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X'ser Ng​ħ​annu?

from Maddalena's Marvellous Tripfolk Klabb by *etnika

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about

Written in 2003 for a song commissioned by etnika, Frans Baldacchino “Il-Budaj” writes exquisite lyrical poetry for this tune which was also derived from traditional melodies. Budaj’s lyrics express a sense of despair at the doings of mankind which have brought destruction, loss and hopelessness to the world, asking what more would we sing as the stars look on in shame for our own actions.

The song was performed for the first time by “Il-Budaj” in 2003 as a duo with Toni Camilleri “Tal-Ġebel” and consecutively in 2005 before his demise in 2006.

lyrics

X’SER NGĦANNU? (Lyrics: F. Baldacchino il-Budaj)

X'sejrin ngħannu ja ħabib
F'dil-qagħda tal-mument
Ngħannu t-tnejn flimkien
Il-bikja tal-lament.

Għax l-uġiegħ qiegħed jiżdied
Bil-gwerer u l-imwiet
X'ngħannu kif l-għana jnin
X'ser jibqa' tal-Maltin.

Tridx ngħannu lill-mara wkoll
Titgħarwen mill-ilbies
Ngħannu dwar il-karim
Maqtul ġo qalb in-nies.

X'sejrin ngħannulhom lin-nies
Kif ifurulhom il-kwies
X'ngħannu lill-migdud
L-imħabba fih qed tmut.

Dawn il-kwiekeb x'ser ngħannulhom
Kif is-sħab surthom jgħattulhom
Lill-ibnek x'ser tgħannilu
Mill-ġungla x'ser tixtrilu?

Għidli x'ngħannu ghidli inti
Għax inhoss li issa ġġennint
Il-kwiekeb kemm sfaw ħosbiena
B'dak l-għaġir faħxi tagħna l-bnedmin.

X'sejrin ngħannu ja ħabib
F'dil-qagħda tal-mument
Ngħannu t-tnejn flimkien
Il-bikja tal-lament.

U meta l-għalmu jitbaxxa
U l-kant u d-daqq jisfaxxa
X'ser ngħannu int u jien
Kif l-art tieqaf mid-dawrien?

Għidli x'ngħannu għidli inti
Għax inħoss li issa ġġennint
Il-kwiekeb kif sfaw ħosbiena
B'dak l-għaġir tagħna l-bnedmin.

Għidli x'ngħannu għidli inti
Għax inħoss li issa ġġennint
Il-ħlejjaq kollha bla ħtijja
Kollha jlumu lilna l-bnedmin.

**

What shall we sing, my friend,
At this moment in time?
Let’s sing together
To the cry of lament

For the pain is getting stronger
With this war and ruin
What shall we sing, when song fades away
And what will become of the Maltese?

We can sing to the ‘woman’,
Bereft of clothing.
or sing about god
Who is no more in people’s hearts

What shall we sing to the people
When their cups are overflowing?
What to sing to the bitter one,
Within whom love is dying?

And to the stars, what shall we sing,
When hidden behind clouds?
to your son, what will you sing
from this jungle what more to buy him?

So what shall we sing, please you tell me,
For I fear I'm losing my mind
Even the stars look on concerned,
For man’s audacious deeds

What shall we sing, my friend,
At this moment in time?
Let’s sing together,
To the cry of lament.

For when you’ve given up,
And the music and dance are over,
What will you and I sing,
When the world comes to a still?

So what shall we sing, please you tell me,
For I fear I’m losing my mind,
Even the stars look on, concerned,
For man’s audacious deeds.

What shall we sing, now you tell me,
For I fear i'm losing my mind
All of god’s creatures are without fault,
And mankind only, stands to blame.

credits

from Maddalena's Marvellous Tripfolk Klabb, released November 15, 2016
Alison Galea: voice, keys
Andrew Alamango: electr. guitar, backing vocals
Walter Vella: tenor sax
Oliver Degabriele: double bass, backing vocals
Francesca Grima: body percussion, finger cymbals
Andrej Vujicic: kalimba, body percussion, cajón, backing vocals

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about

*etnika Malta

An unlikely mix of artists, characters and instruments, *etnika's sound layers enchanting melancholy with traditional tunes & lyrics over effected guitars, retro-futuristic synths, unconventional percussion and footwork, deep, groovy bass, raspy sax, haunting whispery vocals and old Maltese instruments.

Expect a few detours, expect the unexpected, this 'tripfolk' band has a big heart.
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