Since I posted this I have been in contact with a number of professional translators and teachers. This song seems not to be written in a language that is among those with which they are acquainted. None so far have offered a better guess as to precisely which language it is.

I also tried using a wonderful translating resource by which means, I searched through a variety of languages for matching words. There were not enough matching words to create anything close to a meangful translation of any phrase in any line of the song.

I left an email request with the webmaster of one of the Kingston Trio websites in the hope that he might query Nick Reynolds about the meaning of this song. So far, I have received no response.

I have also been in contact by phone with the widow of Adam Yagodka, who co-wrote the song. "Uta Wena" was among the songs that were played at Adam's funeral a couple of years ago, by the way. I learned that Yiddish was the only language other than English that Adam could speak (as far as she knew). She had no other information to offer about the song.

Adam Yagodka, I am told, was a member of a small folk group during the 60's. Linda, Adam's widow said she would try to find a copy of a recording they had made and send it to me. Adam, she said, was often found in the company of the Kingston Trio as well as with Peter, Paul and Mary and a few other well known groups.

At this point the only avenue for information that appears to remain is the possibility of the contact with Nick Reynolds.

Thanks so much for the input, folks!