SPELLING
Ditmar Meidell's song is spelled OLEANA in some songbooks and OLEANNA in others.

OLEANNA - DIGITAL TRADITION PAGE
The "hickory stick" verse was written by Theodore Bikel (not Pete Seeger). Seeger's complete translation was posted on this thread April 10, 2002.

When Theodore Bikel published his version of Oleanna, the credits read: "arranged, adapted, and with additional lyrics by Theodore Bikel".

When Alan Lomax published his version of Oleanna, the lyrics were credited to Pete Seeger and Alan Lomax.


OLEANA (Seeger - Lomax)

O to be in Oleana,
That's where I'd like to be,
Than be bound in Norway
And drag the chains of slavery.

CHORUS:
Ole, Oleanna. Ole, Oleanna.
Ole, ole, ole, ole, ole, Oleanna.

In Oleana land is free,
The wheat and corn just plant themselves,
Then they grow four feet a day,
While on your bed you rest yourselves.

The little pigs, they roast themselves
And trot about this lovely land,
With knives and forks stuck in their backs
Inquiring if you'd like some ham.

The cows and calves do all the work,
They milk and churn till the dairy's full,
While the bull keeps herd production high
And sends reports to Ole Bull.

The sun keeps shining day and night,
Till the moon politely asks a turn,
As the harvest here is once a month,
We've time to waste and money to burn.

They pay you here for getting drunk,
The more you drink, the more they pay,
So the rich man is the lazy man,
Who drinks all night and sleeps all day.

So if you'd like a happy life
To Oleana you must go,
The poorest man from the old country
Becomes a king in a year or so.