Ipila Wirra

7 November 2006

Ngungana Karrangga Tikkandi

Ngungana karrangga tikkandi

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree

Mengki mengki pa wirramattanya

Merry merry king of the bush is he

Karnki, ngungana karnki, ngungana

Laugh, kookaburra laugh, kookaburra

Ninna kalyomarroalya.

Gay your life must be.

Ipila WirraLyrics © Rob Amery & Kaurna Plains School

Ngungana paitya ngarkondiKookaburra likes snakesTamandirlo kattetti karralika

He carries them on high in his beakWorniappendo! Muinmo manmando!

Drop him! Pick him up again!Ngungana, ninna warpowilta.

Kookaburra, you're very brave

Ipila Wirra – Verse 2 - Pilta

Pilta taungga tikkandiThe possum lives in a hole

Ngultingga pa nakkurendiHe comes out at night to look around

Tanpa! Pilta tanpa! PiltaCling! Possum, cling! PossumNinna karramattanya.

You're the boss of the red gum tree.

Ipila Wirra – Verse 3 - Ilya

Ilya tuttangga kumbandi The black snake hides in the grass

Burkoburko, nungatta yurrondi

He hunts mice and rats

Kunda! Ilya paitya kunda! Ilya paitya

Get him! Black snake, get him! Black snake

Ninna tuttamattanya.

You're the king of the grass.

Ipila Wirra – Verse 4 - Warto

Warto pindengga tikkandiWombat lives in his hole

Pa bilyonendi tiwi

He's always calm and contented

Medo! Warto medo! Warto

Sleep! Wombat, sleep! Wombat

Parto malyonendi You're getting big lying there

Ipila Wirra – Verse 5 - Kanto

Kanto pangkangga tikkandi The frog lives in the lake

Perkomandi perkomandi tiwiHe's always chattering and telling stories

Padmi! Kanto padmi! KantoJump! Frog, jump! Frog

Kuntipaitya yakkando!Chase those mosquitos!

Ipila Wirra – Verse 6 - Tarnda

Tarnda batta-arra padmendi

Red kangaroo hops through the red gums

Ngarkotitya tutta wilya purrutye

To eat all the grass and foliage

Putpu! Tarnda Putpu! Tarnda

Hop! Kangaroo, hop! Kangaroo

Maii munto tikkandi!

You live well indeed!

Ipila Wirra – Verse 7 - Kari

Kari mukarta tirrapendiThe emu hides his head

Pa paru waiwai, ngannaitya?He's a very shy bird, I wonder why?

Karri karri! Waienetti! nattaGet up emu! Don't be afraid! Now

Ninna paru kuinyunda.its forbidden to kill emus.

Ipila Wirra – Verse 8 - Kalta

Kalta wandendi tindongga The sleepy lizard sleeps all day long

Medotungki, medotungki pinnariburkaHe's sound asleep, lazy fellow

Kalta punggetti! Kalta kundatti! You mustn't kill sleepy lizards!

Bukkiana yailtyatti.That's our belief from long ago

Ipila Wirra – Verse 9 – Wako

Wako parnu wika nurlendi

The spider spins his web

Tapponna tuburra punggetitya

To catch flies in

Nurle! Wako nurle! Wako

Spin! Spider, spin! Spider

Yakko kawai ngattaitya.

But don't come near me

Ipila Wirra – Verse 10 - Kadli

Kadli warrungga tikkandi

Dogs stay outside

Meyu budnima warru-warrukkandi

And bark if anyone comes

Kadli warratti! Kadli warratti!

Dog, be quiet! Dog, be quiet!

Nindo ngai turlappiota.

You'll make me angry.