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Ensemble Ts’ovata is one of Georgia’s most unique contemporary ensembles. Composed of Ts'ova-Tush women from Akhmet’a and Zemo Alvani, the group sings songs in the critically endangered Bats language.
Ensemble members at the time of recording:
Tsitsino Dingashvili; Lela Saginashvili; Asmat Longishvili; Meri Jikhoshvili
To hear more songs in the Bats language, visit the pages of Meri Jikhoshvili, Pat'ima Bartishvili and Nino Arindauli.
Visit UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger to learn more about the Bats language. For more information on the Ts'ova-Tush, as well as other minority groups in the Caucasus, visit Batsav, an informative website created by A.J.T. Bainbridge.
This song is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Nanalo
(scroll down for English translation)
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
/Chakh’in chakh’ lamzur vagana nana
Vese bedukha nanalo nana/
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
/Ts’qet’qo lamzura vagana nana
Vese bedukha nanalo nana/
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
/O lelinchoha lelana nana
Vese bedukha nanalo nana/
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
/Chakh’in cha’kh lamzur vagana nana
Vese bedukha nanalo nana/
Translation:
Nanalo
I wish I could, oh mother
See the beauty from afar
It’s all my fault
I wish I could too, oh mother
See the beauty once more
To walk in her footsteps
It’s all my fault
This song is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Here in order for us to better hear the language, Meri Jikhoshvili recites the poem.
Please visit UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger to learn more about the Bats language. To learn more about the Ts’ova-Tush, and other minority groups in the Caucasus, read on at Batsav, an informative website created by A.J.T. Bainbridge.
Nanalo
(scroll down for English translation)
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
/Chakh’in chakh’ lamzur vagana nana
Vese bedukha nanalo nana/
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
/Ts’qet’qo lamzura vagana nana
Vese bedukha nanalo nana/
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
/O lelinchoha lelana nana
Vese bedukha nanalo nana/
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
Madel mo baral nanalo nana
/Chakh’in cha’kh lamzur vagana nana
Vese bedukha nanalo nana/
Translation:
Nanalo
I wish I could, oh mother
See the beauty from afar
It’s all my fault
I wish I could too, oh mother
See the beauty once more
To walk in her footsteps
It’s all my fault
This song is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Sen Dok’
(scroll down for English translation)
Dak’akh harcheso dardia
Mohe lamukha k’urelcha
Are vadeln da se qopna
Qahesh datkh ese pikria
Le mokh’ tso khats’so michmerna
Le delar tsohani khats’so
Osht’i ia osht’i naghvela
Qahe dak’levar kh’echsokha
Ukhk’ch’irbal he sik’etekha
Ven dahucharla arch’isha
Vun dak’ tsodelil –
Delar undak’dal –
Dahkhetsal dak’an maqlibal
Khilhal sharn mohe leitsa
Dardgorenae datkhrekha
T’iripa kast’e matkharla
Translation:
My Heart
Grief is in my heart
Like the mountain fog
My existence is confused
My thoughts are crying
I don’t understand song
I don’t understand laughter
Again and again I grieve
I have bitter thoughts
I wonder, what plagues your kindness?
Why has it darkened, become black?
Why does no one laugh, no one?
--
I let go of my heart
Let it be how she wants it
A willow will soon fade
From weeping out of grief
This song, ''My Heart,'' is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Here in order for us to better hear the language, Meri Jikhoshvili recites the poem.
Please visit UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger to learn more about the Bats language. To learn more about the Ts’ova-Tush and other minority groups in the Caucasus read on at Batsav, an informative website created by A.J.T. Bainbridge.
Sen Dok’
(scroll down for English translation)
Dak’akh harcheso dardia
Mohe lamukha k’urelcha
Are vadeln da se qopna
Qahesh datkh ese pikria
Le mokh’ tso khats’so michmerna
Le delar tsohani khats’so
Osht’i ia osht’i naghvela
Qahe dak’levar kh’echsokha
Ukhk’ch’irbal he sik’etekha
Ven dahucharla arch’isha
Vun dak’ tsodelil –
Delar undak’dal –
Dahkhetsal dak’an maqlibal
Khilhal sharn mohe leitsa
Dardgorenae datkhrekha
T’iripa kast’e matkharla
Translation:
My Heart
Grief is in my heart
Like the mountain fog
My existence is confused
My thoughts are crying
I don’t understand song
I don’t understand laughter
Again and again I grieve
I have bitter thoughts
I wonder, what plagues your kindness?
Why has it darkened, become black?
Why does no one laugh, no one?
--
I let go of my heart
Let it be how she wants it
A willow will soon fade
From weeping out of grief
This song is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Molui Lamzuria Tushita
(scroll down for English translation)
Molui lamzuria tushita
Lamu lasharob dagana
Mhaui uiap’incho tabniga
Santlev hak’ daha martsana
Hakh’ar maiva ieg melhar
Shishkhina dara ts’odiva
Garmon mak t’ark’i lap’ts’iara
Iahova shina t’ot’iva
Mts’k’rive mak chua khabzhena
Jer vaser kh’ena pst’ialo
Kh’evberna lemzrad dughina
Alznena pts’eli khialo
Molui lamzuria tushita
Lamu lasharob dagana
Mhaui uiap’incho tabniga
Santlev hak’ daha martsana
Translation:
How beautiful is Tusheti1
And the Tushetian Lasharoba2
And the candle lit on the sheep’s forehead
Before it is sacrificed.
Beautiful good women and men
Standing in a line by the ravine
Singing by the wild waters
Of the Alazani3
Drinking cold beer from the horn of a wild goat4
The sound of mts’vadi5 roasting on a fire
Dancing to songs played on the garmoni6
Played by the fingers of a Tush woman
Sometimes another verse is sung in this song:
Even through closed eyes
You can see the necks of the horses in the doghi
And birds dancing a round dance
And the shepherd boys with their wolf-like knees.
1A highland in northeast Georgia. The ancestral home of the Tush people. Read more about Tusheti here.
2Also referred to as Lashari's Cross, a sanctuary to Saint George of Lashari. Located in the northeast highland of Pshavi and famous throughout Georgia, the mountaintop shrine used to be the political and religious center for Pshavs. The festivals of Lasharoba and Tamaroba (the latter referring to Lashari's sister shrine at Tamar-Ghele) are still celebrated every July throughout the northeast highlands.
In his publication ''The Political Symbolism of the Mid-Summer Festival in Pshavi (Northeast Georgian Highland), Then and Now'' Kevin Tuite says of Lashari and Tamar, ''These supernatural siblings take their names from historical personages who were, in fact, mother and son: Queen Tamar (reigned 1184-1215) and her son and successor George IV, known as Lashar Giorgi (reigned 1215-1222).''
3The Andi Koysu River, referred to here as Tusheti's Alazani, needs to be differentiated from the Alazani River that flows through K'akheti, Georgia. The Tushetian river flows north of the Caucasus watershed into Dagestan, eventually running into the Sulak River which ends in the Caspian Sea.
4The horns of the wild goat are traditionally hollowed out and used as drinking vessels when special toasts are made at feasts.
5A traditional food in Georgia, specifically in the east: Pieces of pork roasted over the fire on spits, served sometimes with raw onion and pomegranate (shish kebab / shashlik)
6A button accordion that originated in Russia and plays an important role in the musical tradition of the Tush in Georgia, as well as in other regions throughout the Caucasus. Read more about the garmoni here.
This song about Tusheti is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Here in order for us to better hear the language, Meri Jikhoshvili recites the poem.
Visit UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger to learn more about the Bats language. To learn more about the Ts’ova-Tush and other minority groups in the Caucasus read on at Batsav, an informative website created by A.J.T. Bainbridge.
Molui Lamzuria Tushita
(scroll down for English translation)
Molui lamzuria tushita
Lamu lasharob dagana
Mhaui uiap’incho tabniga
Santlev hak’ daha martsana
Hakh’ar maiva ieg melhar
Shishkhina dara ts’odiva
Garmon mak t’ark’i lap’ts’iara
Iahova shina t’ot’iva
Mts’k’rive mak chua khabzhena
Jer vaser kh’ena pst’ialo
Kh’evberna lemzrad dughina
Alznena pts’eli khialo
Molui lamzuria tushita
Lamu lasharob dagana
Mhaui uiap’incho tabniga
Santlev hak’ daha martsana
Translation:
How beautiful is Tusheti1
And the Tushetian Lasharoba2
And the candle lit on the sheep’s forehead
Before it is sacrificed.
Beautiful good women and men
Standing in a line by the ravine
Singing by the wild waters
Of the Alazani3
Drinking cold beer from the horn of a wild goat4
The sound of mts’vadi5 roasting on a fire
Dancing to songs played on the garmoni6
Played by the fingers of a Tush woman
Sometimes another verse is sung in this song:
Even through closed eyes
You can see the necks of the horses in the doghi
And birds dancing a round dance
And the shepherd boys with their wolf-like knees.
1A highland in northeast Georgia. The ancestral home of the Tush people. Read more about Tusheti here.
2Also referred to as Lashari's Cross, a sanctuary to Saint George of Lashari. Located in the northeast highland of Pshavi and famous throughout Georgia, the mountaintop shrine used to be the political and religious center for Pshavs. The festivals of Lasharoba and Tamaroba (the latter referring to Lashari's sister shrine at Tamar-Ghele) are still celebrated every July throughout the northeast highlands.
In his publication ''The Political Symbolism of the Mid-Summer Festival in Pshavi (Northeast Georgian Highland), Then and Now'' Kevin Tuite says of Lashari and Tamar, ''These supernatural siblings take their names from historical personages who were, in fact, mother and son: Queen Tamar (reigned 1184-1215) and her son and successor George IV, known as Lashar Giorgi (reigned 1215-1222).''
3The Andi Koysu River, referred to here as Tusheti's Alazani, needs to be differentiated from the Alazani River that flows through K'akheti, Georgia. The Tushetian river flows north of the Caucasus watershed into Dagestan, eventually running into the Sulak River which ends in the Caspian Sea.
4The horns of the wild goat are traditionally hollowed out and used as drinking vessels when special toasts are made at feasts.
5A traditional food in Georgia, specifically in the east: Pieces of pork roasted over the fire on spits, served sometimes with raw onion and pomegranate (shish kebab / shashlik)
6A button accordion that originated in Russia and plays an important role in the musical tradition of the Tush in Georgia, as well as in other regions throughout the Caucasus. Read more about the garmoni here.
This song, ''I Am A Pretty Little Violet,'' (poetry by Ts'ova-Tush poet Ioseb Longishvili) is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Khen Dzire Dalhen Ia
Text: Ioseb Longishvili
(scroll down for English translation)
K’ats’k’o taguina ia das
Khendzire halo dalheno
Delisha soda hech’vina
Lamzurch iahokha tarhleno
K’ats’k’o denola ia sogo
Lehsona matkhog hech’ana
Hal ma ekh’doles dekhoshokh
Sodaga deen peshk’ara
K’ats’k’o denola ia sogo
K’ast’e matkharlas iao
Han khea kh’elo daghguias
Vese bedukha t’ialo
K’ats’k’o taguina ia das
Khendzire halo dalheno
Delisha soda hech’vina
Lamzurch iahokha tarhleno
Translation:
I Am A Pretty Little Violet
I am a pretty little violet
Blooming at the foot of a tree
Laughing here and there
Like a beautiful young girl
My life is short
I want to look at the sun
You, child who has come to see me
Please don't pick me!
My life is short
I will fade soon
Who knows if I am to grow again
Oh this wretched life!
I am a pretty little violet
Blooming at the foot of a tree
Laughing here and there
Like a beautiful young girl
This song, ''I Am A Beautiful Little Violet,'' (poetry by Ts'ova-Tush poet Ioseb Longishvili) is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Here in order for us to better hear the language, Meri Jikhoshvili recites the poem.
Please visit UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger to learn more about the Bats language. To learn more about the Ts’ova-Tush and other minority groups in the Caucasus read on at Batsav, an informative website created by A.J.T. Bainbridge.
Khen Dzire Dalhen Ia
Text: Ioseb Longishvili
(scroll down for English translation)
K’ats’k’o taguina ia das
Khendzire halo dalheno
Delisha soda hech’vina
Lamzurch iahokha tarhleno
K’ats’k’o denola ia sogo
Lehsona matkhog hech’ana
Hal ma ekh’doles dekhoshokh
Sodaga deen peshk’ara
K’ats’k’o denola ia sogo
K’ast’e matkharlas iao
Han khea kh’elo daghguias
Vese bedukha t’ialo
K’ats’k’o taguina ia das
Khendzire halo dalheno
Delisha soda hech’vina
Lamzurch iahokha tarhleno
Translation:
I Am A Pretty Little Violet
I am a pretty little violet
Blooming at the foot of a tree
Laughing here and there
Like a beautiful young girl
My life is short
I want to look at the sun
You, child who has come to see me
Please don't pick me!
My life is short
I will fade soon
Who knows if I am to grow again
Oh this wretched life!
I am a pretty little violet
Blooming at the foot of a tree
Laughing here and there
Like a beautiful young girl
This Tush crying song, collected by Joseph Jordania in Dartlo, Tusheti in 1987, was originally sung in Georgian. Ts'ovata Ensemble translated it into the Bats language to create the version we have here.
Datkhar
(scroll down for English translation)
Doikh badera doikha
Nan dahlaial hogo
/Tshak’va mequitsahso
Hokh dahlaialosa/
Bader miche ditna
Nabada qalchagha
Le do michebitna
Bekmak dahilenoda
Leghoch’ miche itna
Bekmak dahilenoda
Bader as he donen
Arch’ich k’ekhemaka
Oghri mak kh’asoes
Hunakh dahekh’bosa
Chutso dogehsona
Ts’enina sania
Hal tso kh’asgehsona
He harch’i bhoark’ia
Translation:
Mother Wishes To Die
Go child, go
Mother wishes to die for you
You have left me all alone
I want to die in your place
Child, where did you leave your rucksack?
And your felt coat?
And what about the sheep?
Where did you leave your shepherd staff?
Child, I will put a black saddle
Over your horse
And have it seek you
In the forest and the fields
No longer will I walk
Through the threshold of home
No longer will your black eyes
Shine upon me
Here in order for us to better hear the language, Meri Jikhoshvili recites this Tush mourning poem in the severely endangered Bats language.
Visit UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger to learn more about the Bats language. To learn more about the Ts’ova-Tush and other minority groups in the Caucasus read on at Batsav, an informative website created by A.J.T. Bainbridge.
Datkhar
(scroll down for English translation)
Doikh badera doikha
Nan dahlaial hogo
Tshak’va mequitsahso
Hokh dahlaialosa
Bader miche ditna
Nabada qalchagha
Le do michebitna
Leghoch’ miche itna
Bekmak dahilenoda
Bader as he donen
Arch’ich k’ekhemaka
Oghri mak kh’asoes
Hunakh dahekh’bosa
Chutso dogehsona
Ts’enina sania
Hal tso kh’asgehsona
He harch’i bhoark’ia
Translation:
Mother Wishes To Die
Go child, go
Mother wishes to die for you
You have left me all alone
I want to die in your place
Child, where did you leave your rucksack?
And your felt coat?
And what about the sheep?
Where did you leave your shepherd staff?
Child, I will put a black saddle
Over your horse
And have it seek you
In the forest and the fields
No longer will I walk
Through the threshold of home
No longer will your black eyes
Shine upon me
This love song called ''Spring'' is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Gazapkhula
(scroll down for English translation)
Gazapkhula iah bubk’ana buta
So t’qo hadaso daqdalin potol
Honen mokh’boa tseha mertskhliva
Sonen dugdugdo kotialinch alznev
Chakh’in chakh’dave dak’mia chakh’da
Mohak’a lakhol ve dak’miv vats’ba
Vashba deets’incho ak’uich nap’erts’k’lev
Eq metkhemaka ho gulbalaso
Ho ma tsokhea se dak’ilats’ar
Tso kheho sena sinadughara
So tso alhmak’ hog sona iets’eho
Sokh bed bots’bali isht’u khetrvrena
Translation:
Spring
Spring is the month of flowers
I am winter, a dried leaf
Swallows sing for you in the sky
For me, the troubled Alazani1 roars
We are far from each other, our hearts too
How do we bring them together?
When we love each other, sparks alight
You are my soulmate in this world
You don’t know my heart’s pain
You don’t know my soul’s call
I can’t tell you that I love you
Fate has made me so complacent
1The Andi Koysu River, referred to here as Tusheti's Alazani, needs to be differentiated from the Alazani River that flows through K'akheti, Georgia. The Tushetian river flows north of the Caucasus watershed into Dagestan, eventually running into the Sulak River which ends in the Caspian Sea.
This love song called ''Spring'' is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Here in order for us to better hear the language, Meri Jikhoshvili recites the poem.
Visit UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger to learn more about the Bats language. To learn more about the Ts’ova-Tush and other minority groups in the Caucasus read on at Batsav, an informative website created by A.J.T. Bainbridge.
Gazapkhula
(scroll down for English translation)
Gazapkhula iah bubk’ana buta
So t’qo hadaso daqdalin potol
Honen mokh’boa tseha mertskhliva
Sonen dugdugdo kotialinch alznev
Chakh’in chakh’dave dak’mia chakh’da
Mohak’a lakhol ve dak’miv vats’ba
Vashba deets’incho ak’uich nap’erts’k’lev
Eq metkhemaka ho gulbalaso
Ho ma tsokhea se dak’ilats’ar
Tso kheho sena sinadughara
So tso alhmak’ hog sona iets’eho
Sokh bed bots’bali isht’u khetrvrena
Translation:
Spring
Spring is the month of flowers
I am winter, a dried leaf
Swallows sing for you in the sky
For me, the troubled Alazani1 roars
We are far from each other, our hearts too
How do we bring them together?
When we love each other, sparks alight
You are my soulmate in this world
You don’t know my heart’s pain
You don’t know my soul’s call
I can’t tell you that I love you
Fate has made me so complacent
1The Andi Koysu River, referred to here as Tusheti's Alazani, needs to be differentiated from the Alazani River that flows through K'akheti, Georgia. The Tushetian river flows north of the Caucasus watershed into Dagestan, eventually running into the Sulak River which ends in the Caspian Sea.
This lullaby (poetry by Ts'ova-Tush poet Ioseb Longishvili) is in the severely endangered Bats language
Batsburi Nanila
Text: Ioseb Longishvili
(scroll down for English translation)
Nanai nanai nanai nanai nana
Chu tvihdis badera ak’vana nano
Asa terkdos nanasa nano
Maka iet’asa baqea nano
Mosi erche huh hamasa nano
Chu tvihdis bader chu tvihdis nano
Ghaze vets’es ho vaqvana nano
Sek’natakh ho telhina nano
Vardegu vets’es kho vagvana nano
Shilghe matkh halo belhsona nano
Aha nakhlo hagelcheha nano
Kortoe laqish latsbosa nano
Okh’vui vaeno elcheha nano
Translation:
Bats Lullaby
Sleep, child
Mother will rock you
I will whip anyone
Who says anything bad about you
Sleep child, sleep
You need to grow up well
You are better than the others
You need to look after yourself well
A second sun rises
When you enter a crowd
I shall hold myself proudly
When they speak about you
This lullaby (poetry by Ts'ova-Tush poet Ioseb Longishvili) is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Here in order for us to better hear the language, Meri Jikhoshvili recites the poem.
Visit UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger to learn more about the Bats language. To learn more about the Ts’ova-Tush and other minority groups in the Caucasus read on at Batsav, an informative website created by A.J.T. Bainbridge.
Batsburi Nanila
Text: Ioseb Longishvili
(scroll down for English translation)
Nanai nanai nanai nanai nana
Chu tvihdis badera ak’vana nano
Asa terkdos nanasa nano
Maka iet’asa baqea nano
Mosi erche huh hamasa nano
Chu tvihdis bader chu tvihdis nano
Ghaze vets’es ho vaqvana nano
Sek’natakh ho telhina nano
Vardegu vets’es kho vagvana nano
Shilghe matkh halo belhsona nano
Aha nakhlo hagelcheha nano
Kortoe laqish latsbosa nano
Okh’vui vaeno elcheha nano
Translation:
Bats Lullaby
Sleep, child
Mother will rock you
I will whip anyone
Who says anything bad about you
Sleep child, sleep
You need to grow up well
You are better than the others
You need to look after yourself well
A second sun rises
When you enter a crowd
I shall hold myself proudly
When they speak about you
This love song is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Dets’arvets’ri
(scroll down for English translation)
Hoits’i se denol ukhak’ial
Matkh tso gush mohak’ iakhlosa
Dah ghorios halikh pshelova
Dah ghorios lavav ghoruva
Hots’i se niqav ukh khilul
Bark’its’I hech’ar han alhi
Se bhark’a denol ho iaho
Mohe metkhemak e matkha
Hots’i sadukhak’ moh dakhlos
Se haera ho iaho
Dacho he khats’so kh’eichotso
Metkhemak dacho he dets’os
Translation:
Without you, my life
How can I live without the sun?
I will freeze in the cold winter
The snow and the streams numb me
Without you, I wonder what my road will be
For without eyes, who can see?
In my eyes, you are life
As the sun is life to the land
I wonder how I could breathe without you
Because you are my air
No one else hears you but me
In the whole world, only I will believe you
This love song is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Here in order for us to better hear the language, Meri Jikhoshvili recites the poem.
Visit UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger to learn more about the Bats language. To learn more about the Ts’ova-Tush and other minority groups in the Caucasus read on at Batsav, an informative website created by A.J.T. Bainbridge.
Dets’arvets’ri
(scroll down for English translation)
Hoits’i se denol ukhak’ial
Matkh tso gush mohak’ iakhlosa
Dah ghorios halikh pshelova
Dah ghorios lavav ghoruva
Hots’i se niqav ukh khilul
Bark’its’I hech’ar han alhi
Se bhark’a denol ho iaho
Mohe metkhemak e matkha
Hots’i sadukhak’ moh dakhlos
Se haera ho iaho
Dacho he khats’so kh’eichotso
Metkhemak dacho he dets’os
Translation:
Without you, my life
How can I live without the sun?
I will freeze in the cold winter
The snow and the streams numb me
Without you, I wonder what my road will be
For without eyes, who can see?
In my eyes, you are life
As the sun is life to the land
I wonder how I could breathe without you
Because you are my air
No one else hears you but me
In the whole world, only I will believe you
This song is sung in the severely endangered Bats language.
Vet Vaikh
(scroll down for English translation)
Metkherna shvina ghotvea
Tsodagh getvea eseva
Ven denol chutsoi toie
Dugh dak’rev datkhrev k’vneseva
Vet vaikh…
Sik’vdleva hatkha lakhk’otve
Akh hamur barts’av zhesana
Arch’ich uchkhana dokhk’otve
Tsikhe dhep’dien t’qvesana
Dina ditletkho dalelo
K’adzik’a atas sharea
Khk’ulikha loma kh’elatkho
Alin dakhitletkh bareha
Translation:
We Are Forlorn
We will leave this world
And no longer return
We can’t leave our life behind
Without weaping, screaming and groaning
We are forlorn...
Death gathers us ahead
Deep in the night like a wolf with sheep
Pouring us into darkness
Like captives in a cell
We are forlorn...
God let us live
At least for a thousand years
In summer we will take to the mountains
And in winter we live in the plains1
We are forlorn...
1Tush people spend their summers in the highland of Tusheti, returning to the lowlands for the winter.
This song is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Here in order for us to better hear the language, Meri Jikhoshvili reads the poem.
Visit UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger to learn more about the Bats language. To learn more about the Ts’ova Tush, and other minority groups in the Caucasus, read on at Batsav, an informative website created by A.J.T. Bainbridge.
Vet Vaikh
(scroll down for English translation)
Metkherna shvina ghotvea
Tsodagh getvea eseva
Ven denol chutsoi toie
Dugh dak’rev datkhrev k’vneseva
Vet vaikh…
Sik’vdleva hatkha lakhk’otve
Akh hamur barts’av zhesana
Arch’ich uchkhana dokhk’otve
Tsikhe dhep’dien t’qvesana
Dina ditletkho dalelo
K’adzik’a atas sharea
Khk’ulikha loma kh’elatkho
Alin dakhitletkh bareha
Translation:
We Are Forlorn
We will leave this world
And no longer return
We can’t leave our life behind
Without weaping, screaming and groaning
We are forlorn...
Death gathers us ahead
Deep in the night like a wolf with sheep
Pouring us into darkness
Like captives in a cell
We are forlorn...
God let us live
At least for a thousand years
In summer we will take to the mountains
And in winter we live in the plains1
We are forlorn...
1Tush people spend their summers in the highland of Tusheti, returning to the lowlands for the winter.
This love song is sung in the severely endangered Bats language.
He Arch’i Bhark’i
(scroll down for English translation)
He arch’i bhark’i ha itsoiu
Le t’qo qornena p’hania
Ho dah ambuiun bubuk’a
Ho dah samotkhe sania
Pkhauzt’qats’ tsoen elhcheha
Maints t’qo iets’so hoalo
Vai tkhaluna qonola
Vena tsokheish ghoalo
Hurde k’at’k’et’k’osh halikho
Hokh epkhetesha matkhalo
Ah so tso hech’che semakh’ish
Shine bark’eva datkhalo
Tsha dosh alhoshog lamzura
Ts’qeige ma its’o iakh’olo
Bumkheho kast’e matkharla
Qaqach hedaghin kh’avelo
Translation:
Your Black Eyes
Who can forget your black eyes
And your raven-colored wings
You are a flower which speaks
You are the gates of Heaven
If you refused me a thousand times
I would still love you
We can't possibly grasp yet
How our youth will someday leave us
In the morning slowly rises
Your timid sunlight
If you don't take my songs to heart
I will break into tears
Consider it, beautiful one
Don’t have too much pride
For the blossoming poppy in the cornfield
Soon will fade
This love song is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Here in order for us to better hear the language, Meri Jikhoshvili recites the poem.
Visit UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger to learn more about the Bats language. To learn more about the Ts’ova-Tush and other minority groups in the Caucasus read on at Batsav, an informative website created by A.J.T. Bainbridge.
He Arch’i Bhark’i
(scroll down for English translation)
He arch’i bhark’i ha itsoiu
Le t’qo qornena p’hania
Ho dah ambuiun bubuk’a
Ho dah samotkhe sania
Pkhauzt’qats’ tsoen elhcheha
Maints t’qo iets’so hoalo
Vai tkhaluna qonola
Vena tsokheish ghoalo
Hurde k’at’k’et’k’osh halikho
Hokh epkhetesha matkhalo
Ah so tso hech’che semakh’ish
Shine bark’eva datkhalo
Tsha dosh alhoshog lamzura
Ts’qeige ma its’o iakh’olo
Bumkheho kast’e matkharla
Qaqach hedaghin kh’avelo
Translation:
Your Black Eyes
Who can forget your black eyes
And your raven-colored wings
You are a flower which speaks
You are the gates of Heaven
If you refused me a thousand times
I would still love you
We can't possibly grasp yet
How our youth will someday leave us
In the morning slowly rises
Your timid sunlight
If you don't take my songs to heart
I will break into tears
Consider it, beautiful one
Don’t have too much pride
For the blossoming poppy in the cornfield
Soon will fade
This song is sung in the severely endangered Bats language.
There is no English translation available for this song. If you are able to provide one, please include it in an email to aurelia@tsutisopeli.com and we will update the page.
But Dah Hedbali Met’ekherna Halobalhana
But dah hedbali met’ekherna halobalhana
Metkha okrosper p’haniv sodah untso ot’ina
Tsen dah hopdali harch’i dokhk’a tkhaluch psarluina
Tkhaluch psarluna demon sana osht’i tshavevas
Ese nabiji soda tilhe ts’inap’ra bilk’ekh
Daha tarhlvalis udabnoha lelech matkhovrekh
Kiko khale se qonu ghelvi qonu dak’levar
Denish dat’in duit’ sok’i osht’i osht’i tshavevas
Un bets’so e mokh’ dot’uchkhango dah tso bisbelche
Tso habvichhes daghuch qonshiv mohe sakhsovar
Tsa dahlach’qiali tsego darou bakitsogua
Tkhaluch psarluina at’inch psarlun osht’i tshave vas
This song is in the severely endangered Bats language.
Here in order for us to better hear the language, Meri Jikhoshvili recites the poem.
Please visit UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger to learn more about the Bats language. To learn more about the Ts’ova-Tush and other minority groups in the Caucasus read on at Batsav, an informative website created by A.J.T. Bainbridge.
But Dah Hedbali Met’ekherna Halobalhana
But dah hedbali met’ekherna halobalhana
Metkha okrosper p’haniv sodah untso ot’ina
Tsen dah hopdali harch’i dokhk’a tkhaluch psarluina
Tkhaluch psarluna demon sana osht’i tshavevas
Ese nabiji soda tilhe ts’inap’ra bilk’ekh
Daha tarhlvalis udabnoha lelech matkhovrekh
Kiko khale se qonu ghelvi qonu dak’levar
Denish dat’in duit’ sok’i osht’i osht’i tshavevas
Un bets’so e mokh’ dot’uchkhango dah tso bisbelche
Tso habvichhes daghuch qonshiv mohe sakhsovar
Tsa dahlach’qiali tsego darou bakitsogua
Tkhaluch psarluina at’inch psarlun osht’i tshave vas