Community Choir Songbook

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Noongar Lullabies Choir

about can

about The awesome festival

The lullabies in this song book were all created by Aboriginal families during CAN workshops. So far, more than 30 original songs have been written and recorded by participants.

Lullabies is CAN’s five-year integrated arts and language program specifically designed for Noongar families. Participants are supported by professional artists and facilitators to learn the basic structures of Noongar and then write and record original songs.

Djinda Djinda – Noongar Lullabies Choir is a collaboration between two like-minded arts companies – CAN and The AWESOME Festival. Together we are using the arts to create transformation and we both want to support communities to preserve and promote Noongar language and culture.

By learning and sharing the lullabies in this song book, you are helping to wake the language gently… taking a step towards a future where the next generation of Noongar children are lulled to sleep with songs sung in their traditional language.

CAN is a not for profit community development and arts organisation based in Perth, Australia. Established in 1985, CAN works with diverse communities to create positive social change through the arts, building inclusion and understanding between people. CAN believes that arts transforms communities.

The AWESOME International Arts Festival for Bright Young Things offering engaging, exciting and quality arts experiences for young people and their families events. Held every October, the AWESOME Festival presents theatre, music, dance, literature, film and visual arts. The event invites the community to share in art-making and performance and encourages young people to express their own ideas.

The AWESOME Festival is delighted to be partnering with CAN to host the Djinda Djinda Community Choir as a part of the Noongar Lullabies Project.

Illustrations by Esther McDowell

contents page

Songs

1 Djinda, Djinda, Kanangoor 3 Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star .............................................................................................................. 2 Kaya Maaman 4 Hello Daddy .............................................................................................................. 3 Kwobidak Maawit 5 Beautiful Baby .............................................................................................................. 4 Noonook Koor-ak Kalyakoorl 6 Always In My Heart .............................................................................................................. 5 Maawit Miya Yowarl Koorliny 7 Baby Coming Home .............................................................................................................. 6 Nganyang Nyit Maawir 8 My Little Baby .............................................................................................................. 7 Maawit 9 Baby ..............................................................................................................

CAN acknowledges the Noongar people of the Bibbulmun nation as the traditional custodians of the lands on which we work and live. We pay our

respects to Elders past and present and honour all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first people of this nation. CAN is proud to work with people

from all cultures, but we do so on the understanding of First Nations, first.

Always was. Always will be Aboriginal land.

Djinda, djinda, kanangoor[twinkle, twinkle, little star]

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Cmaj7 Em7 Fmaj7 Em7

Djinda, djinda, kanangoorStar, star, shining

Dm7 Cmaj7 Dm7/G C

Ngany kadadjiny naatj noonookI ponder what you (are)

Em7 Dm7 Cmaj7 G7

Yirra ngalang boodjar-akHigh above our land

Em7 Dm7 Cmaj7 G7

Boya-mokiny worl-akLike a (money) stone in the sky

Cmaj7 Em7 Fmaj7 Em7

Djinda, djinda, kanangoorStar, star, shining

Dm7 Cmaj7 Dm7/G Abmaj7 Ddmaj7 C

Ngany kadadjiny naatj noonookI ponder what you (are)

Performed and arranged by Gina Williams and Guy GhouseKey of C major

Time 4/4

CreditsTranslated by Gina Williams, Glynis Watt and Pauline Hales

Music: Traditional (Public Domain)Copyright: CAN Lullabies 2017

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kaya maaman[hello daddy]

Performed by Phyllis Bennell & Mika BennellKey of C Time 4/4

IntroductionC C G C

Verse One C

Kaya maaman, kaya maamanHello daddy, Hello daddy

G

Noonook moorditj kedala, Noonook moorditj kedalaAre you good today? Are you good today?

C G

Windja noonook koorliny, Windja noonook koorlinyWhere are you going? Where are you going?

C G C

Ngany miya koorliny, Ngany miya koorlinyI’m going home, I’m going home

Verse Two

Hello Daddy, Hello daddy How are you today? How are you today?

Where are you going? Where are you going?I’m going home, I’m going home

Verse One Repeat

CreditsLyrics by Phyllis Bennell

Composed and arranged by Phyllis Bennell & Charmaine CouncillorGuitar by Charmaine CouncillorHarmonica by Phyllis Bennell

Backing vocals by Gary BennellCopyright: Phyllis Bennell & Charmaine Councillor, 7 July 2018

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Kwobidak maawit[beautiful baby]

Performed by Marcelle RileyKey of G Time 3/4

Introduction

G C G D

Verse one G C G D

Kedalak yoowarl koorl, Maawit nookert ngoorndinyNight time come here, Baby lying down to sleep

G C Em D/f#

Noonook Kwobidak, Koondarm Nyit MaawitYou beautiful, Dream little baby

Verse two

G C G D

Djarliny baalap, Ngaangk warangkaListening to her Mother singing

G C Em D/f#

Kwop kedalak, Kwobidak maawitGoodnight beautiful baby

G C G C G

Maawit, maawit Baby, baby

InterludeG C G C

Repeat verse one

CreditsLyrics by Marcelle Riley

Composed and arranged by Sean LillicoPiano by Sean Lillico

Backing vocals by Charmaine Councillor, Phyllis Bennell & Brooke SmallCopyright: Sean Lillico & Marcelle Riley, 23 June 2018

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Noonook Koor-ak Kalyakoorl[always in my heart]

Performed by Melba WallamKey of DTime 3/4

Introduction

D G D A D G/D

Verse oneD G D A

My family where are you all? I’m thinking where are you now?

D G D A D

I’m always waiting and holding, You’re always here in my heart

ChorusD G D A

Noonook koort-ak kalyakoorl, Noonook koort-ak kalyakoorlYou in my heart always, You in my heart always

D G D

Noonook koort-ak kalyakoorlYou in my heart always

A D

You’re always here in my heart

InterludeD G D DD D A AD G D DA A D D

Repeat verse one

Chorus

CreditsLyrics by Melba Wallam

Composed by Melba Wallam, Charmaine Councillor, Phyllis Bennell & Gary BennellPiano by Sean Lillico, guitar by Charmaine Councillor & percussion by Brooke Small

Copyright: Melba Wallam, 23 June 2018

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Maawit Miya Yowarl Koorliny[Baby coming home]

Performed by Erica DimerKey of CTime 3/4

Introduction

C G C Am F G C C

Verse oneC G C

Maawit miya yoowarl koorlinyBaby coming home

C G C

Baalap miya yoowarl koorlinyThey are coming home

C G F Am

Baalap miya yoowarl koorlinyThey are coming home

G C

Kaal-ak nyinHome to stay

InterludeC G C CC G C C

C G F AmG G C C

Repeat verse one

CreditsLyrics by Erica Dimer

Composed and arranged by Charmaine Councillor Harmonica by Phyllis Bennell, acoustic guitar by Charmaine Councillor

Backing vocals by Charmaine Councillor & Phyllis BennellCopyright: Charmaine Councillor & Erica Dimer, 23 June 2018

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Nganyang Nyit Maawir[my little baby]

Performed by Tia JonesKey of CTime 4/4

IntroductionC AmF G

Verse one

CAm F G CAm F G

Nganyang nyit maawit, Nganyang nyit maawitMy little baby, My little baby

F G C G/B Am FG C Am F G

Ngany love noonook kalyakoorl, Nganyang nyit maawitI love you forever, My little baby

Verse two

Kwobidak nyit kwerart, Kwobidak nyit kwerartBeautiful little daughter, Beautiful little daughter

Ngany love noonook kalyakoorl, kwobidak nyit kwerartI love you forever, My little daughter

Verse three

Nganyang nyit kwoka, Nganyang nyit kwokaMy little wallaby, My little wallaby

Ngany love, noonook kalyakoorl, nganyang nyit kwokaI love you forever, My little wallaby

Verse four

Kwobidak nyit koordamart, Kwobidak nyit koordamartBeautiful little sweetheart, Beautiful little sweetheart

Ngany love, Noonook kalyakoorl, Maawit kwerart, Maawit kwerartI love you forever, Baby daughter, Baby daughter

CreditsLyrics by Tia Jones

Composed and arranged by Sean Lillico Acoustic guitar by Charmaine Councillor & piano by Sean Lillico

Copyright: Charmaine Councillor & Tia Jones, 7 July 2018

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maawit[baby]

Performed by the children’s group choirKey of CTime 3/4

IntroductionC C C C F F C C Repeat

Verse one C F C

Maawit ngoorndiny, Maawit ngoorndiny, Maawit ngoorndiny, NgoorndinyBaby sleeping, Baby sleeping, Baby sleeping, Sleeping

Verse two

Djinda kedalak, Djinda kedalak, Djinda kedalak, KedalakStars in the night, Stars in the night, Stars in the night, In the night

Verse three

Mikang kanangor, Mikang kanangor, Mikang kanangor, Kanangor Moonlight shining, Moonlight shining, Moonlight shining, Shining

CreditsLyrics by Lullabies participants

Composed and arranged by Charmaine Councillor Ukulele by Charmaine Councillor

Copyright: Charmaine Councillor, 23 June 2018

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