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.

Second version

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.

Meaning

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.

Symbols

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.

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
Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia: Lithuanian folk songs
Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia: calendar songs
LLTI: Lithuanian Folk Songbook

Common questions

Oh Ta Ta, Beautiful Kupolė: what kind of song is this?

It is a calendrical ritual kupolinė song sung during Joninės, or Kupolinės, with the refrain "oi ta ta."

What is kupolė?

Kupolė is a ritual summer herb or plant associated with Joninės. In the song it is addressed as a living being and asked where it has been.

Why is John's rye the most beautiful?

The finest rye marks harvest abundance linked with John and Joninės; from this abundance come the song's marriage and feasting mood.

How is the second version different?

The second version is almost identical, differing mainly in spelling and a few forms, such as "daboti" instead of "dabocie" and "ženytis" instead of "žanycies."