Ryukyuan songs

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List of Ryukyuan songs:

Tinsagu nu Hana (Okinawan てんさぐぬはな "the Balsam Flowers") is also sometimes spelled Tensagu nu Hana. Okinawan children will squeeze the sap from balsam flowers to stain their fingernails. The lyrics of the song are Confucian teachings. Of the 6 verses, the first three relate to filial piety, while the last three refer to how to respect one's body and one's goals.

Each verse has exactly the same number notes using language and meter devices that are solely Ryukyuan. The English translation tells of the content of the verses but fails to convey the precison and the beauty of the song-

Just as my fingernails are stained with the pigment from balsalm flowers, my heart is painted with the teachings of my parents. Although the stars in the sky are countable, the teachings of my parents are not. Just as ships that run in the night are guided to safety by the northstar, I am guided by my parents who gave birth to me and watch over me. There's no point in possessing magnificent jewelry if you don't maintain it; people who maintain their bodies will live life wonderfully. The desires of the person who lives sincerely will always run true and as a result she will prosper. You can do anything if you try, but you can't if you don't.

Asadoya Yunta
Shima nu Hito
Futami Jouwa
Ninjoubushi
Tanchamee
Jin Jin: The title means "firefly"; the lyrics implore the firefly to "come down and drink". Shoukichi Kina and Champloose's version of this song, with slide guitar by Ry Cooder, was a minor hit in British discos. Takashi Hirayasu and Bob Brozman released a 2000 collaboration album by the same title that is a collection of various Ryukyuan songs or nursery rhymes. Their song Jin Jin is track 6 on this album.
Subete no Hito no Kokoro ni Hana wo