I Sowed a Hop lyrics and meaning

Aš pasėjau apynėlį, tėvelio sodely,
Dobile, dobilutėlį, dobile.

Ir išaugo apynėlis, tėvelio sodely,
Dobile, dobilutėlį, dobile

Ir sukrovė gražius žiedus,žalias apynėlis,
Dobile, dobilutėlį, dobile

Nuraiškysiu gražius žiedus, savo apynėlio
Dobile, dobilutėlį, dobile

Talkai alaus padarysiu, svečius nugirdysiu,
Dobile, dobilutėlį, dobile

Visus nugirdysiu, žaliuju vyneliu,
Dobile, dobilutėlį, dobile

I Sowed a Hop: song interpretation

This song can be understood as a work and feasting song, showing the path of hops from sowing to beer. It begins with a little hop planted in the father's garden, while the refrain "clover, little clover" gives the song a soft, melodic rhythm. Hops are the chief ingredient of beer, so the opening already points toward a future feast.

The hop grows and sets beautiful blossoms, which the singer promises to pick. This image of growth can be read as the result of careful work, soon to become hospitality. The green hop blossoms are signs of abundance and coming pleasure.

At the end the purpose of the work is revealed: beer will be made from the hops for the communal work party, and the guests will be made merry with "green wine." Talka, a form of shared community labor, traditionally ended with a common meal and drink, so the song gives meaning to the whole cycle from sowing to the shared table. This is one possible reading, but the link between labor and hospitality is clear in the song.

I Sowed a Hop: symbols and phrases

Little hop
The main raw material for beer, grown in the song from seed to blossom. It marks coming hospitality and abundance.
Clover
The clover in the refrain is a frequent ornament of Lithuanian song and a sign of youth and greenness. It gives the song melody and rhythm.
Talka
A communal work gathering that traditionally ended with shared food and drink. The beer is made for this occasion.
Green wine
A festive drink offered to guests. It emphasizes the joy and hospitality that follow the completion of work.

I Sowed a Hop: song history

"I Sowed a Hop" belongs to work songs with a strong feasting motif: the whole text follows the hop from sowing in the father's garden to beer for the helpers. The stanzas list stages of growth and work in order: I sowed, it grew, it set blossoms, I will pick them, I will make beer. The melodic refrain "clover, little clover, clover" joins these stages into a single circle. Such a sequence of work, ending at a shared table, is characteristic of talka and hospitality songs.

The page does not give the exact place or time of recording, so the song is presented through genre features. Hops are the main raw material for beer, so the beginning already points toward a future feast. The song connects work, the growing of hops, with hospitality, the beer made for the communal work party, and talka traditionally ended with shared refreshments.

sources

  • Lietuvių liaudies dainynas, vols. 1-23, Vilnius 1980-2011 (LLTI)
  • Lietuvių liaudies dainų katalogas, 6 vols., Vilnius 1972-1986

I Sowed a Hop: sources