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IN THREE PARTS APPENDIX 1301
Frank Italio's Song for Kagwantan-Children
1952, 2-1-H and 2-2-A; recorded by Frank Itaho and
Minnie Johnson on July 30.
Frank Italio (1870-1956) was the CAnkuqedi son of
the Tl'ukwaxAdi leader, Dry Bay Chief George. As
originaUy composed, this song was for KagwantanchUdren,
in honor of his father, but the first stanza was
changed (at the time of the recording?) to make it a
love song for Teqwedi-chUdren, of whom Minnie
Johnson was one.
The song has a Refrain, Stanza I (sung twice), Refrain,
Stanza II (sung only once, presumably because
the singers broke off).
Frank Italio began to sing (2-1-H) before the tape
recorder was turned on, so that the recording begins in
the middle of Stanza I. The singing was interrupted
after 1:35 minutes, and was resumed on the other side
of the tape for another 2:35 minutes. The song was
ended before the last phrase of Stanza II had been sung
because Minnie Johnson interrupted with a joke. They
both laughed but did not resume the singing. The
music is foUowed by a recorded explanation in English
by Minnie Johnson, although the text of the music
was not dictated at the time.
The melody and the words, particularly the vocables
in the refrain, vary in the several versions. The two
versions of the refrain are written in paraUel columns
for comparison; what appears as the most probable version
of the words is given, with variants in parentheses.
Frank Italio tapped with his cane as if it were a drum.
2-2-A
[Frank Itaho breaks in
with a snatch of the
refrain]
Refrain
2-1-H
-ay, 'i yay 'a 'ay,
[talks]
A 'ay 'i ya 'ay da 'ay-i-i 'ay, 'i ya 'ay na 'ay ni hi
ya ya ya ya,
ya, 'i ya,
B 'ay yi ya ha na 'ay-ni- 'ay ye-ya na dla 'ay-i
i 'a-nya-ya,
ye-ya 'a, di ya ya,
C 'ay-i 'i ya 'a na 'ay-i- 'a-yi 'a na 'a ye 'i ya, 'ay
yi, 'i-ya, 'i-yu 'a na 'ay [clears throat]
'ay [clears throat]
'a ya, mm,
D 'i ya ya ha-ni ya ya, na ya, ha-ni yay.
A
tciya kAnaci det6u
cu-di-ya-yu
(ku)
Stanza 1 (sung twice)
B dayu ditan-qan [^^]—^About them to think
(h.4.s)
c-Teqweyedi-yAtxi-yi—Teqwedi-chUdren
(ya-yAtxi-yi)
C 'ax kAnax dAtitc—Through me (?)
(dutitc)
qayi da-a yu ditanqe—?-about them to think
(jcayi-a- yi dutayanqe)
'a wi-ni' a
('awiyi ni 'a)
('ar-yi ya han)
D ya hani ya ya
('a yani ya yA, ay)
"It's as if I were beginnmg to get drunk, when I just
think about Teqwedi-chUdren. Sometimes when I
think of Teqwedi-chUdren, I go out of my mind. I don't
know why."
Refrain
(As above.)
Stanza II (sung once each version)
A' tcA WASA ye det6A 'a—Why is it, indeed,
xat dAsnitc-uwi—I am always finished
(ka) (-e)
B' t6A dju 'itc 'i kAdjunin—Just when I dream (of
(tcu-wm) (-)
you?),
Kagwantani-yAtAi—Kagwantan-chUdren,
(ya-yAtii)
C SAS kax nastitc-a—^Because every time
[gax]? (-sxa)
'ax tuwu qu'a ya ya—My feelings are like that.
('a-ya 'a, 'ay [breaks off])
'u-we ye-ni 'a
D ya [Frank ItaHo breaks off.]
"I'm just wondering why. Every tune I dream of
Kagwantan-chUdren, it always ends with tears in my
eyes. I just feel like crying."
The structure of the song seems to be:
Refrain: A B C D^' E
Stanza I: A B' C D E (repeated)
Refrain: A B C D E
StanzaH: A' B C D/ [MJ sings a few
notes more]
" Reel 2-1-H begins here.
'2 Clears throat.