Over the High Hill lyrics and meaning
Per kalnelį, per aukštąjį
Saulužė tekėjo,
: O pro stiklo langužėlį
Sesytė žiūrėjo. :
Aš mislijau, saulė teka,
Saulužė tekėjo,
: O štai buvo brolytėlis
Balnužį uždėjęs.:
-Ei brolyti raitelyti,
O kurgi rédaisi?
:- Ei sesyte négelkyte,
Josiu pas mergytę. :
-Ei brolyti bijūnyti,
Ar toli mergytė?
:- Ei sesyte negelkyte,
Tai toli mergytė.:
O kur auksas bei sidabras,
Čion mano uošveliai,
: O kur perlai bei dymantai,
Čion mano mergytė. :
Čia žyd rožės, nėgelkytės
Briūnos bei raudonos.
: Kaip nėgelkų raudonumas
Mergytės skaistumas. :
Over the High Hill: song interpretation
This song can be understood as a courtship song about a brother riding to see a girl. At the beginning the little sun rises over the high hill, and the sister looks through a glass window, thinking that the sun is rising. This image can be interpreted as identifying the saddled brother with the rising sun, emphasizing his brightness and solemnity.
Then the sister asks where the brother is getting ready to go, and he answers that he will ride to the girl. Asked whether the girl is far away, he says she is far. This conversation can be understood as the beginning of courtship.
At the end it is said that where gold and silver are, there are the in-laws, and where pearls and diamonds are, there is the girl; the girl's brightness is compared to the redness of roses. These images can be interpreted as elevating the girl's value and beauty. That is one possible meaning, but the courtship and praise of the girl's beauty are clear.
Over the High Hill: symbols and phrases
- Little sun and saddled brother
- The rising sun, mistaken for the brother as rider. It marks the bridegroom's radiance and solemnity.
- Brother-rider going to the girl
- The brother riding to his beloved. He marks the courtship journey.
- Pearls and diamonds
- The girl is compared with pearls and diamonds. They mark her worth.
- Redness of roses
- The girl's radiance is compared with the red color of roses. It marks her beauty.
Over the High Hill: song history
"Over the High Hill" belongs to love and courtship songs in which a young man rides to the girl and both his and the chosen one's brightness are raised. The opening - the little sun rising over the high hill and being mistaken for the saddled brother - is typical of lyrical courtship songs built on alternating questions and answers between sister and brother; this alternating dialogue sustains a calm, solemn mood.
The exact place and time of recording are not stated on this page, so the song is presented by genre features; related variants exist in different Lithuanian regions. The final comparisons - the in-laws with gold and silver, the girl with pearls and diamonds, and her radiance with red roses - are typical courtship formulas of beauty and worth.
sources
- Lietuvių liaudies dainynas, t. 1-23, Vilnius 1980-2011 (LLTI)
- Lietuvių liaudies dainų katalogas, 6 t., Vilnius 1972-1986
Over the High Hill: sources
Over the High Hill: frequently asked questions
What kind of song is this?
It is a love and courtship song about a brother riding to see a girl; her beauty and worth are praised through traditional song formulas.
Why is the brother identified with the rising sun?
The sister first thinks she sees the rising sun through the window, then sees her saddled brother. This comparison with the sun emphasizes the rider's brightness and solemn departure.
What do pearls, diamonds, and roses mean at the end?
They are courtship formulas of beauty and worth: the girl is compared to pearls and diamonds, and her radiance to the color of red roses.
What does the address "négelkyte" mean?
It is an affectionate, caressing address to the sister, typical of lyrical courtship songs with alternating speech between brother and sister.