By Father's Manor lyrics and meaning

An tėvulio dvaro
Beržas siūbau,
: Mikliojos šakelės
Liūliau liūliau. :

O kas tas mikliąsias
Šakeles kirs,
: Joninių naktelai
Lauželį kraus? :

Vyriausias brolalis
Šakelas kirs, :
Jauniausioj sesulė
Lauželį kraus. :

Sausųjį lauželį
Sukraus, sukraus,
: Kaitriųjų ugnelį
Sukurs, sukurs. :

Kaitriųjų ugnelį
Sukurs, sukurs,
: Baltąsias rankeles
Sušils, sušils. :

By Father's Manor — second version lyrics

An tėvulio dvaro
Sakalai krypavo,
Sakalai krypavo,
Dūdeles dūdavo.

Ar aš ne laimingas
Tėvulio sūnelis,
Ar aš nepašėrau
Sau bėro žirgelio,

Ar aš nepašėrau
Sau bėro žirgelio,
Ar aš nepagirdiau
Čystu vandenėliu?

Žinau, raiks man jocie
In svecimų šalį,
In svecimų šalį,
In karaliau žamį.

Verks manį tėvulis,
Sana mocinėłė,
Verks manį brolalis,
Jauna sasarėłė.

Verks manį brolalis,
Jauna sasarėłė,
Verks manį mergełė,
Balta lelijėłė.

By Father's Manor: song interpretation

The first version of the song can be understood as a Jonines, or midsummer, song. The birch swaying by the father's manor, its supple branches, and the clearly named "Joniniu naktele" point toward Rasa or Jonines rites, when bonfires were lit. The image of the eldest brother cutting branches while the youngest sister builds the bonfire can be read as a description of ritual fire-making.

The building of the bonfire, the kindling of the hot flame, and the white hands warming beside it create a mood of togetherness and warmth. In this context, fire could mean not only physical heat, but also the community gathering around the festival. This is only one possible meaning, but the mention of Jonines supports it strongly.

The second version is quite different in character: it is a song of departure and separation. A young man, having fed his bay horse, knows that he must ride into a foreign land, into the king's country, while father, mother, brother, sister, and beloved young woman will weep for him. This text can be interpreted as the song of a recruit or a departing youth, where farewell to home is expressed through the weeping of the entire family circle.

By Father's Manor: symbols and phrases

Birch
A midsummer and Jonines tree, symbolizing life, youth, and the abundance of nature. The swaying birch opens the festive scene.
Jonines night
The shortest night of the year, linked with Rasa and Jonines rites. It marks the time when bonfires are lit and nature's power is celebrated.
Bonfire and flame
A ritual fire around which the community gathers. The hot flame can signify warmth, concentration, and the center of the festival.
Bay horse
In the second version, the horse is a sign of departure and travel into a foreign land. A fed and watered horse shows that the hour of farewell is near.

By Father's Manor: song history

Under the same opening formula, "An tevulio dvaro," two different texts are presented here. The first version belongs to calendar ritual songs: the explicitly named "Joniniu naktele" and the building of a bonfire connect it with the Rasa, or Jonines, festival, when ritual fire was kindled. The second version is a departure and separation song, close to military-historical and family songs: the young man, after feeding his horse, prepares to ride "into a foreign land," and the whole family circle weeps for him.

This kind of development, where the same opening is carried in different directions, is common in Lithuanian songs. The page gives no specific recording data, so both versions are discussed by genre.

sources

  • Lietuvių liaudies dainynas, t. 1–23, Vilnius 1980–2011 (LLTI)
  • N. Laurinkienė. Mito atšvaitai lietuvių kalendorinėse dainose, Vilnius 1990
  • D. Krištopaitė. Lietuvių karinės-istorinės dainos, Vilnius 1956

By Father's Manor: sources