Recordings from the Estonian Folklore Archives 3

The Brother's Meadows

Kadri Kukk Karksi (1960)

Peigmehepoolsed laulavad pruudi kohta:

Meie vel´lel suure nurme,
kas´ke,
suure nurme, laia väl´lä,
otsa lääve Ollandimaale,
veere joosev Venemaale.
La meid kaia, la valate,
ka tal oo sääri sinna minnä,
kontse säält koduje tulla.
Kõrd jääs põllule põdeme,
ii otsa engämaie?

Vastulaul:

Langunaise, linnukeise,
la meid kaia, la valate:
kõrd oo põllu põllelaiu,
nurme nuku räti laiu,
linamaad linigulaiu,
kaaramaad kasugulaiu.

The groom's entourage sings about the bride:

Our brother has large meadows,
[chorus,]
large meadows, wide fields,
the ends reach to Holland,
the edge runs against Russia.
Let's see, let's go look,
are her [the bride's] calves strong enough to go there,
are her heels strong enough to come home [again].
Perhaps she will fall sick on the fields,
draw her last breath at the edge of the swath?

Response:

In-law women, dear dickeybirds,
Let's see, let's go look:
perhaps the fields are only as wide as aprons,
the meadow as wide as a kerchief,
the linen fields as wide as a cloth,
the oat fields as wide as an overcoat.

RKM, Mgn. II 381 g, h < Abja raj., Lilli kn., Aniste k. (Karksi khk.) – R. Praakli Kirjandusmuuseumi ekspeditsioonil 1960. a. < Kadri Kukk, 66-a.
[LP IV a 6; CD1-47].