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All The Ways We Are Human
A Journey Through What We Learn from One Another
What can we learn when we approach another culture not simply as an observer, but as a guest—ready to listen?
All the Ways We Are Human began with a song and grew into a journey across languages, music, traditions, and everyday acts of care. From Senegal’s practice of teranga and Ethiopia’s blessing of the third cup to Morocco’s communal oven, Sweden’s open palm, Peru’s renewed bridge, and the shared row of Punjab, each destination reveals a different way people create belonging, preserve connection, and make room for one another.
The book and its companion album, The World Has Many Voices, tell this story together. Within these pages—and in the songs below—you’ll find the cultural traditions, human lessons, and music inspired by each stop along the journey.
No single voice contains the whole story. The world needs every voice to remain whole, and all of us willing to learn from one another.
The World Has Many Voices
The companion album, The World Has Many Voices, was created to be heard alongside the pages of the book, All the Ways We Are Human. Each song may stand on its own, but the complete sequence follows the same journey as the book: an invitation, thirteen cultural destinations, and a final homecoming.
Select any song below to discover its artwork, original-language lyrics, and English translation.
All the Ways We Are Human
You learned to name the world in your language
I learned to name it another way
You carry years inside the songs you sing
And in the things your hands still make
Bring the stories I have never known
I will listen without asking yours to look like my own
Bring me the songs your history carried
Show me the colors I have never seen
There is more to this life than one lifetime
More than one way for a heart to speak
We don’t have to trade away our differences
To meet in all the ways we are human
Show me how your table welcomes strangers
What you celebrate and why
How you honor those who came before you
How you carry love and say goodbye
Let me taste the memory in your kitchen
I will bring my memories too
Bring me the songs your history carried
Show me the colors I have never seen
There is more to this life than one lifetime
More than one way for a heart to speak
We don’t have to trade away our differences
To meet in all the ways we are human
We could share a language and a skyline
Still see worlds the other never knew
The same street can tell a different story
When it has been walked in different shoes
I don’t have to live your every moment
To believe the life you say is true
I will bring the stories that have shaped me
You bring every story carrying you
Nothing here must lose its color
For another light to make it through
Bring me the songs your history carried
Show me the colors I have never seen
There is more to this life than one lifetime
More than one way for a heart to speak
Let us treasure all the ways we are different
And love all the ways we are human
All the ways we are different
All the ways we belong
All the ways we are human
Living inside every song
South Africa | isiZulu
Original Lyrics in isiZulu
Ngangithi ngingedwa
Sasilapha nawe
Ngangithi amandla ngawami
Sasikuthwele
Zonke izandla ezangiphakamisa
Nawo wonke amazwi angikhulisayo
Kusekhona ngaphakathi kimi
Angizange ngibe yimi ngedwa
Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu
Izwi alilahlekelwa umsindo walo
Uma licula namanye amazwi
Lokho okuphethe kuyangiguqula
Lokho engikuphethe kufinyelela kuwe
Siyabonana, siyakhana
Amazwi asenza sibe ngabantu
Akudingeki ufane nami
Ukuze ngibone ubuntu bakho
Impilo yakho ijulile, iphelele
Noma amehlo ethu ehlukile
Anginciphi lapho umhlaba wakho
Wandisa umhlaba wami
Konke okukwenza wehluke
Kungibonisa engingakubonanga
Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu
Izwi alilahlekelwa umsindo walo
Uma licula namanye amazwi
Lokho okuphethe kuyangiguqula
Lokho engikuphethe kufinyelela kuwe
Siyabonana, siyakhana
Amazwi asenza sibe ngabantu
Labo abangetha igama nabangikhulisa
Bakhona lapho ngikhuluma
Ukuhlakanipha kwabo kusezandleni zami
Isibindi sabo singiphakamisa
Uma ngibeka isandla sami kwesakho
Akukho okuhamba ngendlela eyodwa
Ingxenye yempilo yakho yakha eyami
Neyami ihlala nawe
Uma ngiwa
Siyakuphakamisa
Uma ngibiza
Siyaphendula
Uma ukhuluma
Siyakuzwa
Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu
Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu
Wonke amazwi ahlala ehlukile
Kodwa acula ndawonye
Lokho okuphethe kuyangiguqula
Lokho engikuphethe kufinyelela kuwe
Siyabonana, siyakhana
Amazwi asenza sibe ngabantu
Amazwi asenza sibe ngabantu
Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu
English Translation
I thought I was alone
We were here with you
I thought the strength was mine
We were carrying you
All the hands that lifted me
And all the voices that raised me
Are still here inside me
I never became myself alone
A person is a person through other people
A voice does not lose its sound
When it sings with other voices
What you carry changes me
What I carry reaches you
We see one another, we build one another
Voices make us human
You do not need to be like me
For me to see your humanity
Your life is deep and complete
Though our eyes are different
I am not diminished when your world
Expands my world
Everything that makes you different
Shows me what I have not seen
A person is a person through other people
A voice does not lose its sound
When it sings with other voices
What you carry changes me
What I carry reaches you
We see one another, we build one another
Voices make us human
Those who named me and raised me
Are present when I speak
Their wisdom is in my hands
Their courage lifts me
When I place my hand in yours
Nothing travels only one way
Part of your life builds mine
And mine remains with you
When I fall
We lift you
When I call
We answer
When you speak
We hear you
A person is a person through other people
A person is a person through other people
Every voice remains different
But they sing together
What you carry changes me
What I carry reaches you
We see one another, we build one another
Voices make us human
Voices make us human
A person is a person through other people
Senegal | Wolof
Original Lyrics in Wolof
Bi nga agsee ci bunt kër gi
Yore nga lu ma mënul a gis
Laajuma la fu nga jóge
Ma ne la, “Kaay, toog fii
Jox naa la palaas ci géew gi
Géew gi daldi yaatu ngir yow
Bala ma xam yoon wi nga jaar
Xam naa ne waroo taxaw yaw rekk
Kaay, am na palaas ci sama wet
Ñëwal, yóbbaale sa bopp bépp
Toogal, ñoo bokk bool bi
Nettali ma yoon wi nga jaar
Li nu séddoo du lekk rekk
Waxtu ak teranga it la
Balaa ñu la xam, mën nga fi bokk
Kaay, am na palaas ci sama wet
Laaj naa la naka sa waa kër
Nga laaj ma naka sama waa kër
Nu bàyyi nuyoo bi mu jël waxtoom
Ku nekk jox na tontoom
Attaaya ji dem ak ñëw ci sunu digg
Jant bi wàcc ci kaw miir bi
Sunu kàddu yi wuute nañu
Waaye ku nekk dégg na moroomam
Kaay, am na palaas ci sama wet
Ñëwal, yóbbaale sa bopp bépp
Toogal, ñoo bokk bool bi
Nettali ma yoon wi nga jaar
Li nu séddoo du lekk rekk
Waxtu ak teranga it la
Balaa ñu la xam, mën nga fi bokk
Kaay, am na palaas ci sama wet
Bàyyiwuloo sa wuute ci bunt bi
Man it làquma sama wuute
Wone nga ma àddina bu ma masul a gis
Ma ubbil la sama àddina
Kenn ci nun soppikuwul
Kenn ci nun ñàkkul dara
Géew gi denc na sunuy baat
Te yaatuwaat ngir beneen baat
Lan mooy ubbi bunt bi
Nuyoo bu baax
Lan mooy yaatal géew gi
Palaas bi nu joxe
Lan mooy jegeel gan ñi
Waxtu wi nu bokk
Teranga du kàddu rekk
Jëf la
Kaay, am na palaas ci sama wet
Ñëwal, yóbbaale sa bopp bépp
Toogal, ñoo bokk bool bi
Nettali nu sa jaar-jaar
Li nu séddoo du lekk rekk
Waxtu ak teranga it la
Soxlawoo mel ni nun ngir nga fi bokk
Kaay, am na palaas ci sama wet
Am na palaas fii
Am na palaas ci sama wet
Bu beneen nit ñëwee ëllëg
Géew gi dina yaatuwaat
English Translation
When you arrived at the door of the house
You carried something I could not see
I did not ask where you came from
I said, “Come, sit here
I gave you a place in the circle
And the circle widened for you
Before I knew the road you had traveled
I knew you should not stand alone
Come, there is a place beside me
Come and bring your whole self
Sit down; we share the bowl
Tell me the road you traveled
What we share is not only food
It is also time and teranga
Before we know you, you can belong here
Come, there is a place beside me
I asked how your family was
You asked how my family was
We let the greeting take its time
Each person gave an answer
The attaya passed back and forth between us
The sun descended over the wall
Our words were different
But each person heard the other
Come, there is a place beside me
Come and bring your whole self
Sit down; we share the bowl
Tell me the road you traveled
What we share is not only food
It is also time and teranga
Before we know you, you can belong here
Come, there is a place beside me
You did not leave your difference at the door
I did not hide my difference either
You showed me a world I had never seen
I opened my world to you
Neither of us became the other
Neither of us lost anything
The circle held our voices
And widened again for another voice
What opens the door
A proper greeting
What widens the circle
The place we offer
What brings the guests closer
The time we share
Teranga is not only a word
It is an action
Come, there is a place beside me
Come and bring your whole self
Sit down; we share the bowl
Tell us the journey you have lived
What we share is not only food
It is also time and teranga
You do not need to resemble us to belong here
Come, there is a place beside me
There is room here
There is a place beside me
If another person comes tomorrow
The circle will widen again
Morocco | Moroccan Darija
Original Lyrics in Moroccan Darija
قبل ما الصباح يعّمر الدرب
كانت ّمي كتشكل العجين
ورّاتني فين ندير العالمة
اللي كانت ديال دارنا
غّطات كل خبزة كتخّمر
وحّطات اللوح بشوية
وقالت لي ديهم للفّر ان
وشوف آش غادي يوقع تما
كل دار عندها عالمتها
كل يد شكالت خبزها
حتى خبزة ما ضاعت سميتها
ملي تزاد الحطب فعافية الحومة
داكشي اللي تقاسمنا ما محاناش
وكل فرق بقى كيف ما كان
عافية وحدة دّفات الحومة
بال ما تردنا بحال بحال
جاو دراري خرين من الدروب
شادين لواح في يديهم
تحت كل غطا كانو خبزات
بعالمات ديال ديور خرين
مول الفّران عرف كل خبزة منين جات
وفين خاصها ترجع
حّطهم حّد حّد فالداخل
فالسخونية اللي كاملين تقاسمناها
كل دار عندها عالمتها
كل يد شكالت خبزها
حتى خبزة ما ضاعت سميتها
ملي تزاد الحطب فعافية الحومة
داكشي اللي تقاسمنا ما محاناش
وكل فرق بقى كيف ما كان
عافية وحدة دّفات الحومة
بال ما تردنا بحال بحال
دابا يدين صغار حدايا
كيديرو عالمتنا فالخبزة
كنحكي ليهم على دوك اللواح
اللي مشينا بيهم فالدروب
ما كنعلمهمش غير العالمة
وال كيفاش كيتدار الخبز
كنعلمهم آش علماتني العافية
ما خاص حتى فرق يتمحى
شنو جابت كل دار
خدمة يديها
شنو تقاسمات الحومة
عافية الفّران
شنو محات العافية
وا ل عالمة ديال حتى دار
شنو عّطات لكل باب
خبز يرجع للدار
نقدرو نتقاسمو اللي كيعّيشنا
بال ما نتخالو على سمياتنا
كل دار باقية بعالمتها
كل يد باقية كتشكل خبزها
حتى خبزة ما كتنسى منين جات
ملي كيتزاد الحطب فعافية الحومة
داكشي اللي كنتقاسموه ما كيمحيناش
وكل فرق يقدر يبقى
عافية وحدة كتدّفي الحومة
بال ما تردنا بحال بحال
عافية وحدة
عالمات كثيرة
كل خبزة كترجع بسميتها
داكشي اللي كنتقاسموه يقدر يجمعنا
بال ما يردنا بحال بحال
ملي كيتزاد الحطب فعافية الحومة
English Translation
Before morning filled the lane
My mother was shaping the dough
She showed me where to make the mark
That belonged to our house
She covered every loaf as it rose
And set the board down gently
Then she told me, “Take them to the communal oven
And watch what happens there
Every house has its own mark
Every hand shaped its bread
Not one loaf lost its name
When wood was added to the neighborhood fire
What we shared did not erase us
And every difference remained as it was
One fire warmed the neighborhood
Without making us all alike
Other children came from the lanes
Carrying boards in their hands
Beneath every covering were loaves
Marked for other homes
The baker knew where every loaf had come from
And where it needed to return
He placed them side by side inside
In the heat we all shared
Every house has its own mark
Every hand shaped its bread
Not one loaf lost its name
When wood was added to the neighborhood fire
What we shared did not erase us
And every difference remained as it was
One fire warmed the neighborhood
Without making us all alike
Now small hands are beside me
Making our mark in the bread
I tell them about those boards
We carried through the lanes
I am not teaching them only the mark
Or how bread is made
I am teaching them what the fire taught me
No difference needs to be erased
What did every house bring
The work of its hands
What did the neighborhood share
The oven’s fire
What did the fire erase
Not the mark of a single house
What did it give to every door
Bread returning home
We can share what keeps us alive
Without giving up our names
Every house still has its mark
Every hand still shapes its bread
No loaf forgets where it came from
When wood is added to the neighborhood fire
What we share does not erase us
And every difference can remain
One fire warms the neighborhood
Without making us all alike
One fire
Many marks
Every loaf returns with its name
What we share can bring us together
Without making us all alike
When wood is added to the neighborhood fire
Ethiopia | Amharic
Original Lyrics in Amharic
የቀትር ሙቀት ሳይበረታ
የደበቅኳቸውን ቃላት ይዤ
ከእግራችን በታች ሳር አነጠፍሽ
ከጎንሽ እንድቀመጥ ጠራሽኝ
አረንጓዴውን ቡና አጠብሽ
ዝምታው እንዲተነፍስ ተውሽው
አቦል በሩን ከፈተ
ቶና የተሸከምኩትን ሰማ
በረካ ሸክሙ ላይ በረከት አኖረ
በየሲኒው ቡናው እየቀለለ
በየቃሉ ሸክሜም እየቀለለ
ቡና ሳይሆን ጊዜሽን ሰጠሽኝ
ቡናው በእሳቱ ላይ ጠቆረ
ሽታውም ክፍሉን ሞላ
የሙቀጫው ምት ዜማ ሆነ
የዕጣኑ ጭስ ተጠማዘዘ
ቡናው በጀበና ውስጥ ፈላ
ማንም ሰዓቱን አልቆጠረም
ቶናን በእጆቼ ሳሞቅ
ወደዚያ ያመጣኝን ተናገርኩ
ዝምታውን በቃል አልሞላሽውም
ቀላል መልስም አልሰጠሽኝም
እውነቱ ጊዜውን እንዲወስድ ተውሽው
ሲኒዎቹን ሞላሽ ብቻዬን እንዳልሄድ
ጠንካራው ሲኒ መጀመሪያ መጣ
ጥልቁ ስጦታ ግን መጨረሻ
አንዳንድ ሸክሞች መልስ አይፈልጉም
እውነት ጊዜውን እንዲያገኝ ሰው ይፈልጋሉ
አቦል በሩን ከፈተ
ቶና እውነቱን አስታወቀ
በረካ በረከቱን አመጣ
ሸክሙን ብቻዬን አልተሸከምኩም
ቡናው ሲቀል ሸክሜም ቀለለ
ቡና ሳይሆን ጊዜሽን ሰጠሽኝ
የመጨረሻው ሲኒ ቀላሉ ነበር
እኔ ግን ቀለል ብዬ ወጣሁ
በረካ
English Translation
Before the midday heat grew strong
I came carrying the words I had hidden
You spread grass beneath our feet
And invited me to sit beside you
You washed the green coffee
And allowed the silence to breathe
Abol opened the door
Tona heard what I carried
Bereka placed a blessing upon the burden
With every cup, the coffee grew lighter
With every word, my burden grew lighter
You did not give me coffee; you gave me your time
The coffee darkened over the fire
And its fragrance filled the room
The rhythm of the mortar became a melody
The incense smoke curled
The coffee boiled inside the jebena
No one counted the hour
As I warmed Tona between my hands
I spoke of what had brought me there
You did not fill the silence with words
You did not give me an easy answer
You allowed the truth to take its time
You filled the cups so I would not leave alone
The strongest cup came first
But the deepest gift came last
Some burdens do not need an answer
They need someone who lets the truth find its time
Abol opened the door
Tona brought the truth into the open
Bereka brought the blessing
I did not carry the burden alone
As the coffee grew lighter, my burden grew lighter
You did not give me coffee; you gave me your time
The final cup was the lightest
But I left lighter
Bereka
Bangladesh | Bengali
Original Lyrics in Bengali
কু ষ্টিয়ার পথে এক বাউলের দেখা পেলাম
বুকের কাছে তার একতারা
পায়ে পথের ধুলো, চোখে গভীর শান্তি
জিজ্ঞেস করলাম কোন পথ তোমায় ডাকে
সে বুকের ওপর হাত রেখে বলল
পথটা এখানেই ভেতরে বাঁকে
মনের মানুষ, অন্তরের সেই জন
নাম আমাদের ভাগ করার আগে তু মি জানতে আমরা কে
সারা দুনিয়া ঘুরে খুঁজেছি তোমায়
তু মি কখনো দূরে ছিলে না
সবচেয়ে দীর্ঘ পথ ভেতরে ফেরে
মনের মানুষের কাছে
আমি জিজ্ঞেস করলাম কোন প্রার্থনা তাকে গড়েছে
কোন গ্রন্থ পথ দেখিয়েছে
সে জিজ্ঞেস করল বাতাসের ধর্ম কী ছিল
আমরা নাম দেওয়ার আগে
আমি যাকে খুঁজি সে মানুষের মাঝেই থাকে
সে জাত কিংবা ধর্ম জিজ্ঞেস করে না
অন্যের দেওয়া উত্তরগুলো
ঝরাতেই আমি পথে হাঁটি
প্রতিটি পদক্ষেপে মুছে যায় সীমানা
যাকে একদিন সত্য ভেবেছিলাম
আমি শুধু মন্দির-মসজিদে খুঁজি না
আমি খুঁজি অন্তরের সেই জনকে
আমার নাম অন্যের দেওয়া
দেয় ালগুলো মানুষের হাতে গড়া
কিন্তু কেউ বানায়নি সেই জীবন্ত হৃদয়
যা নামেরও আগে ধুকপুক করত
মনের মানুষ, অন্তরের সেই জন
নাম আমাদের ভাগ করার আগে তু মি জানতে আমরা কে
তোমায় খুঁজতে ভেতরে ফিরলাম
তারপর তোমায় পেলাম সর্বত্র
সবচেয়ে দীর্ঘ পথ ভেতরে ফেরে
আর আমায় ফেরায় প্রতিটি হৃদয়ের কাছে
একতারার সুরে ভোর উঠল
যে পবিত্র স্থান খুঁজে ফিরেছি
তা বেঁচে আছে রক্তমাংসে
English Translation
On the road to Kushtia, I met a Baul
His ektara held close to his chest
There was road dust on his feet and deep peace in his eyes
I asked him which road was calling
He placed a hand upon his chest and said
“The road bends inward here
Moner manush, the person within
Before names divided us, you knew who we were
I traveled the whole world searching for you
But you were never far away
The longest road turns inward
Toward the person of the heart
I asked which prayer had formed him
And which book had shown him the way
He asked what religion the wind had followed
Before we gave it a name
“The One I seek lives among human beings
And asks neither their caste nor their religion
I walk the road
To shed the answers other people placed upon me
With every step, another boundary disappears
That I once mistook for truth
I do not search only in temples and mosques
I search for the person within
The name I wear was given by someone else
The walls were built by human hands
But no one created the living heart
That was beating before the names began
Moner manush, the person within
Before names divided us, you knew who we were
I turned inward to find you
Then I found you everywhere
The longest road turns inward
And returns me to every heart
Morning rose upon the sound of the ektara
The sacred place I had been searching for
Was alive in flesh and blood
Bali Indonesia | Bahasa Indonesia
Original Lyrics in Bahasa Indonesia
Ia memberiku bagian polos di depan gangsa
Kudengar sela dan kukira aku tersesat
Kuisi setiap ruang dengan nadaku sendiri
Hingga tak ada tempat bagi tangan lain
Inilah nada yang tak kumainkan
Ruang yang kusisakan untukmu
Kujaga bagian yang ada di tanganku
Dan kupercaya kau menjaga bagianmu
Melodi ini bukan milikku atau milikmu
Ia hidup di antara kita
Lalu sangsih berbunyi di ruang yang kutinggalkan
Iramamu bergerak di sela iramaku
Melodi melaju lebih cepat dari tangan kita
Namun tak satu pun memainkannya sendiri
Sang guru berkata ruang kosong bukan kesalahan
Di sanalah tangan lain masuk menjadi lagu
Kekuatan bukan memainkan semua bagian
Tetapi mengetahui bagian mana milikmu
Kita masing-masing tetap utuh
Dan musik lahir di antara kita
Inilah nada yang tak kumainkan
Ruang yang kusisakan untukmu
Melodi ini bukan milikku atau milikmu
Ia hidup saat pola kita bertemu
Kita masing-masing selalu utuh
Namun musik ini tak utuh bila sendiri
Polos dan sangsih
Dua pola berpadu menjadi satu
Musik hidup di antara kita
English Translation
He gave me the polos part before the gangsa
I heard the spaces and thought I had lost my way
I filled every opening with my own notes
Until there was no room for another hand
These are the notes I do not play
The space I leave for you
I hold the part placed in my hands
And trust you to hold your part
This melody is neither mine nor yours
It lives between us
Then sangsih sounded within the space I had left
Your rhythm moved between the spaces in mine
The melody traveled faster than our hands
Yet neither of us played it alone
The teacher said the empty space was not a mistake
That was where another hand entered the song
Strength does not mean playing every part
It means knowing which part is yours
Each of us remains whole
And music is born between us
These are the notes I do not play
The space I leave for you
This melody is neither mine nor yours
It lives when our patterns meet
Each of us has always been whole
Yet this music cannot be whole when played alone
Polos and sangsih
Two patterns joining to become one
The music lives between us
Mongolia | Mongolian
Original Lyrics in Mongolian
Говийн хаврын нар дулаацахаас өмнө
Шинэ төрсөн ботго эхийнхээ дэргэд буйлж байлаа
Ингэ ботгоноосоо нүүр буруулж
Хөхөө хөхүүлэхгүй байв
Гэрийн дэргэд хоёуланг нь ойр уявч
Ойрхон байлгах нь түүнийг эргүүлсэнгүй
Тэгээд би аялав: “Хөөс, хөөс
Түүнд өөрийгөө сонсгох гэж би дуулаагүй
Харин би түүнийг сонсох гэж дуулсан
Биеэрээ “үгүй” гэж хариулах бүрд
Би түүнд өгөх аялгуугаа өөрчилсөн
Морин хуур бидний хооронд намуухан өгүүлж
Аялгуу ч бас түүнийг чагнав
Хуур түүний удаан алхааг дагаж
Нум нь буйлах дууг нь тосон авав
Хариу өгөх бүрд нь “хөөс”-өө уртасгаж
Холдох бүрд нь аялгуугаа зөөлрүүлэв
Цаг хугацаа бидний хажуугаар өнгөрөв
Ирж болох өөрчлөлтийг хэн ч яаруулсангүй
Уяа хоёр биеийг ойртуулж чадна
Гэвч хүлээн авахыг албадаж чадахгүй
Халамж гэдэг нэг зүйлээ давтах биш
Өмнөө буйг сонсоод
Өргөх аялгуугаа өөрчлөх юм
Түүнд өөрийгөө сонсгох гэж би дуулаагүй
Харин би түүнийг сонсох гэж дуулсан
Эцэст нь ботго руугаа эргэхэд
Аялгуу дэргэд нь намуухан байлаа
Говийн үүрээр ботго нь эхийнхээ сүүг хөхөв
Аялгуу аажмаар намдав
Хөөс, хөөс
Тэр дахин нүүр буруулсангүй
Хоорондын зай нь зөөлөрч
Ботго хөхөж эхлэв
English Translation
Before the spring sun warmed the Gobi
A newborn camel calf cried beside its mother
The mother camel turned her face away from the calf
And would not allow it to nurse
Although we tethered them close beside the ger
Keeping them near could not make her turn
Then I began to sing: “Khuus, khuus
I did not sing to make myself heard by her
Instead, I sang so that I could hear her
Each time her body answered “no
I changed the melody I offered her
The morin khuur spoke softly between us
And the melody listened closely to her too
The fiddle followed her slow footsteps
Its bow received the sound of her cry
Each time she responded, I lengthened my “khuus
Each time she moved away, I softened the melody
Time passed beside us
No one hurried the change that might come
A tether can bring two bodies close
But it cannot force acceptance
Care does not mean repeating the same offering
It means listening to the one before us
And changing the melody we offer
I did not sing to make myself heard by her
Instead, I sang so that I could hear her
When at last she turned toward her calf
The melody remained quietly beside her
At dawn in the Gobi, the calf drank its mother’s milk
And the melody gradually became still
Khuus, khuus
She did not turn away again
The distance between them softened
And the calf began to nurse
Sweden | Swedish
Original Lyrics in Swedish
Bortom fälten, långt från husen
Gick en stig över annans mark
Ingen bad mig vända om
Jag gick bland silvervita björkar
Där fanns frihet ingen sålde
Och ett ansvar följde med
Stigen ligger öppen, lämna den hel
Plocka bäret, låt roten stå
Varje frihet bär på tillit
Varje rätt kräver hänsyn
Inte störa, inte förstöra
Vandra varsamt, l ämna stigen hel
Jag plockade bär på sluttningen
Men lät gren och rötter vara
När en fågel ropade varnande
Gav jag boet lugn och plats
Jag slog tält för en enda natt
Vid gryningen fanns inget spår
Marken ägdes, stigen var öppen
Båda sanningarna fick rum
Hem och skörd fick vara skyddade
Ingen gjorde stigen till sin
Det fanns plats för bådas frihet
När hänsyn vandrade bredvid
Tänk om vi mötte varandra
Som vandraren möter ett land
Kom nära utan att äga
Och gick vidare utan krav
Vi kunde värna hem som format oss
Och ändå öppna stigar emellan
Det finns rum nog för oss alla
Utan att sudda ut vem vi är
Stigen ligger öppen, lämna den hel
Plocka bäret, låt roten stå
Varje frihet bär på tillit
Varje rätt kräver hänsyn
Inte störa, inte förstöra
Vandra varsamt, lämna stigen hel
Stigen blir kvar för dem som följer
När vi låter varandra förbli hela
English Translation
Beyond the fields, far from the houses
A path crossed someone else’s land
No one asked me to turn back
I walked among silver-white birches
There was freedom no one sold
And a responsibility came with it
The path lies open; leave it whole
Pick the berry; let the root remain
Every freedom carries trust
Every right requires consideration
Do not disturb, do not destroy
Walk gently; leave the path whole
I picked berries on the slope
But left branch and roots untouched
When a bird cried in warning
I gave the nest peace and space
I pitched my tent for a single night
At dawn there was no trace
The land was owned; the path was open
Both truths were given room
Homes and harvests were protected
No one made the path their own
There was room for both freedoms
When consideration walked beside them
What if we met one another
As the wanderer meets a land
Came close without possessing
And moved on without demands
We could protect the homes that shaped us
And still open paths between them
There is room enough for all of us
Without erasing who we are
The path lies open; leave it whole
Pick the berry; let the root remain
Every freedom carries trust
Every right requires consideration
Do not disturb, do not destroy
Walk gently; leave the path whole
The path remains for those who follow
When we allow one another to remain whole
Sakartvelo Georgia | Georgian
Original Lyrics in Georgian
Მე სიმღერის ფუძეს ვიჭერ
Ჩემი ხაზი მაღლა არ მიდის
Სხვა ხმებს არ ვთხოვ, მე გამომყვნენ
Თითოეულს თავისი გზა აქვს
Მე შუაში ჩემს გზას მი ვყვები
Იქ, სადაც ჩემი ხაზი მიდის
Დაბალ ხმას ვისმენ, არ ვიმეორებ
Მაღალ ხმას ვისმენ და საკუთარ ხმად ვრჩები
Მე სიმღერის მაღალ გზას მივყვები
Იქ მივდივარ, სადაც ჩემი ხმა მიდის
Გვერდით მყოფ ხმებს არ ვკარგავ
Როცა ჩემს საკუთარ ხაზს ვიცავ
Სამი ხმა, ერთი სიმღერა
Არავინ უნდა გაქრეს
Არ უნდა ვჟღერდეთ ერთნაირად
Ჰარმონიაში რომ ვიცხოვროთ
Შეინარჩუნე ხაზი, რომელიც მხოლოდ შენია
Მოუსმინე სხვა ხმების მოძრაობას
Ჰარმონია ერთ ხმად ქცევას არ ნიშნავს
Ის თითოეული ხმისთვის ადგილის დატოვებაა
Ჩვენი ხმები ერთმანეთს ხვდებიან
Არც ერთი თავის გზას არ თმობს
Ჩვენი გზები იკვეთება და იყოფა
Ერთი ხმა ამ სიმღერას ვერ შექმნის
Განსხვავებული ხაზები ერთად ქმნიან მას
Სიმღერა თითოეულ ჩვენგანზე დიდია
Მაგრამ თითოეული აცოცხლებს მას
Სამყარო ერთი ხმის გამეორება არ არის
Მშვიდობა ერთი არჩეული ბგერა არ არის
Მთლიანობის ნაწილად მისაღებად
Არავინ უნდა დაკარგოს თავისი ენა
Ყველა ისტორიამ შეინარჩუნოს ფერი
Ყველა სახელი უცვლელი დარჩეს
Ბევრი ხმა არ გვასუსტებს
Ისინი სამყაროს სიმღერად აქცევენ
Სამი ხმა, ერთი სიმღერა
Არავინ უნდა გაქრეს
Არ უნდა ვჟღერდეთ ერთნაირად
Ჰარმონიაში რომ ვიცხოვროთ
Შეინარჩუნე ხაზი, რომელიც მხოლოდ შენია
Მოუსმინე სხვა ხმების მოძრაობას
Ჰარმონია ერთ ხმად ქცევას არ ნიშნავს
Ის თითოეული ხმისთვის ადგილის დატოვებაა
Ჩვენ ერთ ხმად არ ვიქეცით
Ჩვენ ერთ სიმღერად ვიქეცით
English Translation
I hold the foundation of the song
My line does not rise into the high part
I do not ask the other voices to follow me
Each one has a path of its own
I follow my own path through the middle
Wherever my line is meant to go
I hear the low voice, but do not repeat it
I hear the high voice and remain my own
I follow the song’s higher path
I go wherever my voice must go
I do not lose the voices beside me
When I protect the line that is my own
Three voices, one song
No one should have to disappear
We do not have to sound the same
In order to live in harmony
Keep the line that belongs only to you
Listen to the movement of the other voices
Harmony does not mean becoming one voice
It means leaving room for every voice
Our voices meet one another
Not one of them gives up its path
Our paths cross and separate
One voice could not create this song
Different lines create it together
The song is greater than any one of us
But each of us gives it life
The world is not the repetition of one voice
Peace is not one chosen note
To be accepted as part of the whole
No one should have to lose a language
Let every story retain its color
Let every name remain unchanged
Many voices do not weaken us
They turn the world into a song
Three voices, one song
No one should have to disappear
We do not have to sound the same
In order to live in harmony
Keep the line that belongs only to you
Listen to the movement of the other voices
Harmony does not mean becoming one voice
It means leaving room for every voice
We did not become one voice
We became one song
Peru | Quechua
Original Lyrics in Quechua
Apurimaq mayu patapi, paqariypi
Pachamamaman, apukunaman haywanchis
Tawa ayllukuna kuska hamunku
Sapa wasi q’oya q’iswanta apamun
Mana chaka p’akikunanta suyanchischu
Wata kutin, nuqanchispas kutimunchis
Q’iswa q’iswawan, maki makiwan
Chaka mayu hawanpi musuqmanta sayarin
Huk q’iswa sapallan mana apawanchischu
Sapa wata musuq llank’ayta munan
Q’oyapa kallpanllawan mana kawsanchu
Kutimusqanchisraykum Q’eswachaka kawsan
Q’iswa q’iswawan hatun waskha tukunku
Ñawpaq watapa chakanta kacharinku
Apurimaq mayuman urmachinku
Musuq waskhakuna wayq’uta chimpanku
Mana huk ayllullachu chakayuq kan
Sapa wasipa llank’aynin chakapi kawsan
Musuq chakaqa qayllapi sayan
Chaywanpas runakuna kuska huñunakunku
Chaka iskay patata, llank’ay runakunata huñun
Hawkay kawsayta kayhinata simp’isunchis
Manaraq p’akikuptin musuqyachisunchis
Kuska llank’aspa kuska chimpanchis
Q’iswa q’iswawan, maki makiwan
Chaka mayu hawanpi musuqmanta sayarin
Huk q’iswa sapallan mana apawanchischu
Sapa wata musuq llank’ayta munan
Q’oyapa kallpanllawan mana kawsanchu
Kutimusqanchisraykum Q’eswachaka kawsan
Hamuq wawakuna mayuman chayaptinku
Nuqanchis kutimusqanchisraykum chimpanku
English Translation
Above the Apurímac River, at dawn
We make offerings to Pachamama and the apus
Four communities come together
Each household brings its cord of q’oya grass
We do not wait for the bridge to break
The year returns, and we return too
Cord by cord, hand by hand
The bridge rises again above the river
One cord alone cannot carry us
Every year it needs new work
It does not live by the strength of q’oya alone
Q’eswachaka lives because we return
Cord joined to cord becomes a great rope
They release the bridge of the year before
And let it fall into the Apurímac River
New ropes cross the gorge
The bridge does not belong to one community alone
The work of every household lives within it
The new bridge stands before us
Beside it, the people gather together
The bridge joins two banks and those who labor
Let us braid a peaceful life in the same way
Let us renew it before it breaks
Working together, we cross together
Cord by cord, hand by hand
The bridge rises again above the river
One cord alone cannot carry us
Every year it needs new work
It does not live by the strength of q’oya alone
Q’eswachaka lives because we return
When the children who follow reach the river
They will cross because we returned
Brazil | Brazilian Portuguese
Original Lyrics in Brazilian Portuguese
Na tarde de Itamaracá
O tambor chamou à beira-mar
Poucas mãos formaram a roda
Mais uma chegou para dançar
Cada passo alargou o lugar
Abra a roda, abra o coração
Ninguém perde o seu lugar
Quando uma nova mão se une
Todos têm mais para compartilhar
A roda cresce quando há espaço
Ninguém perguntou quem chegou primeiro
Nem quem já sabia dançar
O passo se aprende entrando
O ritmo ensina a acompanhar
Quem espera fora recebe uma mão
Acolher não é um favor
É o movimento de todos
Ninguém perde o que já tinha
Pertencer se faz lado a lado
Abra a roda, abra o coração
Ninguém perde o seu lugar
Alegria compartilhada se multiplica
A roda cresce, nós crescemos também
Sempre há espaço para mais alguém
Olhe além das mãos unidas
Ainda cabe mais uma mão
English Translation
On an afternoon in Itamaracá
The drum called beside the shore
A few hands formed the circle
One more person came to dance
Every step widened the space
Open the circle, open the heart
No one loses their place
When a new hand joins
Everyone has more to share
The circle grows when there is room
No one asked who arrived first
Or who already knew how to dance
The step is learned by entering
The rhythm teaches us how to move along
The one waiting outside receives a hand
Welcome is not a favor
It is the movement of everyone
No one loses what they already had
Belonging is made side by side
Open the circle, open the heart
No one loses their place
Shared joy multiplies
The circle grows, and we grow too
There is always room for someone else
Look beyond the hands already joined
There is still room for one more hand
Punjab India | Punjabi
Original Lyrics in Punjabi
ਸੰਗਤ ਆਉਣ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ
ਹੱਥ ਆਟਾ ਗੁੰਨਦੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ
ਕੋਈ ਦਾਲ ਚੁੱਲ੍ਹੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਰੱਖਦਾ
ਕੋਈ ਥਾਲ ਕਤਾਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਲਾਉਂਦਾ
ਕਿਸੇ ਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਉੱਚੀ ਥਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ
ਕਿਸੇ ਤਾਜ ਲਈ ਕੁਰਸੀ ਨਹੀਂ
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਨਾ ਕਹੋ ਸਭ ਬਰਾਬਰ ਹਨ
ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲ ਬੈਠੋ , ਇਹ ਸੱਚ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ
ਇੱਕੋ ਰੋਟੀ ਸਾਡੇ ਹੱਥਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ
ਇੱਕੋ ਦਾਲ ਸਾਡੇ ਥਾਲਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ
ਇੱਕੋ ਪੰਗਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੋਈ ਉੱਚਾ ਨਹੀਂ
ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲ ਬੈਠੋ , ਇਹ ਸੱਚ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ
ਕਿਸੇ ਨੇ ਨਾ ਪੁੱਛਿਆ ਕਿੱਥੋਂ ਆਏ
ਨਾ ਧਨ ਪੁੱਛਿਆ, ਨਾ ਕੋਈ ਪਛਾਣ
ਪਰੋਸਦਾ ਹੱਥ ਨੀਵਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ
ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹੱਥ ਵੀ ਉੱਚਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ
ਇੱਕੋ ਫਰਸ਼ ਉੱਤੇ ਰਲ ਕੇ ਖਾਧਾ
ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਕੋਈ ਦਰਜਾ ਨਾ ਰਿਹਾ
ਬੋਲ ਬਰਾਬਰੀ ਦਾ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਕਰਦੇ
ਕੁਰਸੀਆਂ ਫਿਰ ਵੀ ਦਰਜੇ ਰੱਖਦੀਆਂ
ਸੱਚ ਨੂੰ ਹਰ ਕਮਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਸਾਓ
ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਕਰਮ ਬਣਾਓ
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਨਾ ਕਹੋ ਸਭ ਬਰਾਬਰ ਹਨ
ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲ ਬੈਠੋ , ਇਹ ਸੱਚ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ
ਪੰਗਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਕ ਹੋਰ ਥਾਂ ਬਣਾਓ
ਕੋਈ ਭੁੱਖਾ ਦਰ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਨਾ ਰਹੇ
ਇੱਕੋ ਪੰਗਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਭ ਬਰਾਬਰ
ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲ ਬੈਠੋ , ਇਹ ਸੱਚ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ
ਇਹ ਫਰਸ਼ ਸਭ ਲਈ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹਾ ਹੈ
ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲ ਬੈਠੋ , ਇਹ ਸੱਚ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ
English Translation
Before the congregation has even arrived
Hands are already kneading the dough
Someone places the dal upon the stove
Someone arranges the plates in rows
No name is given a higher place
No chair is reserved for a crown
Do not tell me everyone is equal
Sit beside me and make it true
The same roti rests within our hands
The same dal fills our plates
In the same row, no one sits above another
Sit beside me and make it true
No one asked where we had come from
No one asked our wealth or identity
The serving hand was not lower
The receiving hand was not higher
We ate together upon the same floor
No rank remained between us
Words make promises of equality
Yet chairs continue to preserve rank
Let truth dwell within every room
Make the teaching visible in your actions
Do not tell me everyone is equal
Sit beside me and make it true
Make another place within the row
Let no hungry person remain outside the door
In the same row, everyone is equal
Sit beside me and make it true
This floor is open to everyone
Sit beside me and make it true
Aotearoa New Zealand | Te reo Māori
Original Lyrics in Te reo Māori
I tatari mātou ki te waharoa
E mau ana i ngā ingoa o ngā tūpuna
Ka rere te karanga ki te marae ātea
Kāore i tono kia waiho aua ingoa ki waho
Haere mai me tō ake ara
Ka tūtaki ō tātou ingoa i waenganui
Haere mai, whakawhiti mai
Kawea mai tō iwi, tō ingoa
Ka kōrero au mō ōku tūpuna
Ka whakahoki kōrero mai hoki koe
Ehara te rangimārie i te wareware ki ngā rerekētanga
Ko te whakatata kē, kia mōhio ai tātou
Ka tū tētahi ki te kōrero
Ka ara te waiata hei tautoko
Kāore ngā kupu i tū mokemoke
I kōrero koe mō tō whenua
I kōrero au mō te ara i kawe mai i ahau
I rangona ō tātou ingoa, kāore i ngaro
Ka mutu ngā kōrero ōkawa
Ka tū mātou kanohi ki te kanohi
Nā te hongi i whakangāwari te tawhiti i toe
Ka tūtaki te hā ki te hā i runga i te rangimārie
Kātahi mātou ka kai tahi
Kāore he tangata i mahue ki te waharoa
Haere mai, whakawhiti mai
Kawea mai tō iwi, tō ingoa
E kore au e tono kia rite koe ki ahau
Ka tūtaki au ki a koe, ko koe tonu
Ehara te rangimārie i te huri kia ōrite
Ko te whakatata me te mau tonu ki a tātou anō
Kāore mātou i huri kia ōrite
Ka mōhio mātou tētahi ki tētahi
English Translation
We waited at the gateway
Carrying the names of our ancestors
The karanga traveled across the marae ātea
It did not ask us to leave those names outside
Come with the path that is your own
Our names will meet in the space between us
Welcome, cross the distance toward us
Bring your people, bring your name
I will speak of my ancestors
You will answer by speaking too
Peace is not forgetting our differences
It is drawing closer so we may know one another
One person stood to speak
A song arose in support
The words did not stand alone
You spoke of your land
I spoke of the path that brought me here
Our names were heard; they did not disappear
When the formal speeches ended
We stood face to face
The hongi softened the distance that remained
Breath met breath in peace
Then we ate together
No one was left at the gateway
Welcome, cross the distance toward us
Bring your people, bring your name
I will not ask you to become like me
I will meet you as you are
Peace is not changing until we are alike
It is drawing near while remaining ourselves
We did not become the same
We came to know one another
Global Finale | English with a multilingual bridge
Lyrics as Sung
We crossed the world by listening
And found a place in every song
What we learned from one another
Is the music we take home
We began with all the ways we are human
Became ourselves through one another
Made a place beside the stranger
Kept the common fire fed
Waited through the blessing of the third cup
Till every hurried word grew still
The world has many voices
No one voice contains the whole
Every difference brings a teaching
Every welcome makes us known
Peace is all of us remaining whole
And drawing near enough to know
We searched beneath our names and labels
For the person of the heart
Left the notes another voice could carry
Changed the song when “no” was heard
Walked the open path and left it whole
Sang apart and made one harmony
We renewed the bridge together
Before its woven grass could fail
Opened the circle for another hand
Sat where no one rose above
Carried our names across the distance
Met face to face and became known
Amazwi asenza sibe ngabantu
Am na palaas ci sama wet
Abra a roda, abra o coração
ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲ ਬੈਠੋ , ਇਹ ਸੱਚ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ
Haere mai, whakawhiti mai
The world has many voices
Let no living voice be lost
Every bridge must be renewed
Every welcome asks us to cross
We will never sound identical
We were never meant to be
Bring the voice that only you can carry
I will answer with my own
We will never become one voice
We will become one song
English Translation of the Multilingual Bridge
Amazwi asenza sibe ngabantu
Voices make us human
Am na palaas ci sama wet
There is a place beside me
Abra a roda, abra o coração
Open the circle, open the heart
ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲ ਬੈਠੋ , ਇਹ ਸੱਚ ਕਰ ਦਿਓ
Sit beside me and make it true
Haere mai, whakawhiti mai
Welcome. Come, cross the distance toward us
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