YALIKHTA KHWARTA
SHAYKHANEE
BAGEE YE


YALIKHTA YALIKHTA
YALIKHTA[1] KHWARTA[2]
white[2] handkerchief[1]
YALIKHTA YALIKHTA
YALIKHTA KHWARTA
YALIKHTA YALIKHTA

BEE[3] EEDATEE[4] GIT'E ELA.
with[3] -my hands-[4] it is sewed.
YALIKHTA YALIKHTA
BEE KHEMER'E[5] SGIRRT'E ELA.
with beads[5] it is crocheted.

YALIKHTA YALIKHTA
BEE KHEMER'E ELGEEDA ALEE.
with beads it is embroidered.
YALIKHTA SHIMOO GAWOO.
his name is in the handkerchief.

GAWOO KTIWALEE.
in it I have sewed.
YALIKHTA GA HICHKHA[6],
this handkerchief for no one[6],
GA HICHKHA LA YOOWALEE.
for no one have I given it.

YALIKHTA YALIKHTA
YALIKHTA KHWARTA ELA
the handkerchief is white.

YALIKHTA
LIBIT KHAMAT'E[7],
the hearts of the -young ladies-[7],
KOOL'E[8] E SHMIT'E[9] ELA.
all[8] are broken[9].

YALIKHTA
LIBIT DEEYEE
my heart
A LIBEE GRIMPT'E ELA.
this heart has won.

***SHAYKHANEE***

TALOOKH JUENKA[10], ATOORAYA[11]
come -young man[10], Assyrian man[11]
RRAGDAKH[12] RRIGDED[13] SHAYKHANEE[14]
-we'll dance-[12] -the dance-[13] of Shaykhanee[an Assyrian dance].
TA SHESHAKH[14] LA
come we will shake[14]
ARRA[15] (BE) RREGDA[16]
the ground[15] (with) dance[16]
AH'E LA DANOOKH[17] OO[18] DANEE[19].
this is -your time-[17] and[18] -my time-[19].

TALOOKH JUENKA, IT NINEVAYEH
come young man, of Nineveh (belonging to)
RRAGDAKH RRIGDED SHAYKHANEE
we'll dance the dance of Shaykhanee.
TA SHESHAKH LA
come we will shake
ARRA (BE) RREGDA
the ground (with) dance
AH'E LA DANOOKH OO DANEE.
this is your time and my time.

TA[20] DOOK[21] EEDEE[22].
come[20] hold[21] -my hand-[22]
KHOOSH[23] YAMEENA.
go[23] to the right.
RRAGDAKH RRIGDED SHAYKHANEE.
we'll dance the dance of Shaykhanee.

TA DOOK EEDEE.
come hold my hand
KHOOSH YAMEENA.
go to the right.
RRAGDAKH RRIGDED SHAYKHANEE.
we'll dance the dance of Shaykhanee.

WAY SHAYKHANEE SHAYKHANEE
ATKHA RREGIDAKH SHAYKHANEE
AH'E LE A REEGDANEE[].
RRIGDET NASHIT ATRANEE.

WAY SHAYKHANEE SHAYKHANEE
ATKHA ZAMERAKH SHAYKHANEE
WAY SHAYKHANEE SHAYKHANEE
ATKHA RREGIDAKH SHAYKHANEE

***BAGEEY'E***

BEELEE OO BEEL0OKH TOORRAN'E[24].
between me and between you are mountains[24].
HAY BAGEEY'E.
BASAM SHADER KHABRAN'E[25].
stop sending word[25]s.
RROWSHEW RROWENDEE'E.
??something in Kurdish??
BEELEE OO BEELO0KH TOORRAN'E.
between me and between you are mountains.
CHOOT SNEEGA DAT'E BE JAN'E.
all who are needy will come by themselves.
BAGEEY'E HOY BAGEEY'E.


Performed by Linda George
"Yalikhta" written by Iskandar Zamara
"Shaykhanee" written by Orahim Lazar
"Bageey'e" is an ancient folk song
Album: Khoot Golponeh D'malakha
NOTE: Numbers are direct translations. You should learn 25 words
NOTE: after memorizing this meaningless but addictive song. The language
NOTE: should also solidify what you remember when you were
NOTE: a child. Allaha minokhoon.