Beyond the Green Woods lyrics and meaning

Už žalių girelių
Stovėjo ten dvaras.
Aš nežinau, nežinojau,
Kur mano mergelė. /2×2

Kad ir nežinojau,
Bet tenai nujojau,
Prisirišau bėrą žirgą
Prie rūtų darželio. /2×2

Pririšau žirgelį
Prie rūtų darželio,
Aš pats jaunas bernužėlis ---
Už balto stalelio. /2×2

Atsisėdau dainiai,
Apsiverkiau gailiai,
Kad in mani mergužėla
Pažiūrėjo žvairiai. /2×2

Nors žvairai žiūrėjo,
Bet meiliai kalbėjo,
Per tėvulio didį dvarą
Pati palydėjo. /2×2

Lydėdama kalba,
Kalbėdama verkia:
-Tu, berneli, dobilėli,
Kada tu atjosi? /2×2

Antrąjį kartelį
Aš pas tavi josiu
Tada tavi, mergužėla,
Jaunas palinksmysiu. /2×2

Trečiąjį kartelį
Aš pas tavi josiu,
Tada tavi, mergužėla,
Jaunas nepaliksiu. /2×2

Jau kraitelius veža,
Net žemelė dreba,
Šoka trapsi brolužėlis
Sesutį laisdamas. /2×2

Beyond the Green Woods: song interpretation

This song can be understood as a courtship and wedding song. At the beginning, beyond the green woods stands a manor, and the young man does not know where his beloved is, yet he still rides there, ties his bay horse by the rue garden, and sits at the white table. This image can be interpreted as a courtship visit.

Then the young man weeps bitterly because the maiden looked at him askance, but she speaks tenderly and herself escorts him through the manor, weeping and asking when he will ride back. These images can be understood as the young woman's affection hidden beneath restraint.

At the end the young man promises to come a second and third time and not leave her unmarried; then the dowry is already being carried, the earth trembles, and the brother dances as he sends his sister away. These images can be interpreted as marriage and the sister's farewell. This is one possible meaning, but the courtship and wedding progression is clear.

Beyond the Green Woods: symbols and phrases

Manor beyond the woods
The manor beyond the green forests where the young woman lives. It marks the goal of courtship.
Bay horse by the rue garden
The horse tied by the maiden's garden signifies the suitor's visit.
Askance glance and tender speech
The apparently reserved but tenderly speaking maiden marks affection beneath restraint.
Dowry, trembling earth, dancing brother
The carried dowry and the brother sending his sister away signify marriage.

Beyond the Green Woods: song history

"Beyond the Green Woods" joins features of courtship and wedding songs, and the ending connects it most clearly with wedding repertoire: the dowry is being carried, the earth trembles, and the brother dances as he sends his sister away. The opening, riding to the manor, tying the horse by the rue garden, and sitting at a white table, is typical courtship-visit imagery, while the rue garden in songs often marks the maiden's home and maidenhood.

The exact place and time of recording are not given on this page, so the song is presented through genre features. The narrative unfolds in stages: the promises of the young man who says he will come the first, second, and third time lead toward marriage. This gradual threefold repetition is a common structure in wedding and courtship songs.

sources

  • Lithuanian Folk Songbook, vols. 1-23, Vilnius 1980-2011 (LLTI)
  • A. Juška. Lithuanian Wedding Songs, 2 vols., Vilnius 1955
  • Catalogue of Lithuanian Folk Songs, 6 vols., Vilnius 1972-1986

Beyond the Green Woods: sources