[“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?)