ADUNA

1989 (CD)
Victor Entertainment VDR-1643
  • 1
    Lebon Lipon
    Lebon Lipon
    Lyrics: Wasis Diop (Wolof), Yasuaki Shimizu, Mieko Shimizu (Japanese)
    Translation: Johnny Barrett

    Lebone lipone
    Amon nafi daan na ame
    Niari tanita da niu dadie wone
    Kena iti ne moy ndeye dior
    Kena ki ne moy ciamon
    Dadie bougge bolo
    Dene seti bena gor moune lene
    Da guene bougge bolo
    Da guene bougge bolo
    Ma keamel lene ne
    Ma keamel lene ne
    Niari tanka dou niu khoulo
    Niari tanka dou niu khoulo
    Niari tanka bou niu khoulo
    Borom tede ba niu dioubo
    Lebon lipon
    Lebon lipon

    Aru toki wa, irechigai doko made mo
    Ki ga tsukeba, kuzurekake, itsu made mo
    (Waron na ami daak waron na ami daak)
    Tomedonaku karamiau doko made mo
    (Guis nga sa ma wadie)

    Lebon lipon
    Amone nafi dane na am niari tank da
    Niu dadie wone ne daniuy bolo

    Lebone lipone
    Amon nafi daan na ame
    Niari tanita da niu dadie wone
    Kena iti ne moy ndeye dior
    Kena ki ne moy ciamon
    Dadie bougge bolo
    Deme seti bena gor moune lene
    Ma khamel lene ne
    Ma khamel lene ne
    Niari tank dou niu diogge ndo
    Kena rekay diok
    Kathia des topathi
    Kena rek oy diok
    Kathia des topathl
    Lebon lipon
    Lebon lipon
    Lebon lipon

    Aru toki wa sowasowa to doko made mo
    Ki ga tsukeba karamiau itsu made mo
    Tomedonaku hibikiwataru doko made mo
    Tsumasaki ga irechigai itsu made mo

    Kena rek ay diok niathia des topa thi
    Kena rek ay xam nlathia des topa thi
    Xolaal sa ha wadie

    Aru toki wa irechigai doko made mo
    Ki ga tsukeba irechigai itsu made mo
    Tomedonaku karamiau doko made mo
    Tsumasaki ga sowasowa to itsu made mo Once upon a time
    As the story always goes
    Two feet did meet
    One called itself Right
    The other, Left
    They decided to unite

    So as to be able to move together
    They went to see an elder
    To settle their union
    And this was what he had to say:
    "Two feet should never get on top of one another
    You are bound to each other
    So that you may move around
    You should never lift both feet
    At the same time
    One moves and the other follows
    Each in turn
    If you get on top of each other
    You are in for a fall

    One-two marks the time, one two marks the time."

    Once upon a time
    As the story always goes
    Since the world began
    These two feet are bound together.

    Sometimes they lead us in a good direction
    Yet at other times one wonders do they know what they're doing.
  • 2
    Come Tomorrow
    Come Tomorrow
    Lyrics: Wasis Diop (Wolof), Mieko Shimizu (Japanese)
    Translation: Johnny Barrett

    Thialaer
    Yenu nguelaye
    Sani ko thia kow
    Lolou kuko feke
    Niane di nguu feke dewen
    Feite na dunda na
    Boba khale lu
    Feke na guena bari dole deguena

    N 'dey sano n'dey sano n'dey sane

    Ao, aka, murasaki, midori-iro
    Me ni amaru kimi no shinkiro
    Aka, ao, midori, murasaki-iro
    Oikaze ni oikosare

    Thialaer
    Yenu nguelaye
    Sani ko thia kow
    Lolou kuko feke
    Niane di nguu feke dewen
    Feite na dunda na
    Boba khale lu
    Feke na guena barl dole deguena

    Ao, aka, murasaki, midori-iro
    Muko ni hikaru wakaremichi kara
    Aka, ao, midori, murasaki-iro
    Tojita mama no chizu no e

    Soye wolo
    Woloul fo kham ne worna
    Soye kholo
    Kholale fo kham ne rafet na

    Soyb kholo
    Kholale fo kham ne rafet na
    Soye woloooo....Dey san

    Thialaer
    Yenu nguelaye
    Sani ko thia kow
    Lolou kuko feke
    Niane di nguu feke dewen
    Feite na dunda na
    Boba khale lu
    Feke na guena bari dole deguena

    N'dey sano n'dey sano n'dey sano

    Ao, aka, murasaki, midori-iro
    Hajikeru oto, kikoeru yo na
    Aka, ao, midori, murasaki-iro
    Miagetara umi no soko

    Soye wolo
    Woloul fo kham ne worna
    Soye kholo
    Kholale fo kham ne rafet na
    Soye kholo
    Kholale fo kham ne rafet na
    Soye woloooo....Deysan In the desert
    The wind lifts
    The hot sand
    In a spiral as far as the stars

    If you make a wish
    Before the first grains of sand
    Reach the sky
    You will live to be a thousand years

    . . .

    When I was young
    I made this wish
    Before this whirlwind
    This is why, I know, I will live for a thousand years

    Turn towards the spiral
    And head into the whirling wind.
  • 3
    Aduna
    Aduna
    Lyrics: Wasis Diop
    Translation from Wolof/French: Johnny Barrett

    Droit de l'homme.....
    Droit de l'homme.....
    Bayil di toon sa moromo
    Bayil di toon sa moromo.....
    Taw bi su sobe niepe la sobal
    Dianta bi bu sowe nlepe la sowal
    Pex mi bu diogge dugge sa ker
    Sufa diogge sa ma ker la diem
    Bayil di toun sa morom
    Lolu mo lay won ne sa morom la

    Droit de l'homme
    Droit de l'homme.....

    Su n diel diote cocorico sa ndiel
    Nga diok di dem
    Lo dadiel dielel dielel te dem
    Su sa morom ame bul ko nie
    Defal n i mom
    Bo diare fi mu diar di ngafor

    Di ngafor n i mon
    Aduna potu ndala
    Dangaye naan, diox sa morom naan
    Aduna potundala
    Dangye naan, diox sa morom nano nano

    Droit de l homne
    Droit de l homme.....

    Oh su suba
    Oh su suba......

    Bayil di toon sa moromo
    Bayil di toon sa moromo
    Nit ku niul ak nik ku wex benala
    Mi nggi mel ni guddi ak bethiek
    Bena bes bi la
    A duna potu ndala, da ngaye naan diox
    sa morom nan
    A duna potu ndala, da ngaye naan diox
    sa morom nan..... Aduna, Human Rights,
    Human Rights

    The sweet perfume of the earth
    penetrates all hearts
    As the rainwater falls
    Both master and servant rejoice

    Aduna, Human Rights,
    Human Rights

    Yet men fight one another

    As the fields
    are doused by the rain
    The next day
    They burst forth in defiance

    Green through the air
    Aduna, Human Rights

    When you leave
    At the light of dawn
    If you come across the rain
    Tell it to drop by us

    Life is like a big glass of water
    Let us drink our fill with care.
  • 4
    Oh! Yvonne
    0h! Yvonne
    Lyrics: Wasis Diop
    Translation from French: Johnny Barrett

    C'est toi Yvonne
    C'est toi qui voles, qui voles, qui
    voles, qui voles
    C'est toi mon coeur
    C'est toi qui j'aime
    Mais. . . Tu voles, tu voles, tu voles
    C'est toi Yvonne
    Mais t'es pas un oiseau
    Mais tu voles, tu voles, tu voles

    Oh Yvonne pas de misere
    Oh Yvonne reviens sur terre

    Les oiseaux du matin
    C'est le signe d'un destin
    Qui vole qui vole
    Oiseau de nuit
    Tu n'annonces que des ennuis
    Quand. . . Tu voles, tu voles, tu voles
    T' es pas foutue
    De passer par ici, Yvonne, Yvonne, Yvonne

    Oh Yvonne revien sur terre
    Oh Yvonne fait pas de mystere

    Tu t'en vas dans le bruit
    D'une tornade qui detruit, au sol, au sol, Yvonne
    De St. Luis a Miami
    De Paris a Delhi
    Tu voles, tu voles, tu voles
    Tout les jours dans airs
    Il y a un grand mystè
    Qui vole, qui vole, qui vole
    Yvonne! Oh Yvonne

    Le mystere est fini
    De retour sur la terre
    Yvonne, Yvonne, au sol
    Tu vois bien qu on est bien
    Sans les siens on s'eteint, Yvonne, Yvonne, Yvonne,
    De retour sur la terre
    Tu vois bien qu'on est bien
    Yvonne, Yvonne, Yvonne
    Hey, It's you Yvonne who flies
    It's you my sweet, it's you who I love
    Yes, Yvonne, you are not a bird,
    But still you fly;

    Oh Yvonne, no more pain
    Come back to earth

    Morning birds are the sign of a destiny
    Which heads for the sky
    Nightbird, you are but an augur of trouble.
    When you fly
    You never bother to pass by here

    Oh Yvonne, come back to earth
    Oh, no more riddles.

    When you leave
    You wreak havoc on the ground
    From Saint Louis to Miami,
    From Paris to Delhi
    Yvonne
    There is a mystery in the air
    Which flies around

    Yvonne ...
    The mystery is over
    Back on the ground
    You see that we get on
    You know well that we are nothing
    Without you
    Yvonne
  • 5
    Mama Rococo
    Mama Rococo
    Lyrics: Yasuaki Shimizu (Japanese), Wasis Diop (Wolof)
    Summarized Translation: Johnny Barrett

    I liked my dream:
    It was a bird
    That sang at my window
    Whose song I loved

    This dream
    Was different from all others.
  • 6
    Washing Brain Machine
    WashingBrain Machine
    Lyrics: Wasis Diop (Wolof), Mieko Shimizu (Japanese)
    Translation: Johnny Barrett

    Koko made kite, ki ga tsuita no wa
    Nanamemuki no ranhansha

    Fadia ro rot
    Yendo rot
    Mba kham gua li ngay roto

    Fadia ro kharo
    Yow li nguaye khar
    Mba kham ngua li nguay kharo

    Aduna famou dore
    Fofou ngua dore
    Fofou laniou dore

    Yow li ngay lath
    Mba kham ngua li nguay lath
    Mba diar ngua li ngay ladio

    Kaerimichi ni omoidashite wa
    Tokei no hari makimodosu
    Atsuku sasaru hizashi midarete
    Suna no soba wo tobikoeru

    Beugeu dan sa dole
    Texamo louye sa dole
    Con de di nga diakhle

    Nioune li niouye ladio
    Nioune li niouye lath
    Mba diar nan li niouye ladio

    Yow fa ngua dewe
    Boul fok ne fa n'gua diekhe
    Fo fou nguaye dore

    Mayoikonde wa hobutsusen
    Nami ni yurare oremagaru
    Koko made kite ki ga tsuita no wa
    Nanamemuki no ranhansha

    Moteamashita kimazui kibun
    Suiso no naka tokekonde
    Mawaridashita jishaku ni hikare
    Ushiromuki ni kakete yuku

    Aduna famou dore
    Fofou ngua dore
    Fofou laniou dore

    Fadia ro rot
    Yendo rot
    Te khamo li ngaye roto

    Yow li ngua lathe
    Yendo lathe
    Mba diar ngua li ngaye ladio

    Hitohashiri de modorikaketara
    Okiwasureta sogankyo
    Iki wo hisome nozokikondara
    Keshiki no soto he hajikareta

    From early morning
    I drew water at the well
    The whole day long

    (Chorus)

    I do as I did yesterday
    And tomorrow will do the same

    At the edge of the well
    Somebody told me
    I was as old as the sky

    The other made his wishes
    He doesn't really know what he wants
    But he was still asked

    He made a wish to break down the walls of his body
    To understand his power
    To confront his body

    Others wished
    To have a closer look at the sky
    And they are still waiting

    At the end of life
    All fades into winter for eternity
    Yet, the spring is always there

    From early morning
    An other waits
    without seeing anything come

    (Chorus)
  • 7
    Tamare Tamare
    Tamare Tamare
    Lyrics: Yasuaki Shimizu
    Translation from Japanese: Johnny Barrett

    Churning head over heels
    Reeling in slipping time
    Asleep or awake
    Tiredness comes bouncing
    Trapped and unable to face
    The spiral staircase
    Going round and round
    Until my body floats
    ... to fall into the sky

    Snared in this expanse of time
    Whirling
    A photograph caught in a mirror
    Dancing round and round
    A trembling hand opens
    The window of a cloud
    A wind cuts through the sky
    Round and round
    Until my body floats
    ... to fall into the sky
  • 8
    The First Dog
    The First Dog
    Lyrics: Mieko Shimizu
    Translation from English/Japanese: Johnny Barrett

    I'm a dog, coming down to the city.
    It was dawn when I Ieft my home
    And now l'm just walking,
    Iooking for a ray of hope

    Pushing away feelings of uneasiness
    Holding tight to my expectations
    Somebody told me I would find happiness there,
    Attractive ladies and pretty dances.
    I wonder how much more I have to walk.
    ...Maybe only half a day...

    Walking along this stretching road
    Unfolding ahead of me
    Drunk with joy in this forgotten sky
    Staring into this drifting dream

    I've just realized that, l'm a dog...
    Let me through!
    One hundred miles I remember the train whistle
    Two hundred miles my mother is smiling
    But, l'm still on my way.

    This day has now become tomorrow
    l'm smiling at a girl in amongst the crowd
    She hardly looks at me
    l haven't any money
    No one speaks to me
    l feel a stranger here now
    I go in search of just a little warmth
    But where shall I find it?
    So... l'm still on my way...

    So ... I'm still on my way ...
    Still searching
    Hearing voices from beyond
    At a distance from a golden cloud
    Wandering in this uncertain light.
  • 9
    Fool On The Hill
    Fool on the Hill
    Lyrics: Mieko Shimizu
    Translation from Japanese: Johnny Barrett

    In an instant I escaped the crowds
    To stand on the top of a hill
    To let loose
    All that was inside of me

    Followed by defiant shadows
    I stood in the middle of a room
    Peeping into a vacant mirror
    In the blink of an eye I was cast into space

    Quel che e tuo e tuo
    Quel che e mio e mio

    Sucked into memory
    Standing in a box
    Hesitatingly opening the door
    To find myself suddenly back on the streets

    I'm trying to count but I cannot keep my mind on it
    I'll take my eyes away from the warm sun glow
    In the middle of a collapsing perfect square frame
    The colour of the air seems orange

    And even the hat seems small
    I tried to call out but I'm on the roof
    Wrapped in what seems like a dream
    I've got the key
    But I'm not going back
  • 10
    Day O

Japanese, English and Senegalese singing on top of complex beat structures. A set of thoroughly peculiar soundscapes.

YS NOTES
  • When I go to parties I find myself attracted to people with great voices.
    The ones I’ve been able to work together with are Najima, Karin Krog, Helen
    Merrill, and here, Wasis Diop. (We also did a concert tour together in
    China, and I co-produced his album No Sant.)
    Strangely enough, hearing his voice makes my imagination run wild—I might very well be a voice fetishist. Thus, on this album, I devised something that could be better communicated with quality of voice than with words (or so I think I did).

Produced by Yasuaki Shimizu
Composed by Yasuaki Shimizu, Irving Burgie and William Attaway (10)

 

Yasuaki Shimizu: vocals, tenor saxophone, keyboards
Mieko Shimizu: vocals
Wasis Diop: guitar, vocals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10)
Ayub Ogada: vocals (7, 8)
Gavin Harrison: drums (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9)
Colin Baldrey: bass (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9)
Jacko M. Jackszyk: guitar (5, 6, 7)
Ebby: guitar (3, 5, 7, 9)

 

Recorded by Graham Cristie at Folkner Richard Manwaring at Smoke House (London)
Mixed by Trevor Hallesy at Round House, Richard Manwaring (10) at Good Hearth (London)