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It Has Been Long lyrics and meaning

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Seniai buvau, Seniai buvau Pas tėvulį kiemi./3×2 Jau užaugo Tie kelaliai pilkais akmenėliais. /3×2 Aš tuos pilkus akmenėlius rankelėm prarisiu. /3×2 O aš dėl tą Pas tevutį kemelin nuveisiu. /3×2 Seniai buvau, seniai buvau pas matutį kiemi /3×2 Jau užaugo Tie kelaliai baltais dobilėliais. /3×2 Aš tuos baltus dobilėlius po kojelį minsiu. /3×2 O aš dėl tą Pas motulį kemelin nuveisiu. /3×2 Seniai buvau seniai buvau Pas brolalį kiemi. /3×2 Jau užaugo Tie kelaliai žaliu beržyneliu. /3×2 Aš tuos žalius beržynėlius kirveliu pakirsiu. /3×2 O aš dėl tą Pas brolalį kemelin nuveisiu. /3×2 Seniai buvau seniai buvau Pas sesutį kiemi. /3×2 Jau užaugo Tie kelaliai žaliojom rūtytalam. /3×2 Aš tas žalias Rūtytėlas rankelėm išskirsiu. /3×2 Tai aš dėl tą pas sesutį kemelin nuveisiu. /3×2

Second version

Seniai buvau, seniai buvau, pas močiutį kiemį Ažuaugo tie takeliai baltais dobilaliais Ažukrito tie takeliai pilkais akmenėliais Ažužėlė tie takeliai žaliaisiais krūmeliais Ažusruvo tie takeliais skaudriu vandenėliu Aš tuos baltus dobilalius dalgeliu nupjausiu Ir tuos pilkus akmenėlius šonan prasvaidysiu Ir tuos žaliuosius krūmelius kirveliu nukirsiu Ir tuo skaudriu vandenėliu žirgelį girdysiu Ir vis eisiu kol nueisiu pas močiutį kiemį

Meaning

This song can be understood as being about long separation from the native home and the desire to return to kin. At the beginning, the singer says it has been long since being in the father's yard, and the paths are already overgrown with grey stones. The overgrown paths can be interpreted as a sign of long absence and estrangement.

The same structure then repeats for each family member, with a different obstacle each time: the paths to the mother are overgrown with white clover, to the brother with a green birch grove, and to the sister with green rue. These obstacles can be understood as the distance separating the singer from each relative.

Each time, the singer resolves to remove the obstacle: to roll the stones with the hands, tread the clover underfoot, cut the birch grove with an axe, and part the rue with the hands in order to reach the loved one. This resolve can be interpreted as the desire to overcome every barrier and return to the family. That is one possible meaning, but the motifs of separation and return to kin are clear.

Symbols

Overgrown paths
The paths leading to relatives are covered by obstacles. They signify long separation.
Grey stones and white clover
Different obstacles on the paths to father and mother. They mark distance from each relative.
Clearing obstacles by hand and axe
Rolling stones, cutting birches, and parting rue signify the resolve to overcome separation.
Journey to father, mother, brother, sister
The sequential return to each close relative signifies the longing to rejoin the family.

History

"It Has Been Long" belongs to family songs about separation from the native home and the longing to return to close relatives. The song is composed in a chain-like, cumulative structure: the same stanza is repeated four times - for the father, mother, brother, and sister - each time changing the obstacle that has overgrown the path, such as grey stones, white clover, a green birch grove, and green rue, and changing how that obstacle will be overcome.

The exact recording place and time are not given on this page, so the song is presented through genre features, above all through the formula of overgrown paths and the determination to clear them. The dialectal text, with forms such as "kemelin," "kelaliai," and "matutį," and the presence of a second independent version show that this song has a broad circle of variants; the second text here is shaped as a single stanza in which obstacles - clover, stones, bushes, and water - are listed in sequence.

Sources