Shí naashá

"Shí naashá" ([ʃí naːʃá]; "I Am Going") is a Navajo song, composed in 1868 to commemorate the release of the Navajo from internment at Fort Sumner. The song's lyrics express the elation of the Navajo people on the occasion of their return to their homeland.

The word hózhǫ́ ('beauty'), used throughout the song, is a major concept in Navajo spirituality.

Lyrics

Navajo original

Latin script	IPA transcription
Ahala ahalago naashá ghą Shí naashá ghą, shí naashá ghą, Shí naashá lágo hózhǫ’ la. Shí naashá ghą, shí naashá ghą, Shí naashá, ladee hózhǫ’ǫ’ lá.	[a.ha.la a.ha.la.ko naː.ʃá ɰã] [ʃí naː.ʃá ɰã ǀ ʃí naː.ʃá ɰã ǀ] [ʃí naː.ʃá laː.ko hó.ʒõʔ la ‖] [ʃí naː.ʃá ɰã ǀ ʃí naː.ʃá ɰã ǀ] [ʃí naː.ʃá ǀ la.teː hó.ʒõʔ.õʔ lá ‖]

English translation

I am going in freedom

I am going, I am going,

I am going in beauty.

I am going, I am going,

I am going, beauty is all around me.

References

• Koskoff, Ellen, ed. (2000). Garland Encyclopedia of World Music, Volume 3: The United States and Canada. Garland Publishing. ISBN 0-8240-4944-6.