The Green Gate in Vilnius lyrics and meaning
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.
The Green Gate in Vilnius: song interpretation
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.
The Green Gate in Vilnius: symbols and phrases
- 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.
The Green Gate in Vilnius: song 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
- Lietuvių liaudies dainynas, vols. 1-23, Vilnius 1980-2011 (LLTI)
- D. Krištopaitė. Lietuvių karinės-istorinės dainos, Vilnius 1956
- Lietuvių liaudies dainų katalogas, 6 vols., Vilnius 1972-1986
The Green Gate in Vilnius: sources
The Green Gate in Vilnius: frequently asked questions
What kind of song is this?
It is a ballad-like song joining a military-historical opening, with saddled horses, cannons, and bullets, to a courtship and fidelity ending.
What do the cannons and silver bullets mean?
They are formulas of war songs. They create the image of military departure from Vilnius, which then turns into a ride through the forest toward the young woman.
Why does the girl lie in the top of a linden?
The linden, copper swing, and silk bed create an elevated, almost fairy-tale dwelling. It is a poetic way to praise the girl, not a realistic scene.
Whom does the girl finally choose?
She chooses neither the tailor, nor the shoemaker, nor the musician, but the same young man who rocked her. This marks fidelity to the beloved.