Recordings from the Estonian Folklore Archives 3

A Forest Stands between the Maidens

Greete Jents and Mari Sarv Karksi (1962)

Me olem kolmeksi sõsare,
kus me kolmi kokku saame,
kolmi kokku kukkumaie,
nel´lä ütte laulamaie?
Varik oo meie vahele,
kuusik meie kotte'elle.

Oh mu noori vellekene,
ihva kirves kirjuvarsi,
tapper tii tuliteräves,
raiu varik me vahelta,
kuusik meie kotte'elta,
siis me kolmi kokku saame,
kolmi kokku kukkumaie!

We the three of us are sisters,
where will we three get together,
the three of us to call out together,
the four of us to sing together?
Brushwood stands between us,
a fir grove is over our heads.

My dear young brother,
sharpen your axe with the patterned handle,
make your axe sharp as fire,
chop the brushwood from between us,
the fir grove from over our heads,
then the three of us will get together,
the three of us to call out together!

RKM, Mgn. II 768 b < Abja raj., Nuia al. (Karksi khk.) – H. Tampere Kirjandusmuuseumi ekspeditsioonil 1962. a. < Greete Jents, 78-a., Mari Sarv, 78-a.
[LP V a 5; CD2-5].