Re/sound: Songs of Wisconsin
Maa Vue performs “Txiv Lub Xim Xaus
Clip: Special | 5m 53sVideo has Closed Captions
Maa Vue performs her song, “Txiv Lub Xim Xaus," which honors her father.
Maa Vue performs her song, “Txiv Lub Xim Xaus, “ which honors her father and his passion for playing the xim xaus, a traditional Hmong string instrument. In the song Maa also reflects on how time with your loved ones should be cherished.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Re/sound: Songs of Wisconsin is a local public television program presented by PBS Wisconsin
Educator resources with standards alignment and extension activities are available on the PBS Wisconsin Education website. Funding for Re/Sound: Songs from Wisconsin is provided by the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation, the Focus Fund for Education, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.
Re/sound: Songs of Wisconsin
Maa Vue performs “Txiv Lub Xim Xaus
Clip: Special | 5m 53sVideo has Closed Captions
Maa Vue performs her song, “Txiv Lub Xim Xaus, “ which honors her father and his passion for playing the xim xaus, a traditional Hmong string instrument. In the song Maa also reflects on how time with your loved ones should be cherished.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Where to Watch Re/sound: Songs of Wisconsin
Re/sound: Songs of Wisconsin is available to stream on pbs.org and the PBS app.
♪["Txiv Lub Xim Xaus" melody begins]♪ - Maa Vue: I created this song called "Txiv Lub Xim Xaus," which means, "Father's Violin."
I featured my dad playing his violin, the xim xaus, in the intro and in the outro.
It just came to me naturally, and, cried, cried, cried, cried, cried.
Every-- couldn't even write a single word.
I just got the melody.
♪[humming melody]♪ It's just like, tears are just coming.
It's like, "Come on, Maa.
"You're not even saying the words and you're already bawling your eyes out."
♪[singing "Txiv Lub Xim Xaus"]♪ The message here I guess I'm trying to say is that use your time to spend it with the ones you love, as much as you can.
♪[Maa Vue singing]♪ ♪ ♪ ♪[Vang Vue playing xim xaus]♪ ♪Txhua zaj nkauj kuv tau hnov♪ (Of all the songs I've heard) ♪Pheem muaj ib zaj kuv nco♪ (There is one I always miss) ♪Tsis muaj lus tsis muaj suab♪ (It has no words, it has no voice) ♪Tsuas yog nco thaum npaum suav♪ (Only in my dreams do I remember) ♪Xyov npau suav puas yog tiag?♪ (But is this dream even real?)
♪Tau los pom kuv txiv ib pliag♪ (Dreamt of seeing my Father for a moment) ♪Yog sib ntsib hauv npau suav♪ (If we only are to meet in dream) ♪Kuv yuav ntsia kuv txiv tsis dhuav♪ (I will never grow tired of looking at my Father) ♪Txawm cim tsis tau lub ntsej lub muag♪ (Even though I can't recognize the features of his face) ♪Cim tau lub suab raj kuv txiv qoj♪ (I recognize the instrument that my Father plays) ♪Xim xaus, xim xaus♪ (Violin, violin) ♪Qoj kuv txiv zaj nkauj♪ (Play my Father's song) ♪Xim xaus, xim xaus♪ (Violin, violin) ♪Thaum tsis muaj txiv lawm♪ (If when there is no longer Father) ♪Leej twg yuav nco mloog?♪ (Who will remember to listen?)
♪Thaum tseem me thaum tseem yau♪ (When I was little, when I was young) ♪Txiv khwv nrhiav noj nrhiav haus (Father worked and searched for food)♪ ♪Txia ua kab ua noog cawm♪ (Transformed to bees and birds to provide) ♪Tsis pub mob tsis pub ntshaw♪ (Didn't let us fall ill, didn't let us long for wants) ♪Txiv lub suab hais lub luag ntxhi♪ (Father's voice gleams with laughter) ♪Lub suab raj no yog ntxiv li♪ (This instrument belongs to Father) ♪Peb ua neeg nyob mloog txiv lus♪ (As we live our lives, listen to Father's words) ♪Vim suab raj no yog txiv tug♪ (For this instrument's voice is Fathers') ♪Txawm cim tsis tau lub ntsej lub muag♪ (Even though I can't recognize the features of his face) ♪Cim tau lub suab raj kuv txiv qoj♪ (I recognize the instrument that my Father plays) ♪Xim xaus, xim xaus♪ (Violin, violin) ♪Qoj kuv txiv zaj nkauj♪ (Play my Father's song) ♪Xim xaus, xim xaus♪ (Violin, violin) ♪Thaum tsis muaj txiv lawm♪ (If when there is no longer Father) ♪Leej twg yuav nco mloog♪ (Who will remember to listen?)
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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Re/sound: Songs of Wisconsin is a local public television program presented by PBS Wisconsin
Educator resources with standards alignment and extension activities are available on the PBS Wisconsin Education website. Funding for Re/Sound: Songs from Wisconsin is provided by the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation, the Focus Fund for Education, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.
