Russian folk songs: lyrics and genres

Russian folk songs, handed down through the generations, make up a significant portion of the nation’s cultural legacy. These songs preserve customs, feelings, and stories that have been passed down through the ages. Sung at work, during festivities, or at times of introspection, they provide an insight into the values and way of life of the Russian people.

Every folk song is distinct, and its words frequently capture the feelings and experiences of daily existence. From work songs and ceremonial chants to lullabies and love songs, the genres are very diverse. Examining these various genres aids in comprehending the close relationship that exists between Russian music and daily rhythms.

We will examine the meaning and current relevance of Russian folk songs in Russian culture by delving into their genres and lyrics in this article.

Seasonal ritual songs

Hey, hello! On a Christmas eve! Does the owner live there? He went to the field to sow wheat, so he is not at home. Pie, give me your guts. How can you not give me a pie? We’ll grab the cow by the horns, tie her to a post behind the back gate, and beat her with a broom.

Every year for Maslenitsa, She is a very welcome guest. She never walks to visit us; instead, she always travels by horseback. The horses are black, and the servants are youthful.

The rye is thick here, where the girls were walking! It rained where the women were walking! It grew where the men were walking! It dropped out where the boys were walking! Oats sprouted where the godfather walked, and rye sprouted where the godmother walked!

In Vasily’s field, we have already begun weaving and curling our beards. In the vast field, on the broad strip, at our Ivanovich’s!

Round dance, comic and game songs

“Oh, we sowed millet, sowed,
Oh, did-lado, sowed, sowed!”
“And we will trample the millet, trample it,
Oh, did-lado, trample it, trample it!”
“And what will you trample it with, trample it?
Oh, did-lado, trample it, trample it?»
"And we"ll let the horses out, let them out,
Oh did-lado, let them out, let them out!"
"And we"ll take over the horses, take them over,
Oh did-lado, let them out, let them out!"
"And what will you take over, take over?
Oh did-lado, let them out, let them out?"
"And with a silk rein, a rein,
Oh did-lado, with a rein, a rein!"
"And we"ll buy the horses back, buy them back,
Oh did-lado, let them out, buy them back!"
"And what will you buy back, buy them back?
Oh did-lado, buy out, buy out?
“And we will give a hundred rubles, a hundred rubles,
Oh did-lado, a hundred rubles, a hundred rubles!»
“We don’t need thousands, thousands,
Oh did-lado, thousands, thousands!»
“And what do you need, need?
Oh did-lado, need, need?»
“And we need a girl, a girl,
Oh did-lado, a girl, a girl”.
“Our regiment has been diminished, diminished,
Oh, did-lado, gone, gone!»
«Our regiment has increased, increased,
Oh did-lado, it has increased, it has increased!»
«Our regiment is shedding tears, shedding tears,
Oh did-lado, tears are shedding, tears are shedding.
«Our regiment is drinking beer, drinking beer,
Oh did-lado, they are drinking beer, drinking beer!»

Oh, you crane with long legs, Take the high road out there. You veer off course. Using a harrow, Harrow-ka Using a hoe iron, Make a decision, my love!

Similar to your father’s son One such joker was: bought a coffee pot and sold the plough to meet needs. the copper basins were sold, Purchased a silver watch; "Come with us" on the pocket watch.

Lyrical songs

Why isn’t it a white birch? stooping to the floor, Not grass with silk Not paper leaves, but spread beneath it Under this birch tree, beneath this birch tree, blowing in the wind Alongside a stunning maiden A gentleman is speaking.

As Ustinyushka and Epistimovna strolled through the newly constructed room, cracking almond nuts and hurling shells through the window, Makar was struck in the curls. Makarovich was struck in the dark areas. When he turned to face us, he smiled and said, "Well done, Ustinushka! Congratulations, Sveta Epistimovna. I’ll mock you and say, "Are you doing this for your nuts? You won’t laugh at your partner; throw a shell at him."

Is this my side, my little side, the stranger from down the street? Here you go, my little one. My dear friend isn’t here. You’re welcome, my little side. I have no friends. No girlfriend, no friend, and no loving mother.

Historical songs

On the glorious river on Kamyshinka,
There stood a glorious hunter
Ermak Timofeevich with a command.
“think over and think,
Well, me, Ermaka, you obey!
The summer is warm,
Well, winter, brothers, everything is cold,
Well, somewhere, we brothers, we will winter winter?
to go to the eggs – the transition is great,
from Kazan to go to us – there the king himself stands there;
And here we are to be full
and in different prisons pre -war.
Well, let"s go, brothers, serve
to the king White in Kazan-City,
May we take, brothers, Kazan-city,
maybe the king will come to us:
and we will ask for a glorious quiet don
with streams and white mannye ".

The princess walked along the steep mountains,
She walked from mountain to mountain,
The princess stepped from stone to stone,
The princess stepped on Luta Snake,
on Luta Snake, on Gorynych.
A snake wrapped around her legs,
Around her morocco slipper,
Around her stockings of scurf-cloth,
With his trunk he beats her on her white breasts,
On her white breasts like a human,
He kisses her sugar lips.
That"s why the princess got diarrhea,
She got diarrhea, she became pregnant.
She carried a child in her womb for nine months;
On the tenth, the child had an epiphany,
The epiphany, child, blurted out:
“Oh, you are a goy, my dear mother!
When I am of age,
At the age of fifteen,
Oh, forge me a battle club,
A battle club of a hundred pounds.
The club will seem light to me,
Oh, forge, mother, of a hundred and fifty pounds.
Then, mother, I will fight the serpent.
I will go to his little snake caves,
I will cut off his wild head,
I will raise his little head on a sharp stake,
I will bring his head to your palace".

It is not the noise that makes the noise, it is not the thunder that rumbles,
The young Turchin divides the captivity:
And who will get whom?
The sister will go to the brother,
The sister to the brother, the mother-in-law to the son-in-law:
And the brother let the sister go to Rus",
And the son-in-law took the mother-in-law captive,
He made her do three things:
The first thing is to spin tow,
The second thing is to guard the swans,
And the third thing is to rock the baby.
— I spin tow with my hands,
I guard the swans with my eyes,
And rock the baby with my feet:
“Bye-bye, bye, boyar’s son,
A wicked little Tatar like my father!
To call you a child is not my faith,
And to beat you would be a sin:
Was your mother my daughter.
By your mother you are my grandson.»
— Oh, my dear mother!
Take off your rawhide coat,
Put on your sable coat.
I don’t want a sable coat:
Let me go to your side.

A vibrant and rich component of Russia’s cultural legacy are folk songs. They provide a window into the daily routines and morals of bygone eras by reflecting the feelings, customs, and history of the populace.

These songs have a way of bringing listeners right into the core of Russian culture, whether it be through the eerie melodies of lyrical songs or the upbeat rhythms of dance tunes. Every genre of folk music, from lively ditties to epic ballads, adds a distinct flavor to the genre.

We can better appreciate Russian folk music and gain a deeper understanding of the sentiments and stories that have been passed down through the generations by delving into the lyrics and genres of these songs. It’s a lovely way to appreciate timeless music and maintain a connection to the past.

Russian folk songs are part of a rich and varied cultural heritage that use a range of genres and lyrical themes to reflect the history, values, and way of life of the nation. These songs, which have been passed down through the generations, provide a glimpse into the essence of Russian culture by capturing everything from the simple pleasures of life to deep expressions of love, adversity, and celebration.

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