[2001-08-24, 10.53-11.25] Transcribed by zrajm

"{yIH ghupbogh be' qan}", from *{jatmey} 3*, page 4
Song by David Trimboli, November 1997
Klingon Language Institute, Flourtown, PA
ISSN: 1086-038X


yIH ghupbogh be' qan
qonwI': David Trimboli

     Here we have an interesting example of a Federation world borrowing
and old Klingon song.  It seems that humas have taken a good Klingon
toungue-twister (sometimes referred to by Klingon schoolteachers as {jat qaD}
<tongue challenge>) and watered it down, until it is hardly a shell of its original
self.  After all, the Terran version, "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallod a
Fly." is obviously just a bit of nonsense, and requires little skill to sing (as is
subsequently much less interesting).

     Now sing for yourself the Klingon original, {yIH ghupbogh be' qan}.
Fortunately, the melody has not been altered in the cultural transition.  Be
warned that the patterns are more difficult that the version you know.  For
example, in the chorus, the syllable pattern alternates back and forth from
line to line. Terrans find this cunfusing, bit it's a fairly comman featur of
Klingon music. Get used to it.

be' qan tu'lu', yIH moH ghupchu'.
qatlh SuQqu' bIH? jISovbe' jIH.
chaq HeghmoH yIH.

yIH SopwI''e' DaH ghupta' be'.
jagh HIvbogh 'ej yIvbogh 'ej tIvbogh wa''e'.
yIH jonqu'meH SopwI' ghup neH.
qatlh SuQqu' bIH? jISovbe' jIH.
chaq HeghmoH yIH.

DaH ghew tIqu' yIghup ra' ghu'.
taQ HIDjolev. ghew mIgh yImev!
SopwI' jonmeH ghew ghupta' neH,
jagh HIvbogh 'ej yIvbogh 'ej tIvbogh wa''e'.
yIH jonqu'meH SopwI' ghup neH.
qatlh SuQqu' bIH? jISovbe' jIH.
chaq HeghmoH yIH.

vIng Qa'Hom mach. qaS ghupta'ghach.
Do'Ha' Qa'Hom! pongDaq wIbom.
ghew jonqu'meH Qa'Hom ghup neH.
SopwI' jonmeH ghew ghupta' neH,
jagh HIvbogh 'ej yIvbogh 'ej tIvbogh wa''e'.
yIH jonqu'meH SopwI' ghup neH.
qatlh SuQqu' bIH? jISovbe' jIH.
chaq HeghmoH yIH.

pe'vIl targh ghup. maw'bej be' Dup.
lojchu' targh jay'& ghumba' be' qay'.
Qa'Hom jonmeH targh ghupta' neH.
ghew jonqu'meH Qa'Hom ghup neH.
SopwI' jonmeH ghew ghupta' neH,
jagh HIvbogh 'ej yIvbogh 'ej tIvbogh wa''e'.
yIH jonqu'meH SopwI' ghup neH.
qatlh SuQqu' bIH? jISovbe' jIH.
chaq HeghmoH yIH.

pay' ghupmo' ghaH ngabchu' chemvaH.
chuSqu' chemvaH 'ej burgh qIptaH.
targh jonqu'meH chemvaH ghup neH.
Qa'Hom jonmeH targh ghupta' neH.
ghew jonqu'meH Qa'Hom ghup neH.
SopwI' jonmeH ghew ghupta' neH,
jagh HIvbogh 'ej yIvbogh 'ej tIvbogh wa''e'.
yIH jonqu'meH SopwI' ghup neH.
qatlh SuQqu' bIH? jISovbe' jIH.
chaq HeghmoH yIH.

'er ghupchu'ta' vaj tugh jorba'.
'Iw ghIH wIloS. ghu'mo' maQoS.
chemvaH jonmeH 'er ghupta' neH.
targh jonqu'meH chemvaH ghup neH.
Qa'Hom jonmeH targh ghupta' neH.
ghew jonqu'meH Qa'Hom ghup neH.
SopwI' jonmeH ghew ghupta' neH,
jagh HIvbogh 'ej yIvbogh 'ej tIvbogh wa''e'.
yIH jonqu'meH SopwI' ghup neH.
qatlh SuQqu' bIH? jISovbe' jIH.
chaq HeghmoH yIH.

Haw'nIS tIqnagh. ghup 'e' Har pagh.
HughDaq poSmoH, tIqnagh ghupchoH.
'er jonqu'meH tIqnagh ghup neH.
chemvaH jonmeH 'er ghupta' neH.
targh jonqu'meH chemvaH ghup neH.
Qa'Hom jonmeH targh ghupta' neH.
ghew jonqu'meH Qa'Hom ghup neH.
SopwI' jonmeH ghew ghupta' neH,
jagh HIvbogh 'ej yIvbogh 'ej tIvbogh wa''e'.
yIH jonqu'meH SopwI' ghup neH.
qatlh SuQqu' bIH? jISovbe' jIH.
chaq HeghmoH yIH.

DaH chargh 'e' wuq, vaq nuq 'el puq --
HoHchuq!

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