Yoonaane Nodaaneslet Łonh
Translated:
Author: Young Toby
Year/Era: 1943
Young Toby of Koyukuk composed the song for his cousin, Alfred Dahlquist, in 1943.
Alfred died of a heart attack at Nulato. He also made the song for Crispin
Yatlin who was drafted in the war and died at King Salmon.
Young Toby heard of Alfred’s death via radio as it was his custom at that time
to listen to the radio news about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the number of
people being drafted for military service, and the talk of people going “outside” of
Alaska to join the war efforts. In this song, Toby likened himself to those who had
left the state going to war. He felt very far away from Nulato and even though he
was only at camp about seventy miles up the Koyukuk river, he might as well be out
of Alaska. The news came to him as a shock. He told Benedict Jones, who was
camping with him at the time, that he dreamt about the song for three nights.
In the morning he put the words in it from his dream and sang the tune.
Alfred Dahlquist was married to Pauline Pitka and they had a daughter Mary
Demientieff of Holy Cross. Mary Demientieff is Mary Rose Agnes’ sister by marriage.
Young Toby, aka Aloysius Toby, raised Steven Toby. Young Toby was related to
Joe Nelson, Doria Lolnitz’, Pauline Peter’s mom.
Ee yoonaane nodaaneslet łonh.
I went Outside, it seems (like I dreamed)
Ee yoonaane nodaaneslet łonh.
I went Outside, it seems (like I dreamed)
Ee goodbye my sonny
Hee hee’ oho hee-ya ha ha
o hee’ oho hee ya hee’ ha
o hee’ oho hee ya he he
Ee yoonaane nodaaneslet łonh.
I went Outside, it seems (like I dreamed)
Ee yoonaane nodaaneslet łonh.
I went Outside, it seems (like I dreamed)
Ee goodbye my sonny
Hee hee’ oho hee-ya ha ha
o hee’ oho hee ya hee’ ha
o hee’ oho hee ya he he