For our children are gone,
    While those of our friends remain.
      Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Come back, nephew, come back, we miss you;
      Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Come back to us, our lost ones,
    We have presents for you.
      Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Oh, my brother, come back to me,
      Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Come back, my brother, I am lonely,
      Ai-ya-ya-yai.
My brother come back and we
    Will give you a small present,
      Ai-ya-ya-yai-yae-yai, etc.
My children, where are you?
      Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Come back to us, our children.
    We are lonely and sad.
      Ai-ya-ya-yai.

Come, my brother,
Return to us again;
We wait for you;

Come, brother, come.
      Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Return once more.
Our mother, come back to us.
      Ai-ya-ya-yai.
Return, our father;
We wait for you;
Come back to us,
And we, who are lonely,
Will give you food.
      Ai-ya-ya-yai.

Dead ones, come here;
      A-la’-ai-ya’
Come here, do.
    sealskins for a tent you will get,
      A-la’-ai-ya’
Come here, do.
    reindeer skins for a bed you will get,
      A-la’-ai-ya’

We will sing a song.
We will go down the current.
The waves will rise;
The waves will fall.
The dogs will growl at us.