Carnegie Hall

Aim: How are music and lyrics combined in a song to convey emotion?
Summary: Students learn the refrain of “Shen Genatsvale”; explore the differences between two versions of the song; and explore the meaning of the lyrics.
Standards: National 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11
Vocabulary: emotions, lyrics, refrain

Ilusha wrote “Shen Genatsvale” for his friends and relatives whom he only gets to see once in a while when he visits Georgia. The refrain “shen genatsvale” does not have a direct translation; it embodies a feeling of caring and connection between people that remains strong even when they are separated. The rest of the lyrics underline the emotions of love, longing, and devotion expressed in the phrase.

• The expression “shen genatsvale” is a very special phrase in Georgian that cannot be fully translated in English. It loosely means, “Let me take your burden if you are ever in need,” or “I give myself to you,” and is similar to saying “I love you” to a close friend or family member.
• Read the lyrics to “Shen Genatsvale” aloud to your students and have them reflect on the translation.
  • What is the overall emotion or feeling in the lyrics to this song?
  • Who is someone that you have not seen in a long time?
  • What is one thing that you wish you could say to them?
  • What phrase can we use in English that expresses the same feeling as “shen genatsvale”?
• On Write Your Own Version of “Shen Genatsvale” (PDF), your students will write verses inspired by “Shen Genatsvale.” They will have a choice of using “shen genatsvale” as their refrain, or writing an English phrase with the same meaning.

In Am I Small? / Patara Var? by Philipp Winterberg and Nadja Wichmann, join Tamia on a journey in which she compares herself to various animals and elements in nature as she asks the question, “Am I small?”