da'len (sun sets, little one)
Melava somniar (time to dream)
Mala taren aravas (your mind journeys)
Ara ma'desen melar (but i will hold you here)

Tel'enfenim, da'len (never fear, little one)
Irassal ma ghilas (wherever you shall go)
Ma garas mir renan (follow my voice)
Ara ma'athlan vhenas (i will call you home)

tel’enfenim da’len (never fear little one)
bal emma mala dir (deep within your heart)
Ma garas mir renan (follow my voice)
Ara ma'athlan vhenas, (i will call you home)

Ara ma'athlan vhenas (i will call you home)

ma da'len somniar

the dawn will come: we know it, we love it, we all cry to it when it plays in DAI. but have you perchance considered: what it would be like if rewritten and translated into dalish, and made into an elven anthem of resilience in the face of relentless hardship? WELL - HERE IT IS!

LYRICS + ESSENTIAL TRANSLATION:

bane garal (darkness comes)
las telahnal (hope is being quiet)
ea’dhrua (be faithful)
nen rosemah (we will endure)

nydha bane, (the night is dark)
eolas’ele vir, (we do not know the way)
lea’vune leal (the moonlight shines bright)
re’lasa su vhen’an (it shows us where home is)
nen rosemah (we will endure)

lethal’athem (the family is separated)
anor verem (home was taken)
vhen’an u’vun (but home is where there are stars)
nen rosemah (we will endure)

nydha bane, (the night is dark) 
eolas’ele vir, (we do not know the way)
lea’vune leal (the moonlight shines bright)
re’lasa su vhen’an (it shows us where home is)
nen rosemah (we will endure)

banal’halam, (history endures)
dalaan adahlen, (grow like the trees)
rosa mar vhen (protect each other)
nen rosemah (we will endure)

nydha bane, (the night is dark)
eolas’ele vir, (we do not know the way)
lea’vune leal (the moonlight shines bright)
re’lasa su vhen’an (it shows us where home is)
nen rosemah (we will endure)

world, cover image, tune, original lyrics, and base elvhen belongs to bioware
extrapolated / elaborated elvhen sourced from ao3 user fenxshiral
actual singing, english to elvhen translation, and lyric rewrite, done by me!

kate