Carmel O’Shannessy is an Associate Professor at the School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics, Australian National University. She was resident in Lajamanu community for four years (1998–2001), working to support the teaching and learning of Warlpiri and English in the bilingual education program in the school. Wanta Steven Patrick Pawu-Kurlpurlurnu Jampijinpa is a senior Warlpiri man. He was an ARC Discovery Indigenous Award Fellow at the Australian National University School of Music, 2012–2015. He lives in Lajamanu community with his family. Henry Cooke Anderson Jakamarra was a senior Warlpiri knowledge holder who lived in the Tanami Desert, maintaining and teaching traditional Warlpiri knowledges. Steven Dixon Japanangka was a senior Warlpiri Elder who was involved in community programs such as those to prevent family violence. He lived in Lajamanu community with his family, and passed away in 2023. Myfany Turpin is an Associate Professor in ethnomusicology and linguistics at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, The University of Sydney. Jerry Patrick Jangala OAM is a senior Warlpiri Elder who lives in Lajamanu community with his family and is a central figure of knowledge and authority for both Warlpiri and non-Warlpiri people.

• PrefaceForewordsList of contributorsAcknowledgementsIntroduction to Warlpiri song cyclesVerses 1–38PlatesReferencesAppendix 1: Correspondences between verses in the Yuupurnju and Karntakarnta song cyclesAppendix 2: Sequence of songs on the recordings