Multicultural & Non-English Songbook

Darida

Music and lyrics by Jay Sand

“Darida” is an ancient Ingush love song that, in its original form, is a conversation between a man and a woman he loves (and is “chasing.”) “Darida” means “la la la” in Chechen. Ingushetia is a Russian republic in the Caucases Mountains. When Russians started moving into the Caucases in the mid-1800s some Nakh people resisted, some didn’t. Those who did came to be known as Chechens; they have fought Russia ever since. The Russians called the others Ingush. After World War II Stalin falsely accused the Ingush of collaborating with the Nazis and deported them to Kazakhstan and Siberia. By the time they returned in 1957 most of their territory had become Osset-ruled North Ossetia. Today they mainly live in the republic of Ingushetia, which is located between Chechnya and North Ossetia.

Lyrics

Addy will run and I will follow
Addy will run and I will follow
I’m going to catch her, darida da, I’m going to catch her, darida da.

This can be an active song if the classroom permits, with children chasing each other around the room "Molly will run and I will follow," or, if that seems like too much excitement, kids can pretend to "run" by patting the floor or their legs. Teachers can go around the room naming every student, adding each name as they go along ("Molly will run and I will follow...Molly will run, Lily will run, and I will follow....")

CMN's Multicultural Songbook is an anthology of some of the best songs originating from (or about) countries beyond the United States, often sung in languages other than English. In sharing songs of other cultures, we broaden the global understanding of our children so that they might see themselves as part of a larger world of people, not so unlike themselves, who hope, dream, play and learn in far-away lands sometimes in unfamiliar--but equally interesting--languages.

Find songs about:

Africa, Asian Subcontinent, Australia/Oceana, East Asia/Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe, Latin America/(Mexico)/Caribbean, Middle East, US/Canada, Western Europe

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All songs posted in the CMN Song Library are protected by copyright and are provided by the generosity of the owner/artist. You may perform songs you find here in classrooms and camps without the copyright owner’s permission. For all other performances, you must first obtain a performance license through BMI, SESAC or ASCAP or obtain the copyright owner’s express prior written permission.