Lyrics
(Russian folk song)
1. See the lovely birch in the meadow,
Curly leaves all dancing when the wind blows.
Loo-lee-loo, when the wind blows,
Loo-lee-loo, when the wind blows.
2. Oh, my little tree, I need branches,
For the silver flutes I need branches.
Loo-lee-loo, three branches,
Loo-lee-loo, three branches.
3. From another birch I will make now,
I will make a tingling balalaika.
Loo-lee-loo, balalaika,
Loo-lee-loo, balalaika.
4. When I play my new balalaika,
I will think of you, my lovely birch tree.
Loo-lee-loo, lovely birch tree,
Loo-lee-loo, lovely birch tree.
Russian Version - Vo pole bereza stoyala
Lyrics - Transliteration
(Russian folk song)
Vo pole bereza stoyala,
Vo pole kudryavaya stoyala,
Lyuly, lyuly, stoyala,
Lyuly, lyuly, stoyala.
Nyekomu byeryozu zalomati,
nyekomu kudryavu zashtshipati,
lyuli, lyuli, zalomati,
lyuli, lyuli, zashtshipati.
Paidu ya v lyes, pagulyayu,
byeluyu byeryozu zalomayu,
lyuli, lyuli, pagulyayu,
lyuli, lyuli, zalomayu.
Srezhu ya z byeryozyý tri prutotshka,
zdyelayu iz nyikh ya tri gudotshka,
lyuli, lyuli, tri prutotshka,
lyuli, lyuli, tri gudotshka.
Tshetvertuyu balalaiku,
staromu dyedu na zabavku,
lyuli, lyuli, balalaiku,
lyuli, lyuli, na zabavku.
English Translation - On the field there stood a birch tree
On the field there stood a birch tree,
on the field there stood the curly birch tree,
Lyuli, Lyuli, there it stood.
Lyuli, Lyuli, there it stood.
Nobody shall break down the birch tree,
nobody shall tear out the curly birch tree,
Lyuli, Lyuli, break down,
Lyuli, Lyuli, tear out.
I will go into the forest,
I will go, I will fell a white birch tree,
Lyuli, Lyuli, I will go,
Lyuli, Lyuli, I will fell.
I will cut off three little twigs
from the birch tree and make three little pipes of them,
Lyuli, Lyuli, three little twigs,
Lyuli, Lyuli, three little pipes.
The fourth thing I make is a balalaika,
to make my old grandfather pleasure.
Lyuli, Lyuli, balalaika,
Lyuli, Lyuli, for pleasure.
(source)
Russian - Во поле береза стояла
Во поле кудрявая стояла,
Люли, люли, стояла.
Некому березу заломати,
Некому кудряву заломати,
Люли, люли, заломати.
Как пойду я в лес, погуляю,
Белую березу заломаю,
Люли, люли, заломаю.
Срежу я с березы три пруточка,
Сделаю себе я три гудочка,
Люли, люли три гудочка.
Четвертую балалайку,
Пойду я на новые сени,
Люли, люли на сени.
(source)
See also
- Country: Russia
- Subject: trees / multiple instruments
- Dynamics: loud and soft
- Harmony: chords i, iv, V
- Melody: G,A,C,D’
- Meter: 2
- Rhythm:
- Scale: hexatonic
- Tones: s,l,t,drm
YouTube
or purchase here (printables only)
- Printable & Digital Visuals
- PDF of song with chords + Lesson ideas + Orff arrangement
- MIDI file
- Listen to the song
Why are the lyrics changed in your version?
Hi Sam! I’m not sure I understand your question. What version are you comparing this to? – Beth
Hi Sam and Beth,
I learned this song in Russian first, and then I came across a simpler English version my first year teaching general music.
Those lyrics are
Over there an old lonely birch tree. Tall and strong lonely birch tree. Loo li loo lonely birch tree (x2). When I teach it in November, I’ll use the Russian lyrics and the English version I already know.
Thanks for having this song, Beth!
I heard another translation (below), perhaps in Girl Scouts. It’s less true to the Russian version, but rolls more easily off the tongue. This song is a bit somber, but makes a great lullaby.
See the little birch…
Yes, it’s beautiful, isn’t it?
I have seen the translation you posted in an octavo, but I’m pretty sure that translation is under copyright, which is why I didn’t post the whole thing here. 🙂