Translated:

Author:Grandpa Charlie Mountain (Metmeeyh)

Year/Era: 1918

History:Sode - for his cousin in Kaltag
Charlie Mountain lived in Nulato. He was in his late forties when he composed this
song for his female cousin in 1918. His cousin died in Kaltag.
This song expressed how Charlie felt about losing his cousin. He also spoke of his
frustration when he went to try to see his cousin and the doctor in attendance did
not allow him to do so. Charlie spoke of his expectation for his cousin to have
followed in the examples of their grandmothers, to become good seamstresses.
(Note Miranda Wright said that Mary Mountain made this song for her cousin,
John Cerosky’s wife.)
Charlie lived well into his eighties before he passed away. During his lifetime, he
and his wife, Mary Mountain, composed many lovely songs which were popular at the
potlatches.
Their son was Cosmos, the father of Simeon Mountain.

Sode –e hee hee hee
To my older sister

Seyeł-ne kk'eno-do deetaaleslo denh
my relatives, I’m putting songs on you

Sode - e hee hee hee

Yoonaanee hut'aane magh anonaaleseyo
The “outside” people blocked my way to her

Koo-nee-e hee o ho ho ho ho

ho sodaa hee hee hee hee hee
My older sister

o ho ho ho ho

ho sodaa hee hee so-daa hee hee hee hee
My older sister

** So-daa hee hee hee
My older sister

Hodee dodo metsoo yoo hoghoneeł kk'aa
Down here her grandmothers were good seamstresses

neelo – daa – nee – daakk de – e – nh

K'ete – lo – o' de- naa –les – lo kk'e de –tlenh ne
I thought of them like precious things

Sodaa hee hee hee
My older sister

o ho ho ho ho

ho sodaa hee hee hee hee hee

o ho ho ho ho

ho sodaa hee hee sodaa hee ^ hee hee hee

*, ** 2 times each * + 2 times each **