Wade Across the River lyrics and meaning
Brisk per upę, brisk per upę,
Brisk per upę šaltuoną, je!
Pasikaišę, pasikaišę,
Pasikaišę sijoną, je!
Šešios žąsys, šešios žąsys,
Šešios žąsys ant kiemo, je!
Anei viena, anei viena,
Anei viena žąsino, je!
Kam tos žąsys, kam tos žąsys,
Kam tos žąsys ant kiemo, je!
Jei nė viena, jei nė viena,
Jei nė viena žąsino, je!
Šešios bačkos, šešios bačkos,
Šešios bačkos ant stalo, je!
Anei viena, anei viena,
Anei viena pijoko, je!
Kam tos bačkos, kam tos bačkos,
Kam tos bačkos ant stalo, je!
Jei nė viena, jei nė viena,
Jei nė viena pijoko, je!
Šešios mergos, šešios mergos,
Šešios mergos ant sieno, je!
Anei viena, anei viena,
Anei viena vainiko, je!
Šeši bernai, šeši bernai,
Šeši bernai ant sieno, je!
Anei viena, anei viena,
Anei viena razumno, je!
Wade Across the River: song interpretation
This song can be understood as a humorous, playful dance or game song based on absurd repetition. At the beginning, someone is urged to wade across the cold river with a skirt tucked up, while the refrain "je" gives the song a lively, dance-like rhythm. The command immediately creates a merry mood.
The song then follows a repeated model: six geese in the yard, but not one gander; six barrels on the table, but no drink in any of them; six girls and six boys, but none has what is needed. This model can be interpreted as playful mockery, where everything is unsuitable or false.
The final stanzas, with girls without wreaths and boys without sense, suggest light teasing of young people through laughter. The song can be understood as an entertainment piece meant for dance or play. This is one possible meaning, but its humorous and playful character is obvious.
Wade Across the River: symbols and phrases
- Wading across the river
- The command to wade through the cold river with the skirt tucked up. It creates a playful, dance-like opening.
- "Six, but not one"
- A repeated pattern in which there are six of something, yet none is suitable. It creates the song's absurd comic structure.
- Girls without wreaths
- Girls without the wreath, a sign of maidenhood. They are introduced as objects of playful teasing.
- Boys without reason
- Young men without sense or razum. They complete the comic teasing of youth.
Wade Across the River: song history
"Wade Across the River" belongs to humorous game and dance songs based on absurd repetition and playful teasing of young people. The song's structure repeats strictly: words are doubled in each half-line, while the refrain "je!" closes each line and gives it a lively dance rhythm. The structure itself is the basis of the humor.
The exact place and time of recording are not given on this page, so the song is presented by genre traits. The text is built on the pattern "six, but not one": six geese, but not one gander; six barrels, but none with drink; six girls without wreaths; six boys without reason. This steady chain of mismatches playfully mocks the young and creates a cheerful dance mood.
sources
- Lietuvių liaudies dainynas, vols. 1-23, Vilnius 1980-2011 (LLTI)
- Catalogue of Lithuanian Folk Songs, 6 vols., Vilnius 1972-1986
Wade Across the River: sources
Wade Across the River: frequently asked questions
What kind of song is this?
It is a humorous dance and game song based on absurd repetition and playful teasing of young people.
What does the pattern "six, but not one" mean?
It is a repeated comic pattern: six geese but no gander, six barrels but no drink, girls without wreaths, boys without reason. It creates an absurd structure.
What is the purpose of the refrain "je!"?
The refrain closes each line and gives the song a lively dance rhythm suitable for a round dance or game.
What does "boys without razum" mean?
Razum (from Slavic) means reason or sense. The stanza about boys without reason completes the playful mockery of youth.