The Omaha Tribal Prayer

Harmonized by Prof. J. C. Fillmore.

(By permission from Alice C. Fletcher's " Indian Story and Song.")

Translation

Father a needy one stands before thee; I that sing am he.

Sitting Bull's War Song. Indian Words

(By permission from E. S. Curtis' North American Indians, Vol. III, p. 140)

The Ghost Dance Song

(From Prof. Jas. Mooney's "The Ghost Dance Religion," 14th. Ann. Rep. Bur. Ethn. p. 977).

Ani'qu ne'chawu'nani', Ani'qu ne'chawn'nani'; Awa'wa biqana'kaye'na, Awa'wa biqana'kaye'na; Iyahu'h ni'bithi'ti, Iyahn'h ni'bithi'ti.

Translation

Father, have pity on me,

Father, have pity on me;

I am crying for thirst,

I am crying for thirst;

All is gone-I have nothing to est,

All is gone - I have nothing to eat.

This is the most pathetic of the Ghost dance songs. It is sung to a plaintive tune, sometimes with tears rolling down the cheeks of the dancers as the words would bring up thoughts of their present miserable and dependent condition. It may be considered the Indian paraphrase of the Lord's prayer.

Also translated:

Father have pity on me,

My soul is ever hungry for thee; i am weeping,

There is nothing here to satisfy me.