Á Pamba

Notes

Lyrics for a song, perhaps from the perspective of somebody watching a friend running after a ball, who is imagining/reliving glory days as a ball player, until they get thirsty and come back, and the singer gives them something to drink.

This is original text by Chaered, first posted on VL. Reviewed by VL user Almáriel, a.k.a. Spark-Eye. The translation is semi-literal.

By a complete coincidence, this ancient Elvish song was later picked up in Mexico and renamed to "La Bamba".

Text

No.	Quenya	Tengwar	Means
1	Pella palar na pamba	   	Beyond a field, towards a ball
2	Pella palar na pamba	   	Beyond a field, towards a ball
3	Se, ness', situnë pó / ca te aþa	      /   	He, young, used to [go/weave] before & behind them easily
4	Únat pó / ca te aþa	  /   	An impossible thing, before & behind them easily
5	Pá min panti'	  	Up to one opening [=chance to score]
6	Aia rimba aia rimba	   	Hail the frequent [scorer], frequent
7	I ar-rimba, i ar-rimba	    	The most frequent, most frequent
8	Pó tye ser' ré	   	Before you, the day stops
9	Pó tye ser' ré	   	Before you, the day stops
10	Pó tye ser' ré	   	Before you, the day stops
11	Yonyo þorna ron er o,	     	[The] steadfast boy soon alone, from
12	Yonyo þorna ron er o soica, pítan	       	[The] steadfast boy soon alone, from [being in a] thirsty [state], I reduce
13	Soica, pítan	  	[The] thirsty [state], I reduce [the thirst]
14	Soica, pítan	  	[The] thirsty [state], I reduce
15	Pamba, pamba	  	Ball, ball,
16	Pamba, pamba	  	Ball, Ball
17	Pamba, pamba, pan'!	    	Ball, ball, plank/board! [=missed the goal?]

Extra

The Elves there have their own idioms. For example, to thank one for a gift, but to reassure the giver that no uncomfortable obligation has been imposed by this, and that the giver may be as glad, the recipient can say: Cé aþyas "If it eases [you]". The giver can then answer with: Tye ná ta "[Hopefully] you are that [=also eased]".

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