Simart’ove  

Text & Music: Eldara Bukvaidze

(scroll down for English translation)
 

Isev sichume, Isev sits’qnare

Isev simart’ove, isev mart’ooba

/Isev am pikrebtan, isev dzvel pikrebtan

Mart’ok’a brdzola da mart’oka ch’idili/

Mart’ok’a darchenils pikrebi makhrchoben

Gulzed mepareba me sevdis sudara

/Aseti qopa kho ikats meqopa

Mits’is shav sudara zed ro mekhureba/

Ikneba mijobda, ikneba mijobda

Am simart’ovidan tavi dameghts’ia

/Tkventvis damitmia mdumare k’edlebi

Samotkhis k’arebits tkventvis damitmia/

Isev sichume, Isev sits’qnare

Isev simart’ove, isev mart’ooba

Translation:

Solitude

Again, the silence and the calm

Again, the solitude and the loneliness

Again, with these old thoughts

The solitary fight and the solitary struggle

I am drowning in isolation and reflection 

Shrouds of grief cover my heart

When a layer of black earth will veil me

Such an existence will suffice.

It would be better

To escape this seclusion

I give you these speechless walls

I give you the gates of heaven

Again, the silence and the calm

Again, the solitude and the loneliness

Shenakoze

Text: Meri Bekuraidze

(scroll down for English translation)

Shenakos bindi chamots’va

Michumda aremareo

/Mtvarets ar daigvianebs

Amotsurdeba maleo/

T’qemats shriali moik’lo

Churchuls shests’qvet’en nelao

/Ghmerto suqvelas achvene

Es saotsnebo mkhareo/

Mtao mtis shvilta mparvelo

Vervin shegitsvlis mshvenebas

/Davlotsav tushta modgmas da

Nurasdros gadashenebas/

Khat’is k’ars santlebis nteba

Sts’qalobdes khmata simravle

/Dek’anozisa dalotsva

Tkven gagimarjot imravlet/

Bekhvnes suprisa gashlasa

Tushur garmonis zhgherebas

/St’umar masp’indzlis shekhvedras da

Liles tskhenebis ch’enebas/

Mtao mtis shvilta mparvelo

Vervin shegitsvlis mshvenebas

Translation:

Shenako

Text: Meri Bekuraidze

Twlight has come in Shenako

The setting has stilled

The moon will not be late

It will soon rise
 

The rustling in the forest has concluded

The murmuring is slowly interrupted

God, show to everyone

This dream-like place
 

Mountain, Protector of the highland children

No one can alter your beauty

Blessings on the Tush people and their kin

That will never relinquish life

A candle lit at the shrine’s door

Is graced by the voices of many

The blessing of the dek’anozi¹

''Glory to your prosperity''

There is a feast laid out at Bekhvne²

The sound of the Tushetian garmoni³

The gathering of host and guests

And the galloping of Lile’s horse

Mountain, Protector of the highland children

No one can alter your beauty

¹Priest, chosen to be in charge of the shrines and spiritual life of his highland community in the northeastern highlands of Georgia.  In contrast, a khevisberi or ''valley elder'' historically referred to as an elected leader, responsible for the political and military life of his community. By the 19th century, as the dekanozi began taking on the responsibilities of the khevisberi, the two titles merged into one. Today this leader is responsible for tending to the local mountain shrines. In Khevi, Mtiuleti and Tusheti he is referred to as a dekanozi, whereas Pshavs and Khevsurs use the term khevisberi.

²The meeting place of Shenako

³A 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. 

Siam Mogik’vdi Dat’ireba

Text & Music: Eldara Bukvaidze

Siam mogik’vlio, romel mkharesa

/Ikneb dach’ril kharid deda mogik’vdesa/

Visam shevschivlo chem ubedurebai

/Chemsavit ramdenia shvileb dak’arguli/

Omis momgono nuamts gikhareba

/Sik’vdili tu gikharis tavadam mohk’vdia/

Translation:

Where Have You Died (mourning song)

Where have you died? In which land?

Perhaps wounded? Mother wants to die in your place

With whom can I share my misfortune?

How many others are like me, with lost children?

You who invented war, you may not be happy

If death satisfies you, then you yourself should die

Ar Vnaghvlob

(scroll down for English translation)
 

Me igi miqvars tu gsurt simartle

Ase dzlier da ase satutad

/Tu tkven ts’in tavi ver gavimartle

Ar vnaghvlob radgan ghmertma machuka/

Stsadet egeba gadamaqaro

Tu k’i shesdzelit gparavdet ghmerti

/Mere sjobs mits’a gadamaqarot

Damasamarot vit ertad-erti/

Me igi miqvars da ara vnaghvlob

Vin gamigebs da vin ar gamigebs

/Mjera umiznod ar avlev aghmarts, lamazo

Da bedis makhes aghar damigeb/

Translation:

I Don’t Care

I love her, if you want to know the truth

So strongly and so gently

If I am guilty in front of you,

I don’t care, because God gifted her to me

You try and make me stop loving her

If you succeed, may God bless you

Then cover me up with earth

And bury me alone

I love her and I don’t care

Who understands me or not

I will not ascend aimlessly

And the snare of fate will not bait me

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.

Ar Vitsi Chechenta, Auli Sad Ari

Text: Leila Nakudaidze

Ar vitsi chechenta, auli sad ari

Ar vits arkhot’is – sheneba

Ar vitsi dgheidan, shen chemo lamazo

Ar vitsi dgheidan, rom me she miqvarkhar

Otsnebit shen gedzeb, gedzkhi vazhk’atsi

Gikhmod da sitsotskhlets its’qeba akedan

Shen mt’oveb gultsivad kva-k’atsad ktseuli

Dgheidan chem samqops me vaktsev –

Chechenta aulshi gultsivad davdivar

Shen gedzeb uk’valod mtlad gadareuli

Imedit mivqvebi bilik’ebs ghilghosa

Rom sadghats nislebshi shemkhvdebi mts’qurvali

Ts'qali Arghunis Davlie (Mzekalo)

(scroll down for English translation)
 

Ts’qali arghunis davlie

Shen daginakhe, mze kalo

Shat’ilis tsikhes tsetskhls mivtsem

Tushet ts’agiqvan, mzekalo

Iebs dalalshi chagik’rav

Tetronze shegsvam, mzekalo

Khitanas k’urat’s shevutkvam

Jvars gadagts’erav, mzekalo

Mdevars shav k’ldestan davkhvdebi

Vazhas aludas dzmebtano

Arkhot’shi ambavs gavat’an

Guls amogiglej, mzekalo

Translation:

I drank from the waters of the Arghuni¹

And I saw you, sun woman

I will set fire to your Shat’ili's fortress

Capture and take you to Tusheti

I will weave violets into your braid

I will help you mount a white horse

I promise to sacrifice a buffalo

I will bless you at the shrine

I will take the news to Arkhot’i²

I will tear out your heart, sun woman

¹The Argun River flows through Shat'ili and into Chechnya in the north Caucasus.

²An isolated valley in the northeast highland of Khevsureti.

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.

Dedaze

Text: Shalva Sisauri

Dedi, sapvlavze mosuli

Khisa ver vch’ame khilio

/Ver momagonda sik’ete

Chemtvis gavlili ch’irio/

Mis mk’erdze dadzinebuli

P’irveli shvilishvilio

/Khvets’na khat’tan da ghmerttana

Rom ar momik’vdes shvilio/

Vpikrob de is iqos bechavi

Tu ver ikneba gmirio

/Bunebis nachukari mqavs

Khalkhshi chavude ts’ilio/

Tu ch’ir veravis mogkhadat

Ikneb mogirtot lkhinio

/Ase ts’avida im kveqnad

Me udedobas vt’irio/

Tsa Gaitsritsa Sheep’ara Siqvitle Potlebs

Text: Eter Ich’irauli

(scroll down for English translation)

Tsa gaitsritsa sheep’ara siqvitle potlebs

Am ts’elma uk’ve meramdened chamoit’ira

Shemodgomaa da dzghvats gakhda uk’ve p’irkushi

Bunebam titkos tsremlis dzilit chamoik’ida

Ik ra peria tsadamits’a net’av am ts’utshi

Am uchveulo chems mits’aze net’av ra khdeba

Daparpat’eben sul skhvagvarad albat potlebi

Ghmerto ezoshi, chems ezoshi gadamakheda

Chven vitsritsebit, rogorts khdeba dasabamidan

Es gazapkhulits ra khanmok’le shercha gonebas

Rogor ar minda zhami dgeba maints mimts’ukhris

Chveni tskhovrebats rogora hgavs am potoltsvenas

Chem gulshits uk’ve shemodgomis suskhi igrdznoba

Shuakhnis asak’vs didi khnis ts’in gadavabije

Im chem gazapkhuls, im chem zapkhuls,

Im chem otsnebebs

Verts shemodgoma, verts zamtari, ver damavits’qebs

Translation:

The sky is joyless and the leaves have turned yellow

The year has already wept several times

It’s autumn and the sea looks gloomy

It's as if nature is hanging like a sleepy tear

What color is the earth and sky there right now?

Did anything unexpected happen on my ground?

The leaves there fall differently...

Oh God, I wish to look down on my yard!

Who knows how it happened so fast

Only the short springtime stays in our mind

Oh how I wish that evening wouldn't come

Oh how our lives resemble these falling leaves

In my heart is already the frost of autumn

I am not a middle-aged man anymore

But winter and fall cannot force me

To forget my dreams of spring and summer.

Sakartvelos Saamaqo Dzmebo

(scroll down for English translation)

Ikneb deda genat’rebat dzmebo

Ezo-k’arits genat’rebat ikneb

Eh ra ari bedists’era gergot

Tmakhuch’uch’a p’irmtsinare bich’ebs

Tkven k’i gdzinavt moigonebt rames

Ik misuli otsnebebshits mihkrit

Tskhra ap’rili ar gak’mares dzmebo

Agvist’oshits gaghvrevines siskhli

Sakartvelos saamaqo dzmebo

Samudamod chvens gulebshi darchit

Translation:

Georgia's Glorious Brothers

Brothers, perhaps you miss your mother

You miss your home, perhaps

What fate fell upon you that cursed you so?

Curly-haired, ever-smiling boys…

You are reminded of something in your sleep

You fly there in your dreams

April 9th¹ was not enough, Brothers

For in August you were bloody, too.

Georgia’s glorious brothers –

You are always in our hearts

¹A reference to the Tbilisi Massacre that occurred on April 9th, 1989.  Twenty people died and hundreds were injured when the Soviet Army dispersed an Anti-Soviet Demonstration. 

K’atsi Sul Tsdilobs Gons Mqopi

Text: Shalva Sisauri

(scroll down for English translation)
 

K’atsi sul tsdilobs gons mqopi

Rom ar ajobon t’olebma

Magram khandiskhan t’quvdeba

Misis sts’rapmali goneba

Khan zogebs schagravs simdidre

Zogs sigharibe ts’valeba

Khan k’idev vinme survili

Gverdze rom ar geqoleba

Amit’om chem ts’il sitsotskhles

Mudam khom ar akvs lkhinoba

Amistvis ar meshinia

Ar mogitsia p’iroba

Chem ch’k’uaze verts me davdivar

Dro me ar memorchileba

Bindi mashinebs daghmartshi

Aghmartshi mchagravs tskhovreba

Ar gvinda pikri imaze

Rats iqo da rats ikneba

Gindats givlili qvela dghe

Is khom arasdros brundeba

Meore qmats’vilobis dro

Midis miva da mihqveba

Mesame didi shetsdoma

Arsad ar gamosts’ordeba

Mjera rom qvela tsotskhalsa

Dro mouva da mok’vdeba

Pikrit nasheni k’oshk’ebi

K’ubos pitsrebshits mohqveba

Ak utkmels satkmels sad it’qvis

Mt’ris bages sit’qva ar stsdeba

Kveqnad mqops pasi imita

Ritits tsotskhlad ar itkmeba

Translation:

A Reasonable Man Always Tries

A reasonable man always tries

To be no worse than his equals

But mistakes are not always avoided

By his quick mind

Some people are defeated by their own wealth

Some are defeated by poverty and struggle

Some – by longing for someone

For not having their presence

That’s why my life

Is not always cheerful

Though I am not scared

Because you have not promised me anything

I don’t always act according to my will

Time does not obey me

Fog scares me when I walk down the mountain

Life bullies me when I walk back up

Let’s not think

About the past or the future

For the days we have spent

Will never come back

The time, our second youth

Is going and following

The third big mistake

Will never be corrected

I believe that every living being

Will die at some point

Castles built in dreams

Will be buried along with the coffin

When will one say words that are not to be said?

Words do not slip from an enemy's lips

The price of a living being is something

That cannot be weighed during one's life

Ghmerto, Nu Mohk’lav P’at’aras

Text: Vazha-Pshavela

(scroll down for English translation)

Ghmerto, nu mohk’lav p’at’aras

Nu aut’ireb mshobelsa

/Nu miabareb shavs mits’as

Am soplis gautsnobelsa/

Nu vnakhav bavshvis k’ubosa

Nu gamkhdi shensa mgmobelsa

/Atsade gadzghes sitsotskhlit

Avis da k’argis nakhvita/

Shaedzlos mamulis datsva

Gamagrebulis mk’lavita

/Tu arts atslidi, sopeli

Radgha achvene tvalita/

Translation:

God, Don’t Kill the Little Ones

God, don’t kill the little ones

Don’t make their parents cry

Don’t leave them to the black earth

For they don’t yet know their village

Don't make me look at a child's coffin

Don’t have me blame you for that

Let him indulge in life

Let him find out what is good and bad

He could save his country

With his strong hands

If you don't allow him to live

Why are you giving him birth?

Menat’reba Sheni Tbili Suntk’va

(scroll down for English translation)
 

Menat’reba sheni tbili suntk’va

Gonebidan rogor amogshalo

/Churchulebdi genatsvalos deda

Chemo salotsao/

Siqvaruls nu daamadlebt dedebs

Tbili sit’qva  khshirad gaibeded

Sanam deda tsotskhalia

Moeperet dedebs, moeperet dedebs

Gazapkhuli akhalodeba deda

Da tsremlebi minda shegimshralo

/Damesizmre damesizmre khshirad

Deda chemo chemo salotsavo/

Tu bavshvoba genanebat dzlier

Naadrevad shishob ar dapere

Sanam deda tsotskhalia

Moeperet dedebs, moeperet dedebs

Torem mere gviania shvilo

Tsashi misdebs ts’minda sulis mt’redebs

Sanam deda tsotskhalia

Moeperet dedebs, moeperet dedebs

Translation:

I miss your warm breath

How can I erase you from my mind

When you whisper to me

You are my sweet child, my icon 

Don't reproach your mother's love

Tell them warm words often

While she is still alive

Always care for your mother

Spring is approaching, dear mother

And I want to dry your tears.

Come to me in my dreams, come often

My mother, my saint

If you miss your childhood

And are afraid of old age

Care for your mother

While she is alive

Or else it is too late, child

The saintly soul follows the doves in the sky

While your mother is still alive

Care for your mother

Nost’algia

Text: Eteri Ich'irauli

Music: Eldara Bukvaidze

(scroll down for English translation)

Rodesats kveqana moitsva kaosma

Da khalkhma dak’arga momavlis imedi

/Rodesats nateli moitsva bneletma

Da dabneulebi upsk’ruls mivadekit/

Vighatsam am bnelit moitbo khelebi

Ramdeni umts’eo bnelits sheets’ira

/Gvshioda, gvts’quroda, gvtsioda, bneloda

Da kveqnis satave sat’anas ech’ira/

Vakhsenet ghmerti da ts’avedit utskhoets

Davt’ovet samshoblo mt’rebisgan dach’rili

/Davt’ovet vints dzlier gviqvarda am kveqnad

Da es ganshorebats ar iqo advili/

Da ekhla utskhoel eladis mits’aze

T’k’ivilebs vuqureb mokhutss da davardnis

/Vikhut’ebt skhvis bavshvebs chven sitbos gadavtsemt

Im sitbos romelits chvens shvilebs ts’avartvit/

Zetsas mip’qrobili tvalebit vlotsulob

Ghmerto qvelaperi droulad damtavrdes

/Mudmivad darcheba verasdros ver ts’avshli

Ghimilshi damalul tsremlebis nak’valebs/

Translation:

Nostalgia

When the world was overtaken by chaos

And people lost hope for the future

When light was overtaken by darkness

And we confusedly moved towards the abyss

Someone benefited from this gloom

How many helpless people were taken by it?

We were hungry, we were thirsty, we were cold

And there was only obscurity

We retained God and went to foreign countries

We left the homeland wounded by the enemies

Leaving our loved ones behind

This distance was not easy

And now, on the ancient ground of Greece

We soothe the pain of the old and the ill

We embrace the children of others, give them warmth

A warmth that our own children are deprived of

I look at the sky and pray

Oh God, may everything finish in due time

May it constantly remain and never be erased

This mark of tears hidden beneath my smile

Shenakoze (2)

(scroll down for English translation)

Mtebze chapluli lamaz adgilze        

Moschans lamazad chemi sopeli     

Qvela sopelisgan gamorcheuli         

Lamaz adgilze ashenebuli                

Midamo qvelgan dautovia            

Gadaatetra lamazi mtebi                  

Michumda utseb buneba qvelgan  

Titkos shets’qvit’a sitsotskhlis dgheni        

Sichumes arghvevs mart’od da mart’o      

Ch’akhch’akhi lamazi shashvis  

Sadghats moismis k’ak’bis k’ak’ani     

Rom geubneba sitsotskhle aris          

Zamtris sichumes arghvevs mart’ok’a     

Titkos chamk’vdara ak qvelaperi                

Datovlil kheebs shek’ivleb mqisve   

Rom damimt’k’itson sitsotskhle ari    

Samarovanze rotsa shevdgebi

Tav-gatsilebs vkhedav archdilebs

Sichumit albat gveubnebian

Tkvenats mogelit chvenive bedi

Zogi daghlili ts’avida kveqnit                     

Zogi umank’o kali tu vazhi                         

Sitsotskhlisatvis gaumadzghari                 

Sitsotskhlitave mots’qurebuli                    

Gazapkhuls rotsa tovli dadneba                 

Ch’ik’ch’ik’s mortaven t’qeshi chit’ebi  

Akhmiandeba qvelgan buneba                   

Akhmiandeba chemi sopeli             

Translation:

Tucked in the mountains is a stunning place

My village can be seen beautifully

Featured from every hamlet

Built in a sublime place

The area is entirely covered in snow

The handsome peaks have turned white

Suddenly nature is quiet everywhere

As if the spirit of the day has ceased

The silence is broken by

The charming chirp of the thrush

Somewhere is heard the cackle of a partridge 

And you come to realize that there is life

Winter’s silence joins the solitude

Almost as if here everything is dead

Snow-covered trees scream again and again

Proving that there is existence

When the snow melts in spring

The birds decorate the woods with their chirp

Nature becomes animated everywhere

My village becomes bright

Shen Otakhis Sark’meli

Text: Lali Mishidze

(scroll down for English translation)

Ver get’qvi tumtsa jer k’idev                

Ramdeni damrcha satkmeli

Usit’qod momcherebia

Sheni otakhis sark’meli

Guldagul mesaubrebi                           

Vindzlo p’asukhi maghirso

Ghmerto amdeni lodini                          

Guli naghvelit aivso                          

Ikneba shemekhmianos

Ts’amlad daedos iarebs

Ekh am tskhovrebis borbali

Turme ra ughvtod t’rialebs

Avivli ukhmod mitsilebs

Chavivli ukhmod mitskeris

Rad ar surs amiqvavilos

Chemi damch’k’nari pikrebi

Sheni otakhis sark’meli

Sheni t’akht’I da k’eria

Qvelasgan mit’ovebuli

Vin itsis rogor melian

Translation:

The Window of Your Room

I can’t tell you, at least yet

Though I still have so much to say

The window of your room stares at me

Without saying anything

Your heart talks with mine

Would you give me an answer?

God, After waiting for so long

I am filled with sorrow

I wish you could reach out to me

And heal my wounds

Oh, the wheel of life

Turns mercilessly

I walk up, she gets rid of me speechlessly

I walk down, she looks at me without a word

Why doesn't she want to make

My withered thoughts blossom?

The window of your room

Your bed and your fireplace

Abandoned by everyone 

Is there a place for me there?

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.

P’irveloba, Shairi

Suntkva mich’irs midzneldeba   

Chveni bedis shemkhedvares                    

Tavisupleba gvindoda                     

Daveriet chven ertmanets

Gadavemt’eret ertmanets         

Tan davits’qet skhvis gineba                      

Bevri amit movimduret

Aghar shegvrcha motmineba

Vin ts’agvk’ida chven ertmanets

Is ar aris chveni kveqnis

Akhla is skhva sheubneba

Modit meve shegarigebt

Demok’rat’ia zogistvis               

Gashlili p’ur-marilia              

K’argad meorgo qvelapers          

T’ant rogorts akhal-ukhia

Kartvelt qoveltvis gvich’irda

Erturtisa gverdze dogma

Qvelas unda p’irveloba

Khalkhis tavze gadajdoma

Ertad dgoma rom shegvedzlos

Vin ras gvizams vertsa mt’eri

K’argad unda davupkrdet

Rom ar gavkhdet/ davrchet bolos sht’eri

Ts’qlebi Ts’lebs Gaiq’oleben

(scroll down for English translation)
 

Ts’qlebi ts’lebs gaiq’oleben

Chveni tushetis mtebzeda

K’vlav imghereben kalebi

Sevdian tushur khmazeda

K’vlav chava tushis kalts’uli

Ank’ara ts’qaros ts’qalzeda

K’vlav sheirkheva nats’navi

Chamosholt’ili t’anzeda

Net’av tu mogagondeba

Sheni sitsotskhlis khanzeda

Net’av tu gagakhsendeba

Rat’om get’rpodi razeda

Translation:

The years are flowing down the waters

Of our Tushetian mountains

Women will keep singing

Songs with sad voices

A Tushetian maiden will keep

Descending to the pure spring

Her braid will keep 

Waving against her slender body

If you are to remember anthing

During the course of your life

I hope that what you will remember

Is the reason why I loved you so much.

Instrumental.

Rotsa Mart’ok’a Vzivar

By: Eldara Bukvaidze

(scroll down for English translation)

Rotsa mart’ok’a vzivar                        

Pikri mit’atsebs titkos                      

/Shens bed-ighbalze k’argo           

Shens momavalze vpikrob/            

Ghame nateli vdgebi                                  

Dilis mzes vkhedav garet                

/Mashin shens sakhels chumad     

Chaviduduneb mts’ared/               

Tu momavalze vpikrob                    

Tu momavalsa vts’oni                     

/Uimedod var titkos                       

Dametankhmebi mgoni/             

Rotsa mart’ok’a vzivar                     

Chems guls dardebi ertis               

/Rat’om khar vpikrob mashin           

Miuts’vdomeli chemtvis/            

Translation:

When I Sit Alone

When I sit alone

It's as if I'm seized by a thought

I am thinking about your future

Your fate and your fortune, my love

At dawn, I wake up

I see the morning sun outside

Then quietly I bitterly

Mumble your name

If I think of the future

If I gage what it will bring

It is as if I am hopeless

I think you will agree

When I sit alone

My lonely heart grieves

Why do you exist then

If you are inaccessible to me

(Instrumental)

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.

Amdeni Barshi Tskhovrebam

Text: Samson Shaadze

Amdeni barshi tskhovrebam

Me guli gadamilia

/Unda vest’umro samshoblos

Salami mivtse dzmuria/

P’at’ar-p’at’ara soplebi

Aka-ik daksaksulia

/Qvelgana tsikhe burjebi

Mam-p’ap’is sakhsovaria/

Imat utsavan samshoblo

Tavebi sheuts’iria

/Siskhlit urts’qvia mta-k’ldeni

Umagrebi mtebia/

Ts’asulan dzveli tushebi

Gamkralan aghar arian

/Romel vazhk’atssats shekhedav

Qvela ts’ver mop’arsulia/

Qvela abezghebs ertmanets

Qvela ert-urtis mt’eria

/Sadgha dzvelia salami

Amaod dak’argulia/

Shenakoze (3)

(scroll down for English translation)

Tsivi niavi dahberavs                                   

Bajghorze pich’vi shrialebs                        

Ts’asneshi tskhenis ch’ikhvini                    

Boslebshi tselis griali                                   

Chirtisk’ar mogrovdebian                           

P’uris mtskhobela kalebi                              

Garmons uk’raven mgherian                       

Bunebit sitbot mtvralebi                            

Mok’itkhva shenakoelebs                           

Simartlis mtkmelebs mshidoba                

Gekhvevit gk’otsnit suqvelas                       

Ra tkventan qopna mindoda                      

Votsnebob vitom tkventan var                

Tvals tsremli damek’ideba                           

Ertk’vad mshvidobit gvenakhos                 

Mtis salotsavebs dideba                               

Translation:

Shenako

Text: Meri Ch'ich'uridze

A cold breeze blows

At Bajghorze¹, the pines rustle

At Ts’asne¹, the horses neigh

In the fields, the scythes thunder

The women are harvesting 

The bread-baking women

They are playing the garmoni², singing

Drunk on the warmth of nature

Give my regards to the people of Shenako

Truth narrates peace

Please, kiss everyone

Oh, how much I want to be with you!

I dream as though I am with you

Tears hang from my eyes

May we be shown peace by the glory

Of our mountain place of prayer

¹Bajghori and Ts'asne are places in the village of Shenako.

²A 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.  

Ivnisis Ghame

Text & Music: Eldara Bukvaidze

(scroll down for English translation)

Khuti ekvsi da shvidi

Ivnisis ghame dadga

/Ra damavits’qebs im ts’utebs

Dzlivs gamibrts’qinda/

Sizmrad megona tavi

Sitbos skhivebi mts’vavda

/Chemtvis mzets iqo mtvare

Vints rom me gverdit mqavda/

Qoveltvis vkhedav me shen nak’valevs

Sadats gind viqo dghea tu ghame

/Qvelapers vitmen siqvarulistvis

Tu k’i ram vitsi me shenzed rame/

Tvalebs davkhuch’av, isev davkhuch’av

Oghond gigulo chems siakhloves

/Rit avit’ano chemi ar iqo

Am pikrit mudam var simart’oves/

Translation:

Night of June

Five, six then seven

Night of June has begun

I’ll never forget those moments

I was nearly shining

I thought I was in a dream

Warm rays burned me

The one who I had by my side

Was for me both the sun and the moon

I always see your footprints

Whever you want I'll be, night or day

I'll bear everything for love

Anything that has to do with you

I will close my eyes over and over

Merely come closer to me

I couldn't bear for you not to be mine

With this thought, I am forever lonely