My Beloved Rose Early lyrics and meaning
O jau mano mielas
Ankstų rytą kėlė
Ne dėl žalio vyno ---
Dėl žalio žolyno.
O jau mano mielas
Sau burnelę prausė
Ne dėl žalio vyno ---
O jau mano mielas
Marškinėlius vilkos
Ne dėl žalio vyno ---
Dėl žalio žolyno.
O jau mano mielas
Sermėgėlę segės
Ne dėl žalio vyno ---
Dėl žalio žolyno.
O jau mano mielas
Kepurėlę dėjos
Ne dėl žalio vyno ---
Dėl žalio žolyno.
O jau mano mielas
Žirgelį balnojo
Ne dėl žalio vyno ---
Dėl žalio žolyno.
O jau mano mielas
Į balnelį sėdo
Ne dėl žalio vyno ---
Dėl žalio žolyno.
O jau mano mielas
In mergelį jojo
Ne dėl žalio vyno ---
Dėl žalio žolyno.
My Beloved Rose Early — second version lyrics
O jau mano mielas
Anksti rytą kėlės
Ne dėl žalio vyno ---
Dėl žalio žolyno.
O jau mano mielas sau burnelę prausė
O jau mano mielas marškinėlius vilkos
O jau mano mielas sermėgėlę segės
O jau mano mielas kepurėlę dėjos
O jau mano mielas žirgelį balnojo
O jau mano mielas į balnelį sėdo
O jau mano mielas į karužę jojo
O jau mano mielas vylytėlę kirto
My Beloved Rose Early: song interpretation
This song, with the refrain "not for green wine, for green grass," can be understood as a song about the beloved preparing for a journey. At the beginning the beloved rises early not for green wine but for green grass. This refrain can be read as a sign of a sober, serious purpose, opposed to drinking.
The song then lists the stages of preparation: washing, putting on a shirt, fastening the homespun coat, placing the cap, saddling the horse, and sitting in the saddle. These images can be understood as careful, sequential preparation for a journey.
At the end the beloved rides to the girl, while in another version he rides to war. The destination can therefore be read as a journey to the beloved or to battle, with the same stress on a sober, serious intention. This is one possible meaning, but the motif of preparation for departure is clear.
A second interpretive version is possible. The refrain "not for green wine, for green grass" may be understood not only as emphasis on a sober purpose but also as a veiled love reference: "green grass" in folk song can be associated with rue, the garden, and youth, so the beloved rises early not for wine but for the girl, the "green growth." At the same time, the neighboring version ends with riding to war and striking an arrow, which shows that the song formula was flexible and that the same orderly preparation could lead either toward courtship or toward battle. Both meanings remain possible, and the specific ending of a given variant determines the reading.
My Beloved Rose Early: symbols and phrases
- Early rising
- The beloved rising early in the morning. It marks a serious, purposeful day.
- "Not for green wine, for green grass"
- The repeated refrain about the goal. It marks a sober, serious intention rather than drinking.
- Sequence of dressing
- Washing, shirt, homespun coat, and cap. They mark careful preparation for a journey.
- Riding to the girl or to war
- The journey's destination at the end. It marks courtship or departure for battle.
My Beloved Rose Early: song history
"My Beloved Rose Early" belongs to love and courtship songs with the repeated refrain "not for green wine, for green grass." The song is arranged as a chain: in each stanza the beloved performs another act of preparation, rising, washing, putting on a shirt, fastening his coat, placing his cap, saddling the horse, and sitting in the saddle, while the same refrain emphasizes that he is rising not to drink but for a serious purpose. Such a sequential listing of preparation and a repeated formula are characteristic of sung courtship and departure songs.
The exact place and time of recording are not stated on this page, so the song is presented through genre features. In the given variant the song ends with the beloved riding "to the girl," that is, to his sweetheart, while a related version ends with riding "to war." The same chain of preparation could therefore be adapted both to a love song and to a military-historical song.
sources
- Lietuvių liaudies dainynas, vols. 1-23, Vilnius 1980-2011 (LLTI)
- Lietuvių liaudies dainų katalogas, 6 vols., Vilnius 1972-1986
My Beloved Rose Early: sources
My Beloved Rose Early: frequently asked questions
What does the refrain "not for green wine, for green grass" mean?
It stresses that the beloved rises and prepares not to drink but for a serious purpose. "Green grass" may also hint at the beloved girl or youth.
Why are all the acts of preparation listed?
This is a chain structure: washing, shirt, coat, cap, and saddling the horse are named in order to show careful preparation for departure.
Where does the beloved finally ride?
In the given text he rides to the girl; in another version, he rides to war. The same song could serve both courtship and departure-for-war contexts.
How does the second version differ?
The second version ends with riding "to war" and striking an arrow, so the song turns toward the military-historical side.