Oh Ta Ta, Beautiful Kupolė lyrics and meaning

Oi, ta ta, kupolia graži,
Dai kur tu buvai, oi, ta ta?

Oi, ta ta, laukely buvau
Rugių dabocie, oi ta ta.

Oi, ta ta, dai ko rugeliai
Ažvis gražesni, oi ta ta?

Oi, ta ta, Jono rugeliai
Ažvis gražesni, oi ta ta.

Oi, ta ta, muožna žanycies
Dai Jonukėliui, oi ta ta.

Oi, ta ta, muožna padaryc
Saldaus alucio, oi ta ta.

Oi, ta ta, muožna priprašyc
Mielų svetelių, oi ta ta.

Oh Ta Ta, Beautiful Kupolė — second version lyrics

Oi ta ta, kupole graži,
Dai kur tu buvai, oi ta ta

Oi ta ta, laukely buvau
Rugių daboti, oi ta ta

Oi ta ta, dai ko rugeliai
Užvis gražesni, oi ta ta

Oi ta ta, Jono rugeliai
Užvis gražesni, oi ta ta

Oi ta ta, možna ženytis
Dai Jonukėliui, oi ta ta

Oi ta ta, možna padaryt
Saldaus alučio, oi ta ta

Oi ta ta, možna priprašyt
Mielų svetelių, oi ta ta.

Oh Ta Ta, Beautiful Kupolė: song interpretation

This song, with the refrain "Oi, ta ta," can be understood as a Joninės, or Kupolinės, song. At the beginning the beautiful kupolė is addressed and asked where she has been; she answers that she was in the field watching the rye. This image can be interpreted as summer work at the time of ripening.

Asked why the rye is most beautiful, kupolė answers that John's rye is the most beautiful of all. This image can be understood as harvest abundance linked with the name John and the Joninės feast.

At the end it is said that Jonukas can marry, sweet ale can be made, and dear guests can be invited. These images can be interpreted as the mood of marriage, feasting, and celebration arising from summer abundance. That is one possible meaning, but the motifs of Joninės and harvest plenty are clear in the song.

Oh Ta Ta, Beautiful Kupolė: symbols and phrases

Beautiful kupolė
The sung-about summer kupolė. It marks a ritual herb or plant of the Joninės season.
John's rye
The finest rye in the field. It marks harvest abundance linked with Joninės.
Jonukas marrying
The possibility that little John may marry. It marks the season of marriage.
Sweet ale and dear guests
Ale is made and guests are invited. They mark feasting and celebration.

Oh Ta Ta, Beautiful Kupolė: song history

"Oh Ta Ta, Beautiful Kupolė" belongs to calendrical ritual summer songs - kupolinės, sung during Joninės, also called Kupolinės. The address to the beautiful kupolė, a ritual summer herb, the question-and-answer dialogue, and the constant refrain "oi ta ta" are typical of this season's songs, where summer ripening work, harvest expectations, and the name John intertwine.

No exact recording place or time is given on this page, so the song is presented by genre; a second, nearly identical version of the text is also given, differing mainly in spelling and a few forms such as "daboti" and "ženytis." The images of John's finest rye, the possibility of marriage, sweet ale, and invited guests connect the calendrical feast with youth, marriage, and banquet mood.

sources

  • Lietuvių liaudies dainynas, vols. 1-23, Vilnius 1980-2011 (LLTI)
  • N. Laurinkienė. Mito atšvaitai lietuvių kalendorinėse dainose, Vilnius 1990
  • Lietuvių liaudies dainų katalogas, 6 vols., Vilnius 1972-1986

Oh Ta Ta, Beautiful Kupolė: sources