Song of the Week

 



I believed this song was first performed by Voos Yaj called, "Niam Yuav Ncaim Tiag," when he was under Herr's Video Productions.  Somchai Yaj later covered the song for Herr's Video Productions' movie, "Ciaj Tuag Los Yuav Hlub."  The title and lyrics are changed in this Maiv Lis Thoj and Tsab Yaj version, which I find a little awkward and out of sense.  I preferred Somchai's rendition more, but this version is tolerable for the fact that I adore Tsab Yaj and his voice, if the voice in here is really his (and am a fan of Vixay Yaj's voice; yes, that's correct, the male singer of this song is Vixay Yaj--Somchai's younger brother, so Tsab is only lipsynching to Vixay's voice.  This is kind of a disappointment for me as I was hoping that Tsab was the original singer.  However, I don't mind at all that Vixay is the singer.  In fact, I am still hoping that in spite of Vixay being a married man now, I wish  that he continues to make music because his voice is REALLY REALLY nice.  Perhaps he sang this and the other duet with Maiv Lis Thoj, set to be released in a second album together, but he suddenly got married and had to drop all his singing projects.  So in the end, the producer(s) have to resort to someone else to lipsynch Vixay's part?).  I first saw him in the movie, "Cia Ua Dab Neeg" with Tsom Xyooj and Xia Yaj, and find him an amiable actor.  I believed that he has potential in both acting and singing (we'll have to wait for another time to hear his REAL singing voice).


Nkauj Iab Nraug Nab - Maiv Lis Thoj & Tsab Yaj (Vixay Yaj)

Girl:

Nim yog xyoo no

Because of this year

Ntuj nis Nraug Nab

Oh heaven, my dear Nraug Nab (a name reference to the handsomest man in Hmong folktales; he’s usually the husband of Nkauj Ntsuab—the most beautiful woman too)

Cas muab tsiab peb caug nim noj tag nrho lawm tiag

The New Year’s celebration is really over (the literal translation is: How come the New Year’s celebration has been eaten already)

Es ntshai koj yuav mus tiag

(I’m) afraid you are really leaving

Koj puas kam tso koj me nplooj siab nrog kuv no nyob

Can you leave a little piece of your heart (liver) to stay with me?




Boy:

Ntuj nis Nkauj Iab

Oh heaven, my dear Nkauj Iab (a name reference to the woman who is the mother of all Hmong offspring in Hmong folktales)

Kuv me neeg zoo

My good person

Ntshe tag kis koj yuav ncaim mus deb heev ntawm kuv

Tomorrow you will leave me to a faraway place

Es koj tsis txhob quaj mog

So don’t cry

Vim luag txeeb koj ntawm kuv mus ua luag tus

Because another (man) has snatched you away from me to be his

Ntshe yuav tsis muaj hnub wb yuav rov los sib cuag

There won’t be another chance for us to meet again



Girl:

Yog ib hnub twg los nag tim koj

If one day it rains over where you are

Tshav ntuj tim kuv

(And it) shines where I’m at

Yog kuv mus deb ntawm koj lawm mog

It’s (because) I have gone far away from you

Ncaim mus ib txhiab ib txhis tsis ntsib koj ntxiv

(I’m) leaving forever with (no hope) of (returning) to meet you again

Nyob tom qab thov nco txog kuv

(With you) staying behind, (please) remember me



Boy:

Ntuj nis nplooj siab

Oh my dear sweetheart

Tus neeg kuv hlub

The person I love

Kuv quaj hu koj puas hnov kuv

I am crying and calling for you, can you hear me?

Thov koj rov los

Please come back

Coj kuv nrog koj mus kiag

Take me with you

Wb tuav tes ua ke rov mus thov dua ntawv

We will walk hand-in-hand to ask for new papers (Hmong people believe that everyone comes to the world with a paper, detailing their fate in life and so if they suffer in this life—whether that be love or poverty or anything, death will allow them to ask for a new paper with a more favorable destiny so that they may have a better reincarnated life)

Mam pib dua tshiab ua txij nkawm nyob ua ke

To start anew as soul mates (so that we will get to) live together

Boy:

Ntuj nis nplooj siab

Oh my dear sweetheart

Tus neeg kuv hlub

The person I love

Kuv quaj hu koj puas hnov kuv

I am crying and calling for you, do you hear me

Thov koj rov los

Please come back

Coj kuv nrog koj mus kiag

Take me with you

Wb tuav tes ua ke rov mus thov dua ntawv

We will walk hand-in-hand to ask for new papers

Mam pib dua tshiab ua txij nkawm nyob ua ke

To start anew as soul mates (so that we will get to) live together