Koortal

Koortal - With Heart

Tidal
Spotify
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Koortal is a creative alias for Kobi Arthur Morrison. In this music project, Kobi is celebrating one of his cultural backgrounds through music, this culture is Nyoongar, located in the southwest of Western Australia. ‘Koortal’ means ‘with heart’ and has been chosen as the alias in order to express a healthy spirit. The repertoire, written mostly in the Nyoongar language, consists of tunes that bring ideologies and understandings that are reminiscent of the souls of Kobi’s family, friends and ancestors.

Assortment of wooden objects including sticks and a circular item alongside a glass cup of tea on a wooden surface, with the text 'Yeyi Koortal' displayed.

Yeyi - Now

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  • This day, I reflect on my life

    My future unknown

    What are these thoughts inside my head?

    What is happening?

    Perhaps my soul is torn

    I’ll soon have the courage

    Again, I walk upon my path

    Now, this path I walk

    Now, many beautiful thoughts

    Now, I will not stop again

    Now, now, I continue with heart

    Before, I saw myself

    One individual with poor thoughts

    Not now, I am of truthful heart

    My heart is happy, Looking at us

    All peaceful, you

    Have a true heart, strong like the ancient

    Now, this path I walk

    Now, many beautiful thoughts

    Now, I will not stop again

    Now, now, I continue with heart

  • Nidja kedala, Ngany winin Djinang

    Ngany Mila moolap

    Naadjil Nidja kaadadjin bwora Nganyang kaat

    Naatj enjeniny

    Kabin Kadjin djeran

    Ngany Boorda booraka

    karo nganyang bidi Ngany koorliny

    Yeyi, nidja Bidik ngany koorliny

    Yeyi, Boola kwobidak kadatjin

    Yeyi, Ngany Yoowart nganap Karo

    Yeyi, Yeyi, Klayakoorl koortal

    Koora koora, ngany djinang nganyang

    Keyn Baal winyarn kaat

    Yowart yeyi, ngany karni koortak

    Nganyang koort djirpin, Djinanginy Ngalang

    Bandang woonangan, noonook

    Koort-kadak windang-mokiny moorditj Karna

    Yeyi, nidja Bidik ngany koorliny

    Yeyi, Boola kwobidak kadatjin

    Yeyi, Ngany Yoowart nganap Karo

    Yeyi, Yeyi, Klayakoorl koortal

"Moorditjabiny Koortal" text on image with wooden objects in a circle on a textured surface.

Moorditjabiny - Becoming Stronger

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Nookert - Rest

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Dilbi - New shoots

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Keyn-dji - one moment

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Mila-Kadak - Future Holding

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Moorada - Satisfied

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Birdiya - Leader

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Dalang Ngaangk

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  • Follow, follow the sun
    And which way the wind blows
    When this day is done

    Breathe, breathe in the air
    Set your intentions
    Dream with care

    Tomorrow's a new day for everyone
    A brand new moon, brand new sun

    So follow, follow the sun
    The direction of the birds
    The direction of love

    Breathe, breathe in the air
    Cherish this moment
    Cherish this breath

    Tomorrow's a new day for everyone
    A brand new moon, brand new sun

    When you feel life coming down on you, Like a heavy weight
    When you feel this crazy society
    Adding to the strain

    Take a stroll to the nearest water's edge, Remember your place
    Many moons have risen and fallen long, Long before you came

    So which way is the wind blowing
    What does your heart say

    So follow, follow the sun
    And which way the wind blows
    When this day is done

  • Dalang, Dalang Ngaangk
    Koorl Ngooyoonginy
    Kedalak Boorda

    Wowak, wowakiny maar
    Noonan Kaaditjiny
    Karadjiny Koorndarm

    Benang milka Kedala
    Milka mika wer milka ngaangk

    Dalang, Dalang Ngaangk
    Worl-koorl djerap
    Koorliny Koort

    Wowak, wowakiny maar
    Koortal nidja yeyi
    Koortal nidja wowak

    Benang milka Kedala
    Milka mika wer milka ngaangk

    Nginda noonan winin ngarda
    Moordarn-mokiny
    Nginda nidja kart wara baalap
    Koomba Kaarang

    Koorliny Noonan Ngama
    Kaaditj noonan maya
    Boola mika yira wer ngardak
    koora noonan nidja

    Koorl Ngooyoonginy
    Naatj koort Waangken

    Dalang, Dalang Ngaangk
    Koorl Ngooyoonginy
    Kedalak Boorda

Ngoorndiny Kaalang

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  • Out where the river broke
    The bloodwood and the desert oak
    Holden wrecks and boiling diesels
    Steam in forty five degrees

    The time has come
    To say fair's fair
    To pay the rent
    To pay our share

    The time has come
    A fact's a fact
    It belongs to them
    Let's give it back

    How can we dance
    When our earth is turning?
    How do we sleep
    While our beds are burning?

    How can we dance
    When our earth is turning?
    How do we sleep
    While our beds are burning?

    The time has come
    To say fair's fair
    To pay the rent now
    To pay our share

    Four wheels scare the cockatoos
    From Kintore East to Yuendumu
    The Western Desert lives and breathes
    In forty five degrees

    The time has come
    To say fair's fair
    To pay the rent
    To pay our share

    The time has come
    A fact's a fact
    It belongs to them
    Let's give it back

    How can we dance
    When our earth is turning?
    How do we sleep
    While our beds are burning?

    How can we dance
    When our earth is turning?
    How do we sleep
    While our beds are burning?

    The time has come
    To say fair's fair
    To pay the rent
    To pay our share

    The time has come
    A fact's a fact
    It belongs to them
    Let's give it back

    How can we dance
    When our earth is turning?
    How do we sleep
    While our beds are burning?

  • Windji bilya djiran
    Ngoop wer kwongkan boorn
    Kaaditj-kaaditj wer karlang-midi
    Boola boola karlabiny

    Nidja yeyi
    Waangken karna
    Yanginy boya
    Yanginy bandang

    Nidja yeyi
    Nidja karna
    Baalap barang
    Boorda Ngalang Yang

    Yaamen ngalang midar
    Windji koorl boodja?
    Yaamen ngalang ngoorndiny
    Windji kaalang

    Yaamen ngalang midar
    Windji koorl boodja?
    Yaamen ngalang ngoorndiny
    Windji kaalang

    Nidja yeyi
    Waangken karna
    Yanginy boya
    Yanginy bandang

    Dordong weyarnabiny ngolak
    Boyal-ngat marawak
    Marawa kwongkan winin wer wowak
    boola boola karlang

    Nidja yeyi
    Waangken karna
    Yanginy boya
    Yanginy bandang

    Nidja yeyi
    Nidja karna
    Baalap barang
    Boorda Ngalang Yang

    Yaamen ngalang midar
    Windji koorl boodja?
    Yaamen ngalang ngoorndiny
    Windji kaalang

    Yaamen ngalang midar
    Windji koorl boodja?
    Yaamen ngalang ngoorndiny
    Windji kaalang

    Nidja yeyi
    Waangken karna
    Yanginy boya
    Yanginy bandang

    Nidja yeyi
    Nidja karna
    Baalap barang
    Boorda Ngalang Yang

    Yaamen ngalang midar
    Windji koorl boodja?
    Yaamen ngalang ngoorndiny
    Windji kaalang

Nganyang Maya

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  • Six years I’ve been in the desert
    And every night I dream of the sea
    They say home is where you find it
    But will this place ever satisfy me

    For I come from the saltwater people
    We always lived by the sea
    Now I’m out here west of Alice Springs
    With a wife and a family

    And my island home, my island home
    My island home is a waiting for me

    In the evenin’ the dry wind blows
    from the hills and across the plain
    I close my eyes and I’m standin’
    in a boat on the sea again

    And I’m holding that long turtle spear
    And I feel I’m close now,
    to where it must be

    And My Island Home is a waitin’ for me

    And my island home, my island home
    My island home is a waiting for me

  • Boola bonar, ngany winin kwongkan
    Bandang kedalak, maambakoort koorndarm
    Baalap waangken mayak noonook djinang
    Mining boorda nidja moorada ngany

    Ngany woort koorl kabikariny moorda
    Ngalang winin maambakoort bardak
    Yeyi ngany nidja winin marawa
    Nganyang moort wer koordamart

    Nganyang maya, nganyang maya
    Nganyang maya yelakitjiny ngany-ak

    Karnamook djool maar nooyaginy
    karda yal, kwongkan karda werda
    djinang-boort wer ngany yaakiny
    Bo bokidja, maambakoort karo

    wer ngany barang woori kitj
    Ngany kaaditj bardak
    Windji baal nyin

    Nganyang maya yelakitjiny ngany-ak

    Nganyang maya, nganyang maya
    Nganyang maya yelakitjiny ngany-ak