Across the Field lyrics and meaning

Anoj pusėj lauko
Dvi antelės plauko
Joja mano bernužėlis
Ant žirgelio lauku

Mergele mano,
gražūs rūbai tavo
Aš ant tavo gražių rūbų
Žirgą muštravojau

Mergele mano,
Gražumėlis tavo
Aš ant tavo gražumėlio
Šimtą mylių jojau

Mergele mano,
Razumėlis tavo
Aš ant tavo razumėlio
Į šliūbą pristojau

Berneli, mano
Gražus žirgas tavo
Aš ant tavo gražaus žirgo
Joti nenorėjau

Across the Field: song interpretation

This song can be understood as a love and courtship song shaped as an exchange of praise between a young woman and a young man. The opening image, with two ducks swimming on the far side of the field while the young man rides his horse across the fields, creates a springlike mood favorable to love. In Lithuanian songs, two ducks often signify a pair, so they may be understood here as a sign of a possible future union.

The young man praises the young woman in sequence: her fine clothing, her beauty, and her reason, saying that for them he trained his horse, rode a hundred miles, and even came to the church wedding. This increasing praise can be read as the resolve of a young man in love, ready to do anything for the young woman.

The last stanza turns unexpectedly: the young woman praises the young man's horse, but says she did not want to ride on it. That line may be understood either as a subtle refusal or as a playful, flirtatious answer. This is only one possible meaning, but the exchange of compliments and the courtship game are clearly visible in the song.

Across the Field: symbols and phrases

Two ducks
In Lithuanian songs, ducks swimming as a pair often signify lovers. Here they create an anticipation of love and pairing.
Little horse
The horse ridden by the young man shows his youth, resolve, and courtship journey. For the young woman's sake it is even trained.
Razumelis
An old dialect word meaning reason, sense, or understanding. The young man praises not only the young woman's beauty but also her wisdom.
Sliubas
A church wedding. The phrase about coming to the wedding shows that the young man's intentions are serious and marital.

Across the Field: song history

The song belongs to love and courtship songs and is built as a dialogue of praise between a young woman and a young man. The young man successively praises the young woman's clothing, beauty, and intelligence, each time adding what he has done because of them: trained his horse, ridden a hundred miles, and come to the church wedding. The final stanza turns unexpectedly: the young woman praises the horse, but says she did not want to ride.

This structure of gradually rising praise followed by an unexpected resolution is characteristic of dialogic love songs. The page gives no specific recording data, so the song is presented by genre.

sources

  • Lietuvių liaudies dainynas, vols. 1-23, Vilnius 1980-2011 (LLTI)
  • Catalogue of Lithuanian Folk Songs, 6 vols., Vilnius 1972-1986

Across the Field: sources