A Little Tree in the Green Forest lyrics and meaning
Žalioj girioj stadalėlis
Tai slaunus medelis /x2
Pas motulį, pas širdelį
Tai slauna dukrelė /x2
Aukštas dangus, šviesios žvaigždės
Švieskit man kelalį, joti pas mergel /x2
Arškietėli, garbuonėli,
Nestovėk prie kelio /x2
Kaip inširsiu, tai iškirsiu
Per tvorų išmesiu /x2
Nor tu kirsi, nor kaposi,
Dar geriau bujosiu /x2
Kai tu jos pas mergelį
Kelalį pastosiu /x2
A Little Tree in the Green Forest: song interpretation
This song can be understood as a courtship song with an obstacle image. At the beginning a comparison is made: in the green forest stands a fine little tree, and at the mother's home a fine daughter. This comparison can be interpreted as praise of the maiden.
Then the young man asks the high sky and bright stars to light his road as he rides to the maiden, but beside the road stands a thorny bush. This thorn bush can be understood as an obstacle on the path of love.
At the end the young man threatens to cut the bush down and throw it over the fence, but the bush answers that it will grow even more strongly and block the road when the young man rides to the maiden. This dialogue can be interpreted as a stubborn obstacle hindering love. This is one possible meaning, but the courtship road and obstacle motif are clear.
A Little Tree in the Green Forest: symbols and phrases
- Fine little tree and fine daughter
- The forest tree is compared with the mother's daughter. Together they praise the maiden.
- Stars lighting the road to the maiden
- The stars are asked to light the road to the beloved. They mark the courtship ride.
- Thorn bush by the road
- The thorny bush standing by the road marks an obstacle on the path of love.
- "I will block the road"
- The bush's threat to block the road to the maiden signifies a stubborn obstacle to love.
A Little Tree in the Green Forest: song history
"A Little Tree in the Green Forest" belongs to love and courtship songs in which riding to the maiden meets an obstacle. The opening comparison, a fine tree in the green forest and a fine daughter at the mother's home, is a familiar formula of praising the girl; then the young man asks the sky and stars to light the road as he rides to the maiden, while a thorny bush stands in his way.
The page gives no exact place or time of recording, so the song is discussed by genre features. The dialogue between the young man and the bush, his threat to cut it down and the bush's retort that it will grow even better and block the road, is a personified image of a love obstacle common in courtship lyric; this structure lets the song be both playful and tense.
sources
- Lithuanian Folk Songbook, vols. 1-23, Vilnius 1980-2011 (LLTI)
- Catalogue of Lithuanian Folk Songs, 6 vols., Vilnius 1972-1986
A Little Tree in the Green Forest: sources
A Little Tree in the Green Forest: frequently asked questions
What kind of song is this?
It is a love and courtship song in which the ride to the maiden meets an obstacle, a thorn bush by the road.
What are arškietėlis and garbuonėlis?
They name a thorny bush, a wild rose (erškėtis), blocking the road to the maiden and personified as a stubborn love obstacle.
Why does the young man ask the stars to light the road?
The high sky and bright stars are asked to light his way as he rides to the maiden, a night courtship image.
What does the bush's answer mean?
The young man threatens to cut it down, but the bush says it will grow stronger and block the road, expressing an obstinate, hard-to-overcome obstacle.