Chinook Jargon songs, part 2

This is another version of the song I blogged about in part 1.  It’s on page 62 of the same book.  (See also part 1, part 3 and part 4.)

From ‘the papers of journalist-historian B.A. Mackelvie’.  The editor delightfully refers to it as ‘macaronic bawdry’. [You could call it doggerel, too.]

Seattle Illahee (II)

1.

While strolling round Seattle a dance hall I passed by
Where a hyas klotchman I chanced to espy;     [very pretty woman]
She wore high parnella boots, and her iktahs they were chee     [clothes…new]
She was a tyee‘s daughter copa Tacoma Illahee [chief…at(…town)]
She was the fairest klootchman that ever I have seen–
She had tupso on her opoots at the age of seventeen     [hair…posterior]

Chorus

Then roll, boys, roll, let’s travel
To the place they call Seattle;
That’s the place to have a spree–
Seattle Illahee!

2.

“Spose mika tika kunamokst nika klatawa copa dance?”     [Perhaps you want with me to go to dance?]
The way that klootchman threw on airs, you’d think she came from France.
And when the dance was over, her to my room I took;
“Spose mika tika moosum” she said in good Chinook.     [Suppose you want to ‘sleep’]
She potlatched me mesahchie clap; it took six months to cure–     [gave…bad]
Farewell all brass-assed klootchman, I’m done with you for sure.