Hello/We Are Happy
Country: Uganda
Lyrics:
We are happy, we are happy on this day.
Zdravstvuite, hello hello
We are happy, we are happy on this day.
("Zdravstvuite" is hello in Russian.)
More info: Wait, Uganda isn’t in Eastern Europe...or the Baltics! We sing this Ugandan "hello" song every season. The Abayudya of Uganda are a small community of about 500 Luganda-speaking Bagandans who have been practicing Judaism for over 80 years. Abayudaya community members Rabbi Gershom Sizomu and his brother JJ Keki wrote these two welcome songs that are combined here into one.
The Abayudaya have recorded four CDs of African-Jewish music, including
Shalom Everybody Everywhere and Abayudaya: Music from the Jewish People of Uganda.
Ale Brider
Country: Russia/Poland
Language: Yiddish
Lyrics:
Un mir zainen ale brider,
Oi, oi, ale brider,
Un mir zingen ale brider,
Oi, oi, oi!
We are saying we're all brothers, oi, oi, we're all brothers.
We are saying we're all sisters, oi, oi, we're all sisters.
More info:
This Yiddish song from the early 20th century was big in “"Bundist” circles. There are many great versions available on-line; if you can excuse the camera-person for dancing you'll enjoy this one by the Klezmatics.
Az Der Rebe Zingt
Country: Russia/Poland
Language: Yiddish
Lyrics:
Az der rebe zingt, az der rebe zingt,
Zingn ale khasidim
When the rabbi sings, when the rabbi sings
Everyone sings with the rabbi.
More info:
Another "Old World" Yiddish song about how much Hasidic Jews revere their rabbi (teacher/community leader). Often performers like these guys make this song light and funny, though this Leonard Cohen version is neither and it's still pretty great.
Darida
Country: Russia (Ingushetia)
Language: Chechen
Lyrics:
Addy will run and I will follow
Addy will run and I will follow
I'm going to catch her, darida da, I'm going to catch her, darida da.
More info:
"Darida" is an ancient Ingush love song that, in its original form, is a conversation between a man and a woman he loves (and is "chasing.") "Darida" means "la la la" in Chechen.
Ingushetia is a Russian republic in the Caucases Mountains. When Russians started moving into the Caucases in the mid-1800s some Nakh people resisted, some didn't. Those who did came to be known as Chechens; they have fought Russia ever since. The Russians called the others Ingush. After World War II Stalin falsely accused the Ingush of collaborating with the Nazis and deported them to Kazakhstan and Siberia. By the time they returned in 1957 most of their territory had become Osset-ruled North Ossetia. Today they mainly live in the republic of Ingushetia, which is located between Chechnya and North Ossetia.
Listen to "Darida" as performed by Tamara Yandieva and Ruslan Naurbiev. Many thanks to Waynakh.com for help with a translation from the original Chechen.
Dilmano Dilbero
Country: Bulgaria
Language: Bulgarian
Lyrics:
Paprika! Paprika!! Paprika!!! PAPRIKA!!!!
Dilmano, dilbero
Kaji mi kak se sadi pipero
More info:
Bulgarian music is known for its complicated asymmetrical rhythms In one traditional version of this song, the first line is in 8/16 (which will mean something to those of you who know a bit about music), then the “kajui mi kak se sadi” part is 11/18, then it goes to 5/16, then back to 8/16...wow. We've tamed the rhythms a bit for the purpose of singing it with two year olds, though ideally it will still have a rhythmic kick.
"Dilmano Dilbero" is important both in Bulgarian weddings and as a labor/work song, tying together the importance of both life-cyle events like marriages and the regular coming of the harvests. You can learn more about the song, including what happened to "Dilmano Dilbero" in Japan, in these pages from Performing Democracy: Bulgarian Music and Musicians in Transition
Check out this really enjoyable version on YouTube.
Dumbala Dumba
Country: Romania
Language: Romani
Lyrics:
Lyrics:
I may not be a pretty one but I can sing
I may not be a pretty one but I can sing 'bout anything.
Hai, dumba dumba dumba...
Ooh dai dumalele
Dum daka dumelaka dai dumalele
Dika daka dumelake dai dumalele
Dai dumelaka dai dumalele
Dika daka dumelake dai dumalele
More info:
Listen to this great version by Romanian Roma band extraordinaire, Taraf de Haïdouks. Don't miss this video of Taraf de Ha&oiml;douks performing in their village from the amazing documentary about Romani music, Latcho Drom.
Garnitur Spod Igly
Country: Poland
Language: Polish
Lyrics:
Garnitur spod igly, this suit I am wearing
Makes me look fancy, makes me feel daring
I am much better than you, I suppose, because I'm wearing expensive clothes
I must be smart and I must be funny because my clothing costs lots of money.
That is my story and I'm sticking to it...
Though you know it's a joke 'cause you can see right through it.
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
Garnitur spod igly, this pretend suit I'm wearing
Makes me look fancy, makes me feel daring
I am much better than you, I suppose, because I'm wearing imaginary clothes
I must be smart, I must be funny, my made-up clothing costs lots of money.
That was my story and I stuck to it...
Though you knew it was a joke 'cause you could see right through it.
More info:
A Polish labor movement song from the "Solidarity" days of the '80s that talks, in the original, about how the elite wear fancy clothes while the rest of the Poles dress more simply. The original, found on the Smithsonian Folkways album, Solidarity!--Postulat 22: Songs from the New Polish Labor Movement, is a darkly comic song about class and power conflicts in Communist Poland.
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Hinta Palinta
Country: Hungary
Language: Hungarian
Lyrics:
Hinta palinta,
Swing little soldier
Jump into the river...
Zsupsz!
More info:
See Hinta Palinta in action.
Kad ja podjoh
Country: Bosnia
Language: Bosnian
Lyrics:
Kad ja podjoh na Benbasu, na Benbasu na vodu, ja povedoh b'jelo jagnje, b'jelo jagnje sa sobom.
When I went to Benbasa, to Benbasa for water to drink, I took a lamb, I took a lamb, I took a small white lamb with me
When I went to Benbasa, I looked for my love, she was standing in the window. I said, “Love, I will return.”
Kad ja podjoh na Benbasu, na Benbasu na vodu, I took a lamb, I took a lamb, I took a small white lamb with me.
More info::
A popular Bosnian “sevdah” derived from a Sephardic melody.
Watch this beautiful version on YouTube.
Kalinka
Country: Russia
Language: Russian
Lyrics:
Under the green pine tree, under the green pine tree,
lay down my baby, rock to sleep
Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya!
More info:
A favorite of the Rusian Red Army choir -- Watch their very silly version. "Kalinka" refers to a berry bush known as a "snowball tree."
Kenga e Nuses
Country: Albania
Language: originally in Albanian
Lyrics:
Who will be married? Molly will be married (3x)
Oh so soon, oh so soon
Time, and time, then Molly will be married (3x)
Oh so soon, oh so soon
Who will be happy? Molly will be happy (3x)
Oh so soon, oh so soon
More info::
An Albanian wedding song. Listen to Refat Sulejmani's version, accompanied by Albanian dancing.
Ketri Ketri
Country: Hungary
Language: Romani
Lyrics:
Jaj Ketri Ketri ale pala mande
More info:
This Hugarian Roma love song accompanies a circle dance.
Kiša pada
Country: Serbia/Croatia
Language: Serbian
Lyrics:
Kiša pada, trava raste, gora zeleni
More info:
Thanks to Mama Lisa's World for the melody and lyrics.
Little Rabbit
Country: Hungary
Language: Hungarian
Lyrics:
Where are you going, little rabbit?
Ingom-bingom talibe
, tutalibe malibe
Into the forest.
Why do you go there, little rabbit?
Ingom-bingom talibe
, tutalibe malibe
I'm looking for sticks.
Why do you need them, little rabbit?
Ingom-bingom talibe
, tutalibe malibe
to build a garden.
Why do you need that little garden?
Ingom-bingom talibe
, tutalibe malibe
To plant some flowers.
Why do you plant them, little rabbit?
Ingom-bingom talibe
, tutalibe malibe
They're for my mom.
May You All Prosper
Country:Russia
Language:originally in Russian
Lyrics:
May you all prosper, may good things keep flowing
For we are now leaving and homeward are going
We had such a good time at your celebration
We've not seen one better across the whole nation
May harvests of plenty reward your endeavor
Your storehouse be laden with good food forever
Your ovens shall send forth the smell of good roasting
And for an occasion a glassful for toasting
More info:
Found on the Smithsonian Folkways album, Contemporary and Traditional Russian Songs. (That is, "contemporary" as of 1966.)
Měla Babka
Country:Czech Republic
Language:Czech
Lyrics:
Měla babka čtyři jabka a dědoušek jen dvĕ,
Měla babka čtyři jabka a dědoušek jen dvĕ,
Grandma had four apples, grandpa had two,
Please give me an apple grandma, any one will do.
More info:
A Czech children's song set to a mazurka, a traditional Polish dance in 3/4 time.
Watch little kiddies dance the mazurka to "Měla babka".
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Shepherd's Life Az Elet
Country: Hungary
Language: Hungarian
Lyrics:
Hej, elet, elet kanaszelet, ez aztan az elet
There is nothing better than a shepherd's life, az elet
There is nothing better than a shepherd's life, az elet
There is nothing better than a shepherd's life, az elet
If you don't believe me then I can prove you wrong
I am very happy when I sing my shepherd's song
More info:
Is there nothing better than a shepherd's life? The song sure thinks so. So does Suzy Sann who's singing it on the 1957 Smithsonian Folkways album, Folk Songs of Hungary.
(This particular melody is part of a medley and you may not be able to hear it through the free sample.)
Siki Siki Baba
Country:Macedonia
Language:(original) Turkish or Arabic
Lyrics:
Siki Siki Baba
Ai ai ai ai ai ai...!
More info:
This song is orginally Turkish or Arabic in origin -- "siki siki baba" seems to mean "strict strict father" -- but worked its way to Macedonia where the Kocani Orkestar arranged this amazing version (which is only obscured by a passers-by rear end for a few seconds). You should definitely also watch
a video of this awe-inspiring version by the U.S.-based Balkan brass-influenced band, Beirut.
Sto Mi e Milo
Country: Macedonia
Language: Macedonian
Lyrics:
Sto mi e milo, milo i drago
I'd love to have a little shop in the town of Struga
More info:
Watch this wonderful performance of "Sto Me E Milo" by the Pennywhistlers.
Tancuj Tancuj
Country: Czech Republic/Moravia
Language: Czech
Lyrics:
Tancuj tancuj, turn around turn around
Dance and dance and soon you will leave the ground
Fly and fly then land in my arms
Winter's cold but I'll keep you warm
More info:
A Czeck/Moravian polka found on the 1956 Smithsonian Folkways album, Folk Songs from Czechoslovakia.
Tuljak
Country: Estonia
Language: Estonian
Lyrics:
Everybody come together, everyone in town's invited
We are going to have a wedding, it will be today.
Wedding, yes we'll have a wedding,
everyone in town's invited
We are going to have a wedding, it will be today.
Hõissa ja trallalla!
Tõnni's going to marry Manni and we're going to have a party
Eat and eat and eat and then we're going to eat some more
Look at them they are so happy, in their eyes the sun is shining
Their whole world is beaming brightly....
Everybody dance!
Hõissa ja trallalla!
More info:
An Estonian folk song that joyfully celebrates a wedding. Estonians love to sing, and they especially love to sing in public. Watch this video of tens of thousands of Estonians singing Tuljak at the 2009 Estonian Song Celebration.
As documented in The Singing Revolution, public singing played a crucial role in enabling a peaceful transition of power in the late '80s/early '90s as Estonia became independent from Soviet rule.
Turėja Liepa
Country: Lithuania
Language: Lithuanian
Lyrics:
Turėja liepa,
Lioj taduvela, taduvo, taduvo,
ratulo ratulo, ratuleli ratulo
Nine lime tree branches blowing in the wind
One of them breaks, oh no!, the wind is blowing again.
Eight lime tree branches blowing in the wind
One of them breaks, oh no!, the wind is blowing again
More info:
A traditional Lithuanian sutartine, meant to be sung by three singers simultaneously in something like a round. Check out this really nice version, then
see how the song becomes an essential part of a Lithuanian wedding.
Vesno Krasna
Country: Ukraine
Language: Ukrainian
Lyrics:
Pretty pretty vesno krasna, we will greet the first of spring
Flowers bloom and grass is growing, hearts so full we have to sing
Bum ba ba ba
Pretty pretty vesno krasna, we will greet the first of spring
We have braved a bitter winter, we can conquer anything
Bum ba ba ba
More info:
Winter can't last forever! A song to celebrate the coming of spring, found on the Smithsonian Folkways album, Kobzari Ukrainian Folk Ensemble.
Goodbye/We Are Happy
Country: Uganda
Lyrics:
We say goodbye but we’re not sad because of all the fun we had
We are happy, we are happy on this day...
Dahsveedaneeya everybody.
More info: We sing this "good-bye" song every season. In many African cultures there is an emphasis on positivity, or at least the appearance of positivity, that is unfamiliar to most Americans. In that spirit, this "good-bye" song is a celebration of the good times we had when we were together. "Do svidanja" is goodbye in Russian.
(And yes, Uganda is still not in Eastern Europe!)
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