Nursery Rhymes›Tolai Lullaby
Tolai Lullaby
Key: A minor~54 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsOriginal · Tolai, Papua New Guinea
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Tolai Lullaby Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by the Tolai people of East New Britain, known for the striking Baining fire dance and shell-currency traditions. Here you will find the lyrics, meaning, and chords.
Sing & play
Lyrics & chords
An original arrangement, with guitar & piano chords above each line.
Verse
Am Dm Am
Sleep now, little one, the tabu shells rest still,
Dm Am E7
the fire dance rests until the dawn, upon the coastal hill.
Am Dm Am
Sleep now, little one, the palm canoe is near,
Dm Am E7
tomorrow’s sun will rise for you, and chase away all fear.
In English
What the words mean
“Sleep now, little one, the tabu shells rest still, the fire dance rests until the dawn, upon the coastal hill. Sleep now, little one, the palm canoe is near, tomorrow’s sun will rise for you, and chase away all fear.”
Play it
Chords — guitar & piano
Am
Guitar
Piano
Dm
Guitar
Piano
E7
Guitar
Piano
Good to know
What “Tolai Lullaby” Means
The Tolai people of East New Britain use tabu, strings of small shells, as a traditional currency, and are known for the striking Baining fire dance performed at night. This original lullaby draws on those shell-currency and fire-dance images of Tolai life.
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