Hi, Paul - I moved you over here. Here's what's in the Digital Tradition. Let's see what people think about whether a corrected version should be placed in the Digital Tradition (DT). In the case of a "folk" song, there often is no "correct" version (but we do have a number of songs in the DT that are just plain wrong, traditional or not). Here's the DT version:
OLEANNA (DT Version) (Translation from the Norwegian by Pete Seeger)
Ole, oleanna, ole, oleanna ole, ole, ole, ole, ole, oleanna
Oh to be in Oleanna, that's where I'd like to be Than to be in Norway and bear the chains of slavery
Little roasted piggies rush around the city streets Inquiring so politely if a slice of ham you'd like to eat
Beer as sweet as muncheners springs from the ground and flows away The cows all like to milk themselves And the hens lay eggs ten times a day The women there do all the work As round the fields they quickly go Each one has a hickory stick And beats herself if she works too slow
In Oleanna land is free The wheat and corn just plant themselves Then grow a good four feet a day While on your bed you rest yourself
@immigrant @American filename[ OLEOLEAN TUNE FILE: OLEOLEAN CLICK TO PLAY SOF
Here is a Pete Seeger version, just a bit different from what I posted above:
OLEANNA (Ditmar Meidel, translated from Norwegian by Pete Seeger)
Oh, to be in Oleanna, That's where I'd like to be, Than be bound in Norway, To drag the chains of slavery.
CHORUS Ole, Ole-anna, Ole, Ole-anna, Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole-anna;
In Oleanna land is free, The wheat and corn just plant themselves. Then grow four feet a day, While on your bed you rest yourself. CHORUS
Beer as sweet as Muenchener Springs from the ground and flows away, The cows all like to milk themselves And hens lay eggs ten times a day. CHORUS
Little roasted piggies Rush about the city streets, Inquiring so politely if A slice of ham you'd like to eat. CHORUS
SPOKEN: "The moon is always full. I am observing it now, with a bottle for a telescope.
SPOKEN: "In Oleanna the women do all the work! If she doesn' work hard enough, She takes a stick and gives herself a beating!"*
Aye, if you'd begin to live, To Oleanna you must go, The poorest wretch in Norway Becomes a duke in a year or so. CHORUS
Oh, to be in Oleanna, That's where I'd like to be, Than be bound in Norway, To drag the chains of slavery. CHORUS
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*alternate sung version from Theodore Bikel: The women there do all the work As round the fields they quickly go Each one has a hickory stick And beats herself if she works too slow
...two other Bikel verses: The trees and shrubs grow by themselves, There really is no need for rain; It only rains at banquet-time, Instead of water--pure champagne.
And when it comes to courting, I tell you boys, that's better still; Before you pop the question The girls all shout, "Oh yes, I will!"
Source: Where Have All the Flowers Gone: A Singalong Memoir, by Pete Seeger
Based on a traditional Norwegian song (Pete Seeger says it was written in 1853 by Ditmar Meidel, translated in 1953 by Pete Seeger) TRO ~ 1958 (renewed) Ludlow Music, Inc., New York, NY. International Copyright Secured Made in USA. All Rights Reserved including Public Performance for Profit.
@immigrant @American filename[ OLEOLEAN TUNE FILE: OLEOLEAN CLICK TO PLAY SOF, JRO, PFA
Do you think this second version is a good replacement for what's in the DT? This is the version most people sing. I propose that for accuracy, we should add a second version from Norwegian Emigrant Songs and Ballads. -Joe-