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The Green Gate in Vilnius lyrics and meaning

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Vilniaus miesty žalias bromas Vilniaus miesty žalias bromas Žirgelius balnuoja Ojojoj žirgelius balnoj Pabalnojo ir išjojo Pabalnojo ir išjojo Ant kalno sustojo Ojojoj ant kalno sustoj Aukštus kalnus jodydami Aukštus kalnus jodydami Armuotas riktava Ojojoj armuotas riktav Suriktava užmierava Suriktava užmierava Sidabro kulkelelėm Ojojoj sidabro kulkelelėm Paleid paleid armuoteles Paleid paleid armuoteles Išskyn uličelį Ojojoj išskyn uličel Bejuodamas per girelį Bejuodamas per girelį Pamačiau liepelį Ojojoj pamačiau liepel O toj liepoj viršūnėle O toj liepoj viršūnėle Vario linginėlėj Ojojoj vario linginėlėj O toj vario linginelėj O toj vario linginelėj Šilkų perinelė Ojojoj šilkų perinel O toj šilku perinelėj O toj šilku perinelėj Gul jauna mergelė Ojojoj gul jauna mergel Sveika gyva, mergužėlė, Sveika gyva, mergužėlė, Vuo kam dabar teksi, Ojojoj vuo kam dabar teks? Ar kriaučiukui, ar šaučiukui Ar kriaučiukui, ar šaučiukui Ar muzikančiukui, Ojojoj ar muzikančiuku? Nei kriaučiukui, nei šaučiukui Nei kriaučiukui, nei šaučiukui Nei muzikančiukui Ojojoj nei muzikančiuk Tik tam pačiam bernužėliui Tik tam pačiam bernužėliui Kurs mani lingava. Ojojoj kurs mani lingav.

Meaning

This song can be understood as a ballad joining military and courtship imagery. At the beginning, in the city of Vilnius, by the green gate, horses are saddled; riders depart; as they ride over high hills, cannons are set in order and silver bullets are fired. These images can be interpreted as a military opening.

Then, while riding through the forest, the rider sees a linden tree; in its top is a copper swing, and in the swing a silk bed in which a young girl lies. These images can be understood as an elevated, almost fairy-tale dwelling of the young woman.

At the end, the girl is asked to whom she will belong: to a tailor, a shoemaker, or a musician. She answers that she belongs only to that same young man who rocked her. This choice can be interpreted as fidelity to the beloved. This is one possible meaning, but the motifs of courtship and faithful love are clear in the song.

Symbols

Vilnius green gate, saddled horses
Horses saddled at the gate of Vilnius. They mark the military opening.
Cannons and silver bullets
Ordered cannons and silver bullets. They signify the military image.
Linden, copper swing, silk bed
A swing with a silk bed hanging in the top of a linden. It signifies the girl's elevated, fairy-tale dwelling.
"The one who rocked me"
The girl's choice of the man who rocked her. It signifies fidelity to the beloved.

History

"The Green Gate in Vilnius" joins the imagery of military-historical song with a courtship ending, so it may be considered a ballad-like song. The beginning, with horses saddled by the green gate of Vilnius, cannons ordered on high hills, and silver bullets fired, rests on formulas of war songs, while the repeated refrain "ojojoj" maintains the riding rhythm. The second part, with the linden, copper swing, and silk bed, turns toward motifs of love and fidelity.

The exact place and time of recording are not given on this page, so the song is presented by genre traits. The military introduction, with gate, cannons, and silver bullets, and the fairy-tale image of the girl's dwelling in the linden top show that two traditional formulas are joined: a military departure scene and a scene of praising and choosing the girl. The final answer, "only to the one who rocked me," binds them into a theme of faithful love.

Sources