How often do you come across popular tracks (with lyrics) whose lyrics are difficult to comprehend? Well, we have come across one such case here.
Last month trance legend –‘Armin Van Buuren’ along with psychedelic trance duo – ‘Vini Vici’ and French live trance group – ‘Highlight Tribe’ released this killer track, “Great Spirit”.
“Great Spirit” is an infectious trance track with a nice element of psy-trance. It has been a huge hit ever since its release. However, the lyrics are difficult to comprehend and people, who are aware, have no idea about their meaning. Check out for yourself –
Wakan Tanka, Hunkaschila
Wohitika Oyate
Nagi Tanka, Tunkasila
Akicita, Oyate.
Wiyan Wakan, Hanhepi-Wi
Nakacijin, Oyate.
heyyy… ayy… hee… ooh!
Wakan Tanka, Hunkaschila.
Wohitika, Oyate.
Niyaha, Le Mita Cola.
Kiksuyapi, Oyate.
Wicoti, Mitawa Wichasha
Wakan Mitakuye, Oyasin.
Oyate!
He… Ayy… Heeee… Ahey!
If anyone knows or is able to crack the language of the lyrics or their meaning, please do let us below in the comments!
Until then, listen to the track below:
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 whose lyrics are difficult to comprehend? Well, we have one such case here.){kind=link}
Great Elders[1], Young Men
Brave Nation
Great Spirit, Grandfather
Peaceful[2] Nation
Holy Woman, The Moon
Nation[3]
Great Elders[1], Young Men
Brave Nation
Feather, My friend[4]
Remember[5] the Nation
My village doctor[6]
Nation
All Are Related in one Nation[7]
notes:
[1] meaning god
[2] originally means “peacekeepers”
[3] not very sure on what “nakacijin” means
[4] referencing eagles
[5] roughly; could be “don’t forget”
[6] “wichasha wakan” means “medicine man”
[7] not toooooo sure on the ending
where there’s just a word “nation” it’s supposed to say “unknown”, sorry about that
When they take reference to “medicine man” refer to great warrior or a lucky man for his village, like a hero.
What language is that? All I know is it sounds very much like a Native American language.
Google Translator says it is Yoruba (and Yoruba, as far as I know, is an West African Language), but it isn’t able to translate it in any other language xD
This is not African. This is native language and it’s northern Indians . I’m pretty sure it’s Sioux
It’s Lakota
Sacred Young man
Be brave, for nation
Great spirit, grandfather
Be peacekeeper, for nation
Holy woman, the moon
Be Loyal, for nation
heyyy… ayy… hee… ooh!
Sacred Young man
Be brave, for nation.
Feather, my friend
Don’t forget, for nation.
My village’s Medicine man (Hero), we are relatives, for nation
He… Ayy… Heeee… Ahey!
PD: They don’t use possessive adjetives (mine, your) because the “Myself” don’t exist in this language.
Medicine man is a hero, not a healer.
Thank you both, Rhys and Aaron.
I got to understand and appreciate even more this track, now.
What tribal language or dialect is it? Any idea?
God bless – Namasté!
Wow! Do you speak this language? What is it? Or where can it be learned?
Also, do you know where can we get yhe actual traditional song, if there is?
As a native americsn myself…i can appreciate this work in a deep way. As a edm man…this song gives me goosebumps! Absolutely amazing collaboration. Two thumbs up. Keep up the great work. And original hits.
I’ve been looking for the lyrics and found it here. Thanks to ‘Aaron’ to help me to understand this. I’m in love with great spirit.
The language is Lakota, it’s a native American Indian tribal language, there are several translations people have put above but all of them generally work as the exact wording is harder to figure out any time something is translated
“Mitakuye, Oyasin” means “all my relations”
It’s Lakota. If it’s a prayer then it shouldn’t be in this kind of music. Prayers don’t go with alcohol or drugs. Wakan Tanka Tunkisila means Great Spirit. Akicita oyate is keeping order ( as a guard or police) for the people. When you’re guarding the entrance gates at a camp, you’re an Akicita.
Who says anything about alcohol or drugs? This is just music. Maybe leave your personal judgements out next time.
I’m with you,
While I’m not upset about the use of drugs/alcohol, this feels like white people using Lakota head dresses at raves and just makes me feel gross with cultural appropriation :/
But as pale face nation, what the heck do I know /shrug.
Thank you for the translation! Understand the song so much better now.
Top top tune and I’m a d&b head
Its lakota. I love it. The prophecy song in a modern tune. People shouldnt jude that easely. I know wat it mens, you must deel it.
Its lakota. I love it. The prophecy song in a modern tune. People shouldnt judge that easely. I know wat it means, you must feel it too
I’m in love with this song….!!! Such an amazing piece of work!!!
I have a genuine question no hate. Is this cultural appropriation? I really want to believe Armin wouldn’t collaborate on anything that is inappropriate. The writing credits on this song are members of Hilight Tribe and others. I tried to look up if any members of Hilight Tribe are Native Americans. I couldn’t find any information on it. Can someone please tell me if they have any Native American members in the writers/ have given credit/ learnt about Native culture in the process of making this song?
it’s cultural appropriation of the worst kind. this is disrespectful and fetishizes lakota culture for a fing edm song. there’s no way they learned anything and none of the people involved are native american. it’s literally a bunch of white men stealing native american culture to sell at festivals which is beyond wrong. there is no way that this is acceptable.
they’re all white, yes it is cultural appropriation for profit
I’m native American and I absolutely love this song. I love what Armin Van Buren has done brought the songs of my people to the masses. A lot of the translations aren’t really correct though. This song is about hearing native Americans voices. “For we are still here for we still fight mother Earth hear us because we are a part of you, we are you.”
I wish it weren’t the case, but this is yet another example of cultural appropriation. It may have been intended to honor Native Americans, but it is hard to see respect when the musicians never spoke to the Lakota Nation about using their culture and language. This track was made by van Buuren (Dutch), Vini Vici (Israeli), and Hilight Tribe (French). No Native American is listed on the credits because none had input. In an interview the white men say they wrote the lyrics themselves using a Lakota dictionary and that they did “ethnic research”. Then they joke about almost getting “scalped.”
This is also the sound track that was used in an ice skating championship by a Japanese skater who wanted to appear “savage”: https://www.inthelopodcast.com/news/2019/12/23/episode-44-transcript
I loved this song so much but now that I know the truth, I’m disgusted and sadden. Thank you for doing your homework on this one.
Shoma Uno doesn’t pick his music to skate to. He doesn’t speak English and if he knew it was inappropriate, he would never have skated to it. He is a 23 yr. old, 3x Olympian medalist. As a native, I wouldn’t pass judgment on that young man.
This is true, Shoma is not in charge of the creative side of his skating. His choreographers Shae-Lynn Bourne and David Wilson are to blame for the racist facepaint and terrible costumes in galas and for letting him skate to this at worlds. Racist stereotypes in media about American Indians prevail in all parts of the world. At least he didn’t wear a warbonnet on ice.