Monday, July 7, 2014

KÅNTAN MAÑENGGON


This song goes to the tune of the Marine Corps Anthem.  "From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli."

The Chamorro lyrics were written in 1993 by the late Marine Corps Captain Peter Siguenza, a World War II veteran.  He wrote the lyrics for Susie Reyes Arceo to sing.  The spelling rendition is my own style.

GERAN GUAM
(The War on Guam)

1. Impottånte este na estoria, estorian pot i geran Guam.
Ma atåka i tano'-ta, nu i tropan i "Rising Sun."
I Chamorro man maså'pet, man ma anña' yan man ma puno'
ni manailaye na taotao, hålom liyang yan bokkongo'.

(This story is important, the story of the war on Guam,
Our land was attacked by the troops of the Rising Sun.
The Chamorros suffered, were beaten and killed
by evil people, in caves and bomb shelters.)

2. Man ma "camp" giya Mañenggon, såpblen "taicho" ma fåfåna'.
Tåya' boka ya man malångo', i Chamorro man ma tribunåt.
Ai Sånta Marian Kåmalen, maila' ya un ayuda ham;
na' fan libre ham gi peligro, åsta ke u fåtto si "Uncle Sam."

(They camped at Mañenggon, they faced the swords of the taicho.
Lacking food and sick, the Chamorros were put on trial.
Oh Our Lady of Camarin, come and help us;
free us from danger, till Uncle Sam comes.)

3. Annai man hålom i sendålo, giya Hågat yan Asan,
gi Hulio bente uno, kuarentai kuåttro na såkkan.
Dångkulo i mumun-ñiha, para u ma chule' tåtte Guam;
manmangånna i Amerikåno, siha fuetsan "Uncle Sam."

(When the soldiers came in, at Agat and Asan,
on July 21, in the year 1944.
The battle was great, to take back Guam;
the Americans won, they are the strength of Uncle Sam.)

4. I "Third Marine Division," "Seventy-seventh Army Group;"
i "brigade" yan todo i tropa, man matåtnga yan man metgot.
Man ma såtba i Chamorro, bula "spam" yan "pork and beans."
Man ma guaiya i sendålo, i "United States Marines."
Man ma guaiya i sendålo, i "United States Armed Forces."

(The Third Marine Division, Seventy-seventh Army Group;
the brigade and all the troops, were fearless and strong.
They saved the Chamorros, there was plenty of spam and pork and beans.
The soldiers were loved, the United States Marine.
The soldiers were loved, the United States Armed Forces.)

NOTE

Taicho (actually properly transliterated, taichou) is Japanese for "leader, captain, commander."

No comments:

Post a Comment