Country: Honduras/Belize
Original language: Garifuna
This song comes is from the Garifuna of Honduras, derived from the opening lines of an epic story
performed as a dance by a couple. The liner notes of the Smithsonian Folkways recording that first
introduced All Around This World to this song, says “The words of this particular song refer to a man
who thinks himself better than anyone. The woman laughs at him and tells him it doesn’t matter how
high the floors are from the ground. One day they’ll fall and the crows will take care of everything.”
Our version takes just the first couple lines of the introduction, originally translated as, “Sit down see
the enjoyment, Won’t kill me misery.” We take that to imply that the tale in the story may be a sad one,
but that we can enjoy the telling of it anyway. A further implication is that though there may be many
struggles in the world, we may find a way to survive them with our ability to enjoy life intact, a
sentiment that is common throughout the Caribbean.
*Yunruhu ma ya arihabei
habuidun menia
Mafarulubadina la mise
Yunruhu ma ya arihabei
habuidun menia
Our story may be sad,
but we 'll laugh anyway.
Dance, dance, dance, *ma lubuidun,
Dance, dance, dance, *habinahan . . .
*"Sit here and you can see the beauty around us, Evilness will not triumph over
me."
*"Mma lubuidun" = it is so good
*"Habinahan" = you dance (plural)
Book suggestions for this song:
Many thanks to Jay Sand for permission to display these lyrics.
©All Around This World. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
