I Hope You Dance

Originally by Lee Ann Womack. Translated and sung by Margaret Noodin.

Shannon Noori grew up attending language camps, singing with Miskwasining Nagamojig and with her mom, Margaret Noodin, and her sister Fionna, she has appeared many times on Ojibwe.net. In honor of her graduation from High School we offer an Anishinaabe adaptation of a song that echoes our hearts wishes for her. It’s a song you might want to learn for the graduates you know or simply for those you hope remember to dance through their days.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
Nimbagosendaan maamakaadendamoyan apane
I hope that you are amazed always

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
miinigowiziyan geyabi miigiweyan
you are given things* and still keep on giving*

*these forms don’t say what is given or who is giving

May you never take one single breath for granted,
apiitendaman de-aankeneseyan
may you always appreciate your ability to keep on breathing

and may love never leave you empty handed,
gaye gaawiin wiikaa niboodewendamosiiyan
and may you never be lonely

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Nimbagosendaan gaagige-aawendaman gichigaming
I hope you always recognize the great lakes

whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
apii gibaakwa’igaadeg mii dash nisaakonigaadeg
whenever something closes (I hope) something opens

Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
Ashodamawishin waa goji’ewiziyan debwe’endamoyan
Promise me you will keep trying to believe

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Giishpin gashki’oyan namadabiyan gemaa niimiyan
If you are able to sit or dance

I hope you dance . . . I hope you dance
Da niimiiyan . . . da niimiiyan
You should dance . . .you should dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Nimbagosendaan gaawiin wajiwan gotansiiman
I hope you are not afraid of the mountains

Never settle for the path of least resistance
Gaawiin wiika odaapinansiiman wenpanad miikana
Never take the easy road

Livin’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re worth takin’,
Apii maadiziyang aabdeg gizhawendaagoziyang
When we’re living we have to take chances/be loved/be blessed

Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’,
aangodinong wanizaagi’iweyang mii sa igo
sometimes we make mistakes loving but oh well

Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
Gego bagidinigeken nishkaadizijig nishkenimigwa
Don’t allow angry people to make you angry

When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider,
jibwa aanishiitamoyan weweni naagadawendaman
before you give up carefully reflect about it

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
Endaaso giizhig ganawaabandaman giizhigong
Every day (take time) to observe the heavens

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Giishpin gashki’oyan namadabiyan gemaa niimiyan
If you are able to sit or dance

I hope you dance . . . I hope you dance
Da niimiiyan . . . da niimiiyan
You should dance . . .you should dance

Time is a wheel in constant motion and always rolling us along
Nind’apiitizimin apane epiichi igo bimaadiziyaang.
We accumulate time in age always while (emph.) we go along with life.

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.
Wiindamawishin waa nanaandodaazod “ningii nibaajiikaage ina?”
Tell me of he or she who will ask of themselves “Have I wasted my time?”