Oh Little Squirrel, Leliumai lyrics and meaning
Vai tu, voveraite, leliumai,
Rudauodegaite, leliumai.
Vai, kur tu buvai,leliumai?
Kur tu vaikštinėjai, leliumai?
Po žalias girelas, leliumai.
Po žalius medelius, leliumai.
Po aukštas šakelas, leliumai.
Po drabnus lapelius, leliumai.
Vai, tu kiškuci, leliumai,
Trumpakojuci, leliumai.
Vai, kur tu buvai, leliumai?
Kur tu bėginėjai, leliumai?
Po lygias lankelas, leliumai,
Po žalias girelas, leliumai.
Po aukštus kalnelius, leliumai.
Taip pat galima groti ir Dm C G.
Oh Little Squirrel, Leliumai: song interpretation
This song with the refrain "leliumai" can be understood as a playful dialogue song about little animals. At the beginning, the brown-tailed squirrel is addressed and asked where it has been and where it has wandered; it answers that it has walked through green forests, high branches, and fine leaves. This image can be interpreted as the squirrel's path through the woods.
Then the same structure is transferred to the short-legged hare, which answers that it has run across level meadows, green forests, and high hills. These images can be understood as the hare's paths.
The similar questions and answers can be interpreted as a playful song, probably intended for children or for a game. That is one possible meaning, but the playful dialogic character of the song is clear.
Oh Little Squirrel, Leliumai: symbols and phrases
- Brown-tailed squirrel
- The squirrel is asked where it has wandered. It is the first animal in the song's dialogue.
- Short-legged hare
- The hare is asked where it has run. It is the second animal in the dialogue.
- "Where have you been, where have you wandered?"
- The repeated question to the animals marks the song's dialogic structure.
- Forests, meadows, hills
- The places through which the animals move signify their paths.
Oh Little Squirrel, Leliumai: song history
"Oh Little Squirrel, Leliumai" belongs to children's and game songs with the repeated refrain "leliumai." The song is built as a question-and-answer dialogue: the brown-tailed squirrel is addressed and asked where it has been and wandered, and then the same pattern is repeated for the short-legged hare. Such imitative animal dialogue with a repeated refrain is typical of play songs and children's repertoire.
The exact recording place and time are not given on this page, so the song is presented by genre. The answers - through green forests, high branches, level meadows, and high hills - create a sequential naming of natural places, while the refrain "leliumai" supports the rhythm of a round or game. Similar dialogic animal songs exist in different Lithuanian regions.
sources
- Lithuanian Folk Songbook, vols. 1-23, Vilnius 1980-2011 (LLTI)
- P. Jokimaitienė, Lithuanian Folk Children's Songs, Vilnius 1970
- Catalogue of Lithuanian Folk Songs, 6 vols., Vilnius 1972-1986
Oh Little Squirrel, Leliumai: sources
Oh Little Squirrel, Leliumai: frequently asked questions
What kind of song is this?
It is a playful children's and game song with a dialogue about animals - a squirrel and a hare - and the repeated refrain "leliumai."
What does the refrain "leliumai" mean?
It is a repeated refrain after each line. It supports the rhythm of the song or round and is typical of play songs.
Why are the animals asked where they have been?
The question-and-answer exchange between singer and animal is the song's play structure and allows alternating singing.
Why is the squirrel brown-tailed and the hare short-legged?
These vivid epithets help children recognize the animals and give the song its playful tone.