Our Saturday evening practice group is still making our way through some of Siñot Danny’s songs, and last night we listened to Masi, which is about how when times were hard on Guam, people would be collecting scrap metal for money. Jay actually remembered what it was like in the 2000s on the island, and he especially remembered when brass plaques would be stolen off of the monuments. You may also recognize the tune, as it is very similar to his song Kåddon Pika. In this post we have included Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for Masi by Daniel Deleon Guerrero. Happy listening!
Ai i Chamoru na manniná’masi
Oh the Chamorros make you feel sorry
Sa’ manmanhóhokka’ lulok para u mámasi
Because they are picking up nails to made into scrap metal
Para håfa dibi yan boka
For what debts are owed and food
An håfa sopbla ai para u fåhan chupa
If anything is leftover, oh to buy cigarettes
Ilek-hu, “Ai, Man Chamoru, manminakkat på’gu i tiempu”
I say, “Oh, Chamorros, times are hard now”
Siña un sodda’ dos umasagua’ gi kanton chålan
You can find a married couple on the side of the road
na manmanhóhokka’ låta gi halom uchan
that are picking up cans in the rain
Para håfa dibi yan boka
For what debts are owed and food,
an håfa sopbla para ai gasolina
If anything is leftover, it is for, oh gasoline
Ilek-hu, “Ai, Man Chamoru, manminakkat på’gu i tiempu”
I say, “Oh, Chamorros, times are hard now”
Ilek-hu, “Ai mañe’lu-hu, ai sungon ha’ minakkat tiempu”
I say, “Oh my siblings, oh just endure the hard time”
And we found the catalytic converter and the transmission
Ilek-hu, “Ai Man Chamoru, na manggéfmakkat på’gu i tiempu”
I say, “Oh Chamorros, it is very difficult times now.”
Ma á’atan i haligin tilifón an puengi
They are looking at the telephone pole when it’s night
Sa’ i copper wire para u masåkki
Because the copper wire will be stolen
Para håfa chupa yan boka
For whatever cigarettes and food
an håfa sopbla ai para i setbesa
If there’s anything leftover oh, it will be for the beer
Ilek-hu, “Ai mañe’lu-hu na manbinaba på’gu i tiempu”
I say, “Oh my siblings, it is bad times now”
Ilek-hu, “Ai mañe’lu-hu na binaba på’gu i tiempu”
I say, “Oh, my siblings, it is a bad time now”
Ai bula manmanéwnews ai på’gu
Oh there are a lot of people in the news, oh, now
sa’ duru i brass manmasåkki gi monumentu
Because the brass continues to be stolen from the monuments
Manmakonne’ para i Hagåtña manmalitråtu
They were taken to Hagåtña and their pictures were taken
Pues manma’ågang i familia sa’ makalibosu
Then the family was called because they were imprisoned
Ilek-hu, “Ai mane’lu-hu na manpiniligru på’gu i tiempu”
I say, “Oh my siblings, it is dangerous times now”
Ilek-hu, “Ai Man Chamorro, ai sungon fan pinepblan-miyu”
I say, “Oh Chamorros, oh please endure your poverty”
Pues esti na kantå-ku para hita
So this is my song for us
ni manmanhóhokka låta kada diha
who are picking up cans every day
Ai atan ha’ lokkue’ yu’ ni kákanta
Oh, just look at me too, who is the singer
Sa’ kana’ púpuno’ i presiun gasolina
Because it’s as though the price of gasoline is killing me
Ilek-hu, “Ai mane’lu-hu ai sungon ha’ minakkat tiempu”
I say, “Oh my siblings, oh just endure the difficult time”
Ai sungon ha’ pinepblan-miyu
Oh just endure your poverty
Ai sungon ha’ pinepblan-miyu
Oh just endure your poverty
Notes
1 place of broken cars: The Chamorro phrase sagan mayulang kareta literally translates to “place of broken cars” but in English we understand this to be a junkyard.
2 Lao kulan håfa guaha mohon na okasión: We had some difficulty translating this into English, and the closest approximation we could get to was “Oh what an occasion.” The phrase overall can be used in contexts where something unexpected has happened. This is further reinforced by the following line, where they find a catalytic converter and a transmission, which are rare finds.
Lengguahi-ta 