"A di mi yere yu friyari" is a very popular birthday song in Surinam. The lyrics are in the Surinam language of Sranan Tongo. The song consists of only two verses of which either the first or both can be sung. Kids like to shout "hachoo" (an onomatopoeia of a sneeze) after the first verse just because it rhymes.
Contents
- History of the Lyrics
- History of the Tune
- A dey mi yere yu verjari
- A di mi yere yu friyari English translation
- References
The tune is most famously used in "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", a hymn from the American civil war, better known for its refrain "Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!".
History of the Lyrics
The origin of the lyrics of "A di mi yere yu friyari" are unknown.
History of the Tune
The written record of the tune can be traced to 1858 in a book called The Union Harp and Revival Chorister, selected and arranged by Charles Dunbar, and published in Cincinnati. The book contains the words and music of a song "My Brother Will You Meet Me", with the music and the opening line "Say my brother will you meet me". In December 1858 a Brooklyn Sunday school published a version called "Brothers, Will You Meet Us" with the words and music of the "Glory Hallelujah" chorus, and the opening line "Say, brothers will you meet us", under which title the song then became known. The hymn is often attributed to William Steffe, though Steffe's role may have been more as transcriber and/or modifier of a commonly sung tune.
"A dey mi yere yu verjari"
A dey mi yere yu verjari A dey mi yere yu verjari A dey mi yere yu verjarii, dan mi kon versteri yu. A no fu yu kuku, ano fu yu sopi A no fu yu kuku, ano fu yu sopi A no fu yu kuku, ano fu yu sopi, ma mi kon versteri yu."A di mi yere yu friyari" (English translation)
Because I heard it is your birthday Because I heard it is your birthday Because I heard it is your birthday, I have come to congratulate you. Not for your cake, not for your drinks Not for your cake, not for your drinks Not for your cake, not for your drinks, but I have come to congratulate you.(*fersteri variants: fristeri, frusteri)