Rockzanehere’s “Yelavalele” from the album Kingston uses a traditional work chant to tell a story. With lyrics by Arivu and music by G. V. Prakash Kumar, it begins with a woman calling the ocean an enemy. She tells her love, “You’re the catamaran,” her only protection against the dangerous water.
Yelavalele
Rockzanehere • From “Kingston”
Lyricist
Arivu
Composer
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Kingston’s Yelavalele Lyrics Translation
The scope of the song widens when the woman notes that “all my sisters are in pain.” This lyric shows her fear is not hers alone but is shared among the women of the shore. A later line about a ship triggers the memory of her father, suggesting he was lost at sea.
Valaiyeduththu VaraneHe’s coming, taking his net
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
En Kadalukulla PovuravuMy love is a bond with the sea
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Chaththuru Varane YeleThe enemy is coming, hey
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Kattumaram Neethan YeleYou’re the catamaran, hey
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Yelavalagi Ye LagiOh, beautiful one, oh
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Valaiyeduththu VaraneHe’s coming, taking his net
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
En Kadalukulla PovuravuMy love is a bond with the sea
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Chaththuru Varane YeleThe enemy is coming, hey
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Kattumaram Neethan YeleYou’re the catamaran, hey
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Yelavalagi Ye LagiOh, beautiful one, oh
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Muththumani PoleLike a precious pearl
Yelavale YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Rasapuththiran VanthaneMy handsome prince has arrived
Yelavale YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Alaiyadikkuthe AvaleThe waves are crashing, my love
Yelavale YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Antha Kadalukkullathan AvaleShe’s right there, inside that sea
Yelavale YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Theenirukkuthe AvaleThere is sweetness, my love
Yelavale YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Antha Kadalukkullathan AvaleShe’s right there, inside that sea
Yelavale YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Kattumaram Neethan YeleYou’re the catamaran, hey
Yelavale Yele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey, hey
Yelavalagi Ye LagiOh, beautiful one, oh
Yelavale Yele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey, hey
Yelavalagi Ye LagiOh, beautiful one, oh
Yelavale Yele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey, hey
Yelavalagi Ye LagiOh, beautiful one, oh
Yelavale Yele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey, hey
Eerakkattile YeleIn the damp wind, hey
Yelavale Yele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey, hey
Emperumngkanji PogathoWon’t my humble gruel go cold?
Yelavale Yele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey, hey
Akkaraiyile AvaleOn the distant shore, my love
Yelavale Yele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey, hey
En Akkamarellam NogaAll my sisters are in pain
Yelavale Yele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey, hey
Kadalukku ThayammaThe sea is a mother
Yelavale Yele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey, hey
En Kanneer Kandaya AvaleDid you even see my tears, my love?
Yelavale Yele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey, hey
Yelamma Ye LagiOh mother, oh
YeleleHey, hey
Valaiyeduththu VaraneHe’s coming, taking his net
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
En Kadalukulla PovuravuMy love is a bond with the sea
Yelavale YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Chaththuru Varane YeleThe enemy is coming, hey
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Kattumaram Neethan YeleYou’re the catamaran, hey
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Yelavalagi Ye LagiOh, beautiful one, oh
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Neththili Meenaga YeleLike an anchovy fish, hey
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Rasapuththiran Varane YeleMy handsome prince is coming, hey
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Kappala Kandane YeleHe saw a ship, hey
Yelavalele YeleOh, heave-ho, hey
Engappanum Ondare Nyapagam YeleAnd my father is just a memory, hey
The constant “Yelavalele” chant anchors a story of anxious waiting. The song expands from one woman’s fear to a shared community pain and inherited loss. The result is a complete statement on the cyclical risk and grief within fishing communities.
