Sabodisho
This traditional healing song comes from the Guria province of Georgia (bordered by the Black Sea on it’s Western shore), and is sung as a prayer for healing over sick children.
"The bat'onebi (lords) are spirits who live beyond the Black Sea. They allow parts of their realm to appear in the most diverse corners of the world. They obey a "Highest Lord", who, to test the loyalty of humankind, sends bat'onebi out in all directions. Dissidents are to be killed or enslaved. During the day, the bat'onebi move about on mules. In the evening, they return to the houses of the sick and reside in the bodies of the stricken. Bat'onebi are to be obeyed without question, as resistance only enrages them. Nonetheless, their hearts can be won over with tenderness and caresses; thus it is possible to protect oneself from calamity. Bat'onebi enjoy gentle songs and the bright sound of instrumental music." - Ensemble Mzetamze
You can listen to a version by Ensemble Ialoni that has all the verses here. (The harmonies are slightly different than the version we are singing.)
LYRICS:
bat’onebo, mouokhe,
mouokhe, bat’onebo.
lamazi bat’onebia,
ia da vardi penia. (x2)
tetri t’ani samoselit,
mo-brdzan-de-bi-an bich’ebi.
lamazi bat’onebia,
ia da vardi penia. (x2)
bat’onebs ekhvets’ebian,
bat’onebs ekhvets’ebian,
shemogts’irav ias da vards
da daginteb ts’mida bazmas.
tetri tskhvaris da tkhis jogi
modis tik’anma ikht’una.
gaukharda bat’onebsa,
dautsbad p’iri ibruna.
English (translated by Frank Kane):
Oh, lords, help,
have mercy, oh lords.
Beautiful lords,
bedecked with violets and roses.
Wearing white clothes,
The boys come.
O beautiful spirits!
Violets and roses are spread out .
They implore the spirits,
They implore the spirits,
I offer you violets and roses,
And I light for you the holy walnut.
White sheep and a herd of goats,
a lamb came jumping.
The lords enjoyed this,
and turning away, left us.
Original Georgian:
ბატონეო, მოუოხე.
მოუოხე ბატონებო.
ლამაზი ბატონებია,
ია და ვარდი ფენია.
თეთრი ტანისამოსელით
მობრძანდებიან ბიჭებე.
ლამაზი ბატონებია,
ია და ვარდი ფენია.
ბატონეს ეხვეწებიან,
ბატონებს ეხვეწებიან,
შემოგწირავ იას და ვარდს
და დაგინთებ წმიდა ბაზმას.
თეთრი ცხვარის და თხი ჯოგი ,
მოდის თიკანმა იხტუნა ,
გაუხარდა ბატონებსა
დაუსბად პირი იბრუნა.
