Kanyoni kanja, kanyoni kanja (Little bird, little bird),
Gakugwanja na mītheko (Laughing and rolling around).
Ndakoria atīrī, ndakoria atīrī (I asked him, I asked him),
Wamīcore watinda ku? (Little striped one where have you been)?
Ndatinda kairi, Ndatinda kairi (At the quarry, at the quarry),
Ngiaragania mbīrīgītī (Spreading little stones).
Ī mbīrīgītī, ī mbīrīgītī (All the rocks I left, all the rocks I left),
Na ndinainū, kia kagoto (And I lost all my little stones.).
Kagūa irianī? Kagūa irianī (You lost them where? You lost them where)?
Gwa cū cū wa kamirūkio (All the stones fell into the sea).