THE BIRCH TREE

1. Little birch tree growing in the meadow,
   Curly leaved and growing in the meadow,
   Liu-lee, liu-lee, in the meadow
   Liu-lee, liu-lee, in the meadow
   
   
2. Who will break your fresh white branches,
   Who will break your fresh white branches,
   Liu-lee, liu-lee, fresh white branches
   Liu-lee, liu-lee, fresh white branches
   
   
3. I'll go out a-walking in the meadow.
   
4. I will break your branches in the meadow.
5. I will cut three branches in the meadow.
6. I will make three whistles in the meadow.
7. I will take my singing balalaika.
8. Play a song upon my balalaika.
9. I will go right up to his doorway.
10. To the door of my beloved.
11. With my singing him to awaken.
12. Rise my beloved from thy slumber.
13. Rise my beloved and awaken.
14. Rise and pray before the holy ikon.
15. Rise and don thy shoes of russet leather.
16. Don the coat my hands have embroidered.
17. Take my hand and come to the meadow.

Source: Sing Together, A Girl Scout Songbook, 1949

Translated from the Russian by Jacob Robbins from the Botsford Collection of Folk Songs, Volume 2

Tchaikovsky uses this melody in his Fourth Symphony^^

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