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Whose Green Orchards? lyrics and meaning

On this page
O kano žali sodai, O kano žali sodai, : O kano žali sodai, Žali jovarėliai? : Degučių žali sodai, Degučių žali sodai, : Degučių žali sodai, Žali jovarėliai. : -O kam kam, bernužėli, O kam kam, dobilėli, : Kam šėrei mudrinai Bėrąjį žirgelį? : -Dėl tavęs, mergužėlė, Dėl tavęs, lelijėlė, : Tai šėriau mudrinau Bėrąjį žirgelį. : -O kano žali sodai, O kano žali sodai, : O kano žali sodai, Žali jovarėliai? : Degučių žali sodai, Degučių žali sodai, : Degučių žali sodai, Žali jovarėliai. : -O kam kam, mergužėlė, O kam kam, lelijėlė, : Kam audei, dunzginai Plonąsias drobeles? : -Dėl tavęs, bernužėli, Dėl tavęs, dobilėli, : Tai audžiau dunzginau Plonąsias drobeles. :

Second version

O kano žali sodai, O kano žali sodai, O kano žali sodai, žali jovarėliai? x2 Degučių žali sodai,* Degučių žali sodai, Degučių žali sodai, žali jovarėliai. O kam, kam, bernužėli, O kam, kam, dobilėli, Kam šėrei mundrinai bėrąjį žirgelį? Dėl tavęs, mergužėle, Dėl tavęs, lelijėle, Tai šėriau mundrinau bėrąjį žirgelį. O kano žali sodai, O kano žali sodai, O kano žali sodai, žali jovarėliai? x2 Degučių žali sodai,* Degučių žali sodai, Degučių žali sodai, žali jovarėliai. O kam, kam, mergužėle, O kam, kam, lelijėle, Kam audei dunzginai plonąsias drobeles? ** Dėl tavęs, bernužėli, Dėl tavęs, dobilėli, Tai audžiau dunzginau plonąsias drobeles. ** Arba: Sūduvos žali sodai

Meaning

This song with its repeated question can be understood as a courtship dialogue between a young man and a young woman. At the beginning, the song asks whose green orchards and green sycamores they are, and answers that they belong to Degučiai. This repeated question can be read as a calm, ritual frame for the song.

Then the young man is asked why he fed and tended the bay horse so carefully, and he answers: for you, young woman. This answer can be understood as a sign of love shown through care for the horse.

In parallel, the young woman is asked why she wove the fine linen cloths, and she answers: for you, young man. These mutual answers can be read as love expressed through each person's work: the young man prepares the horse, and the young woman weaves the cloth. This is one possible meaning, but the motif of mutual courtship dialogue is clear.

Symbols

Green orchards and sycamores
The repeated question about green orchards marks the courtship space and the ritual frame of the song.
Feeding the bay horse
The young man's care for the horse, done for the girl, marks love shown through work.
Weaving fine linen
The young woman's woven cloths, made for the young man, mark her love and care.
"For you"
The repeated answer explaining why the work is done marks mutual love and devotion.

History

"Whose Green Orchards?" belongs to love and courtship songs arranged as a mutual dialogue between young man and young woman. The repeated question "Whose green orchards, green sycamores?" and the answer that they are Degučiai's form a calm, ritual frame into which two parallel conversations are placed: why the young man fed and tended the bay horse, and why the young woman wove the fine linen cloths. Both answer in the same way, "for you," so love is expressed through each person's characteristic work.

The exact place and time of recording are not given on this page, so the song is presented according to genre features. The place name, Degučiai or in one variant Sūduva, may change according to the singing region, while the preparation of the horse and the weaving of linen connect with wedding readiness and dowry, giving the song a courtship and future-marriage tone.

Sources