International Letters (a click song)

International Letters

C Pemberton-Pigott 

Oct 27 2010

[When capitalized, make a palatal click for a ‘Q’ and a side of tongue click for an ‘X’. “C” is a *tsk* sound]

Verse 1
S   MMM  M   M   M   R   D    R   M    R     D    L  
In Africa   they use our letters.  We use theirs as well.

L  T    T   T  T    D   T   T      L    S      D       L   S
SIt helps us to communicate. It’s working. Can’t you tell?

S    MMM          M   M   M   R    D  R    M   R  D    L  
The E is French, say ‘ay’ not ‘ee’ but otherwise   it’s clear.

L  T     T   T  T    D    T    T       T    L  S  D      L   S
Instead of “Yebo” we say, “Yes”. It’s easy,  have no fear.

S     M     M M M   M     M   R     D         R    M  R  D   L
The problem is the clicks, you see. There’s one for X and Q.

L  T   T T T D     T   T T    L   S  D     L     S
Another little click for C. It’s really what they do!

There’s usually no problem when we say “Bahá-u-lláh”
It’s fun to hear a Swazi friend say, “Hi!” with, “Sawubona”
“Hayi” for “Hey” is quite OK, but I hear “No” is “nXa!”
And how on earth will we pronounce the word “HuQu’Qu-lláh”?

Chorus
D   M   M  M  D   M   M  M     
HuQu’Qu’lláh! HuQu’Qu’lláh!  

D      R  M    R    D  R  D  L
What do they say in Zulu-la?

L     T     T T    T D   T
I’ve Quite a bit of trouble

T        L  S   F   M   R   D
Trying to say HuQu’Qu’lláh.

Verse 2

You have to work your tongue a lot, it can be Quite tri-Cky.
LiQaQa is a skunk, you know, the one that's striped and pretty!

Can you say that you play sQuash? Or-that you eat sQuid for dinner?
Some are hard and some are harder, but HuQu,Qu-llah's the winner!

Chorus

HuQu’Qu’llah! HuQu’Qu’llah!
What do they say in Zulu-la?

I’ve Quite a bit of trouble
Trying to say HuQu’Qu’llah.