| Nawat | Spanish | English | |
| Tunal tit, tunal tit Kan kalaki tunal nuteku tuteku nechkukua, nechkukua kan kalaki tunal nuyulu nuyulu mikia nemi tunal tit (x2) metzneki metzneki chuka tunal tit, tunal tit, tunal ma’ shu(x2) Kan kalaki tunal nuteku tuteku nechkukua, nechkukua kan kalaki tunal nuyulu nuyulu mikia nemi tunal tit (x2) | Fuego de Sol, Fuego de sol Donde se mete el sol mi padre nuestro padre Me duele, me duele Donde se mete el sol mi corazon mi corazon se esta muriendo el fuego de sol (x2) te quiere tequire llora fuego de sol fuego de sol sol no te vayas Donde se mete el so l mi padre nuestro padre Me duele, me duele Donde se mete el sol mi corazon mi corazon se esta muriendo fuego de sol (x2) | Sun’s Fire, Sun’s Fire Where the sun enters my father our father It hurts me, it hurts me Where the sun enters my heart, my heart It is dying sun’s fire (x2) It loves you, it loves you, it cries sun’s fire, sun’s fire sun do not leave Where the sun enters my father our father it hurts me, it hurts me where the son enters My heart, my heart it is dying sun’s fire (x 2) | |
This is a relatively popular song that is taught in some schools in El Salvador. It’s origins are rather unclear and it tends to be taught devoid of its Nahua cultural context. Some have pondered that this song expresses a sadness for the end of the day as the sun enters its home in the west. Our hearts become sad as the fire and heat that the sun gives us, leaves.
Another interpretation suggests that this might be a metaphor for the tunal (life force found in the head) that humans have. When someone dies, their tunal leaves the body and thus they become cold and lifeless. In this vein, the song Kan Kalaki Tunal might speak to the pain and suffering of knowing that a loved one’s tunal has left and gone to miktan (the land of the dead).
After having conversations with Nantzin Sixta from Witzapan, it seems to me that the song might have both contexts. Originally as an ode to the sadness of the fading sun, that is appropriate for other times of loss and mourning.
Here I share a recording that a tajtzin (precious father/elder) from Panchimalco named Amilcar, made of two tajtatzin (pl. of tajtzin) from Nahuizalco.