A Comic Love Song

ALBERT WENDT collected and translated this song from the smallest inhabited island in Western Samoa, Apolima.

Ou te le tala ole, Silisili tama o le lole.

E alaala poo fai sau sofesofe.

Tunu faavave sau kofe, Aua lou moa nei mole.

Tamoe tele vave ma le ofe Seu mai se atule ma se safole, E tali ai o lou popole.

Tuu lou ata i tama, Tamaiti ula leaga, Nei ou mao alu atu i se malaga Soli mai ou tofaga.

Tiga ona e vae vale Faitalia au ma lolase.

Peta te o ane i le falemai E tui ai ou paumasi.

E ui ina lafa lou ulu Ma poupona lou gutu, Ae ou te tautino atu, Ou te le musu, Faitalia au ma fufulu.

Tali: Togo maia e fusi atu au E faamafanafana i lou fatu.

Ona ou tago alu lea Fusi mai oe Ma popo faamoemoe.

I’m not boasting: the boys of the candy are the greatest.

In the evening cook some sofesofe, boil some coffee quickly in case your stomach suffocates.

Run swiftly with the fishing rod catch some atule and safole to satisfy your worry.

Stop smiling at other boys, boys who misbehave badly, or I may come on a trip and trample all over your bed.

Even if your legs are bandy I’ll straighten them, or we may go to the hospital and get your yaws injected.

Even if your head is ringwormed and your mouth is dotted with sores,

I’m telling you truly

I won’t refuse, I’ll wash your sores.

Chorus: Reach out and embrace me to warm your heart, and I’ll reach out and embrace you and pat you to sleep.