Tam Tulpe

Tom Dooley . . . Lenape Version of the song Tom Dooley, translated by Nora Thompson Dean about 1963. This song was very popular on the radio and television in the early 1960s. I used to sing it a little bit around the house and one day Nora said, "If you’re going to sing that why don’t you sing it in Lenape?" She had been listening to it and translated it, so of course I wrote it down. Here we are singing it together, unrehearsed.

English:

Introduction by Nora in English

Lenape:

Introduction by Nora

English:

Hang down your head Tom Turtle, Hang down your head (and) cry

Lenape:

Naukwèpi Tam Tulpe, Naukwèpi mëlimwi

English:

Hang down your head Tom Turtle, It's a pity you are going to die.

Lenape:

Naukwèpi Tam Tulpe, Alàkwi may ktànkël.

English:

I met him there on a hill, I knocked him in the head at that place.

Lenape:

Nkiskao ènta chëweyunk, Lëpiteho në tali.

English:

I met him there on a hill, My knife I used

Lenape:

Nkiskao ènta chëweyunk, Nshikàn nakatàm

English:

Hang down your head Tom Turtle, Hang down your head (and) cry

Lenape:

Naukwèpi Tam Tulpe, Naukwèpi mëlimwi

English:

Hang down your head Tom Turtle, It's a pity you are going to die.

Lenape:

Naukwèpi Tam Tulpe, Alàkwi may ktànkël.

English:

Tomorrow now at this time, Where will where I be?

Lenape:

Alàpa yukwe lëkhìkwi, Ta èt ta ahpia?

English:

If the fool had not caught me, I might be be in Tennessee.

Lenape:

Mata tunkkean kèpchat, Ntàpi a mah Tènësi.

English:

Hang down your head Tom Turtle, Hang down your head (and) cry.

Lenape:

Naukwèpi Tam Tulpe, Naukwèpi mëlimwi.

English:

Hang down your head Tom Turtle, It's a pity you are going to die.

Lenape:

Naukwèpi Tam Tulpe, Alàkwi may ktànkël.

English:

Tomorrow at this time, Wonder where I will be?

Lenape:

Alàpa yukwe lëkhìkwi, Ta èt ta ahpia?

English:

In big valley, I hang from a whiteoak tree.

Lenape:

Enta xinkwi pahsayèk, Nshehëlan wipunkòkunk.

English:

Hang down your head Tom Turtle, Hang down your head (and) cry.

Lenape:

Naukwèpi Tam Tulpe, Naukwèpi mëlimwi.

English:

Hang down your head Tom Turtle, It's a pity you are going to die.

Lenape:

Naukwèpi Tam Tulpe, Alàkwi may ktànkël.

Kwëshkwësh Mëlimu

Chëkënakwi, waha!