Popular Lithuanian Songs (Old and New)
While today Lithuanian music is increasing internationalized it still has its own peculiarities. Moreover, many of the songs still played on the radio are some years or several decades old, having witnessed the turbulent history.
Music has always been important to Lithuanians. In pre-modern times they had special songs for every daily task or lifetime event. In the 20th century, both independence movements (1918 and 1990) had their own strong musical backings.
This article tells the Lithuanian musical history with the most influential songs of various periods.
See also: Lithuanian folk songs.
Lithuanian National Revival songs (1870-1918)
In the late 19th century Lithuanian language ceased to be regarded as the language of peasants alone. Poets such as priest Maironis wrote poetry in Lithuanian, most of it with patriotic words. The importance of Maironis work to Lithuanian history is difficult to overstate and some of his famous poems became songs such as "Oi neverk matušėle" ("Oh don't cry, beloved mother"). The popularity of these songs continued and never became dated as the Lithuanian nation continued struggles for its existence under the Soviet occupation.
| Oi neverk, matušėle ©Maironis (Jonas Mačiulis) Oi neverk, matušėle, kad jaunas sūnus Taip nelaužyk sau rankų, kaip beržo šakas Ten už upių plačių žiba mūsų pulkai: Daugel krito sūnų kaip tų lapų rudens: Vedė Vytautas ten didžiavyrių pulkus Saulė leidos raudona ant Vilniaus kapų, O neverk, matušėle, kad jaunas sūnus |
Oh, don't cry, beloved mother English translation ©Augustinas Žemaitis Oh, don't cry, beloved mother, that young son Don't break your arms in the way birch branches There beyond wide rivers our legions are shining Many sons have fallen as those Autumn leafs Vytautas was leading there the legions of heroes The red sun was setting onto the graves of Vilnius Oh, don't cry, beloved mother, that young son |
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Interwar Lithuanian songs (1918-1940)
The roots of Lithuanian pop music lie in the interwar period and such people as the traveling singer Danielius Dolskis who settled down in Kaunas. He used to write Lithuanian lyrics for popular world tunes and perform in upscale restaurants. His songs are still popular, having been recorded and re-recorded by many different musicians ever since.
"Palangos jūroj" ("In the sea of Palanga") song is one of the most popular Dolskis songs. The lyrics also signifies the urbanization-inspired change in lifestyle: Palanga is a popular resort town and the 1920s generation was among the first ones that had a significant number of people able to have a seaside holiday.
| Palangos jūroj ©Danielius Dolskis Palangos jūroj nuskendo mano meilė, O viltis mane dar šaukia, |
In the sea of Palanga English translation ©Augustinas Žemaitis In the sea of Palanga my love had drowned Yet the hope is still calling me |
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While some topics were temporary in the popular music "love" theme always continued. Although even it followed the zeitgeist: forced to be socially conservative under the Soviet occupation it was to become extremely liberal in the 1990s.
Songs of the Soviet occupation era (1940-1990)
Like other arts under the Soviet occupation, music had to serve the regime. This does not mean that all popular music praised the Party or the Communism (there were military songs for that, many of them Russian). However, all of it had to adhere to the Soviet conservative yet anti-religious morals to survive censorship. "There is no sex in the Soviet Union" had been a popular saying.
The song we choose as an example for the era - "Senieji Vilniaus stogai" ("The old roofs of Vilnius") - is still popular. Its lyrics show how it was possible to discretely incorporate praise for Soviet programs. In this case, the campaign of building new functionalist microdistricts is praised as the topic of the song swiftly moves from the "Old roofs" to the "New roofs" of Vilnius.
| Senieji Vilniaus stogai ©Jonas Mašanauskas Senieji Vilniaus stogai, Stogai senieji, kai jus tik pamatau, Senieji Vilniaus stogai, Nešuosi mintį, Vilniau, tais rytais Naujieji Vilniaus stogai, Ir aš dainuoju pilna krūtine, |
The old roofs of Vilnius English translation ©Augustinas Žemaitis The old roofs of Vilnius Old roofs, whenever I see you Old roofs of Vilnius I am having a will, oh Vilnius, in those mornings New roofs of Vilnius And I sing with a full bosom |
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In the Soviet Union, the government commonly required popular singers to also sing in Russian. Seeing the brutality of the Soviet Russian occupation few Lithuanians agreed to this, however, sacrificing the possibility of the Soviet Union-wide career.
In the end of the Soviet era a new form of protest was ideologically-overcharged songs that were effectively parodies of themselves (but the censors had no pretext to ban them). One of the masters of such parody was sung poetry author Vytautas Kernagis. The song goes in-line with a major Soviet campaign on eradicating Colorado potato beetle which even included rewarding children who captured the beetles for extermination.
| Kolorado vabalai ©Vytautas Kernagis, lyrics ©Juozas Erlickas Ant aukšto kranto upės mėlyno REFRAIN: Klajos dangum žvaigždė ir suoks lakštingala REFRAIN |
Colorado potato beetles English translation ©Augustinas Žemaitis On a high blue river bank REFRAIN: A star will travel in the sky, a nightingale will sing REFRAIN. |
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Under the Soviet rule singers who were believed to be "anti-system" were called bards after the Celtic poets. Today in Lithuania a bard means a sung poetry singer. Perhaps the popularity of Vytautas Kernagis (who was a bard in both senses) changed the word's meaning and popularized the sung poetry genre.
The legal "anti-system" music had to be tame enough to cheat the censors, so most people who never lived under a totalitarian regime would probably not consider it anti-system at all, expecting direct criticism rather than merely a bit of subtle irony in a truly "anti-system" art.
There were, however, more openly dissenting songs created by the people in secret. They were patriotic and pro-independence. Written by political prisoners, guerillas and the persecuted Lithuanian majority these songs were banned in the Soviet Union, passed by the word of mouth alone. Many are anonymous and thus considered folk music.
Lithuanian songs for freedom (1987-1994)
During late 1980s Lithuanians started to dare to tell what they were thinking for decades - that the Soviet occupation must end. Songs on the censored topics (history, religion, freedom) became more and more open even if that meant KGB interrogations of some singers.
The music was so important in raising people's morale that the entire independence of the Baltic States which led to the collapse of the Soviet Union is sometimes named "The Singing Revolution".
Among the most daring singers of the era was Arvydas Vilčinskas who symbolically yet openly sung about the exiles, mass murders, nationalization, forced state atheism and other things the Lithuanian nation suffered under the Soviet occupation. His concerts used to attract full stadiums and many of his songs are still well known.
| Verkia Dievas medinis ©Arvydas Vilčinskas Stovi tėvo dvareliai tušti, REFRAIN: Mūsų niekas daugiau čia nekvies REFRAIN Liko tuščia, išplėšta namuos, REFRAIN |
A wooden God is crying English translation ©Augustinas Žemaitis The father's little manor is all empty, REFRAIN: No one will ever invite us here again, REFRAIN It's so empty, so robbed inside home REFRAIN |
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This particular song is about the Soviet occupation of 1940. The first verse speaks of nationalization (when Soviets robbed away property from all Lithuanian classes - peasants to urban dwellers), the second verse symbolizes the destruction of Lithuanian traditions, the third verse tells of the physical Soviet genocide (the mother and sister are likely exiled or murdered) while the refrain describes the need to leave Lithuania as refugees (chosen by some 100 000 after World War 2).
The wooden God is Rūpintojėlis, a traditional Lithuanian wooden statue of sad Jesus, erected near village homes. Like many allegories in Vilčinskas's songs it has multiple meanings: beside the obvious one (a statue in the yard of a nationalized home) it laments the attacks on the religious and the fact that the nationalised home will remain empty and ransacked with the statue itself likely destroyed soon. The tune of the song is delusively happy and this is a signature of A. Vilčinskas. After suffering so much Lithuanians frequently adopted the "laughter through tears" stance towards sad events.
In addition to such ballads there was rock music that offered an even bolder position. 1987-1989 saw annual "Rock march" tours across Lithuania. Rock music on itself was something politically incorrect in the Soviet Union, so the fact that concerts took place at all was already seen as a victory in 1987. But in 1988-1989 the rock bands were more and more daring to transfer their pro-independence opinion into lyrics, culminating in texts like "Lietuvos valstybė" by Antis, aimed at leftist Western European politicians who were ready to disregard the Lithuanian tragedy in order to preserve stability of the Soviet Union:
| Lietuvos valstybė ©Antis Ei, tu, vakarų pilieti, Ei, tu, kvapnusis europieti, Ei, tu, šaunusis demokrate, Ei, tu, tolimas kaimyne, Lietuvos valstybė – pabandyk ištarti Ei, jūs, Europos vegetarai, Ei, jūs, apsukrūs diplomatai, Lietuvos valstybė – pabandyk ištarti |
Independent State of Lithuania English translation ©Augustinas Žemaitis Hey you, a Western citizen, Hey you, a perfumed European Hey you, a great democrat, Hey you, a far-away neighbor, Independent State of Lithuania - try to spell it. Hey you, European vegetarians, Hey you, fast-thinking diplomats, Independent State of Lithuania - try to spell it. |
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Lithuanian songs of the libertarian 1990s
The 1990 independence and its subsequent successful defense from Russian aggression meant that the patriotic goals were successfully met. The initial wave of patriotically, religiously and historically themed music subsided.
However, the restored freedom introduced other once-censored themes as well: business, sex, crime. Local bands attempted to emulate previously non-existent Western styles but a lack of global ties meant that such imitations would just make new fusion styles instead.
Among the emulated styles of 1990s was hip hop and SEL was one of its most popular local bands. The following is their song "Išsivaduok nuo kontrolės" ("Liberate yourself from control"):
| Išsivaduok nuo kontrolės SEL Sustok Palikai tėvų namus Išsivaduok nuo materialines priklausomybės Tu pasiekei tai apie ką svajojai Išsivaduok nuo materialinės priklausomybės |
Liberate yourself from control SEL Stop. You had left the parents' home Liberate yourself from material dependency You have reached what you sought for Liberate yourself from material dependency |
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Belief in freedom of speech and free market was nearly universal and no government would have considered censorship. Some songs were anarchist and some racist, the new topics ranged from murders to transexuality. People eagerly listened to all the new ideas; discussions on them were generally prejudice-free, no thought was considered "too radical to even discuss". But this freedom of speech eroded with EU membership (~2004), leading even to calls for prosecution for some of the 1990s "politically incorrect" radio hits. An example of an era's controversial song may be "Atbėgo kariūnai" ("The soldiers quickly came") where the phrase "Atbėgo kariūnai, sušaudė Brazauską" ("The soldiers quickly came, they shot Brazauskas") is constantly on repeat (Brazauskas was a well-known Lithuanian political figure who hasn't been shot at in reality).
International era at Lithuanian music (2000 and later)
By 2000s the prime Lithuanian music became well-internationalized. Foreign style songs (e.g. metal, electro) were no longer naive adaptations but faithful copies.
Increasingly this "internationalized Lithuanian music" has foreign producers, English lyrics and little to distinguish it from startup musicians of London or New York. The hopes of Lithuanian musicians for careers in either East (Russia) or the West have been left largely unfulfilled, however.
Pop music remained more Lithuanian, although it is looked down upon by those who consider themselves to be more "hip".
Still, Lithuanians had some genres that had popularity far surpassing that of their contemporaries in West, among them sung poetry, neo-folk, and sports anthems.
Sports anthem "Trys milijonai" is likely the Lithuanian song performed outside Lithuania the most frequently. As an unofficial Lithuanian sports anthem it is performed in various international events where Lithuanians particiapte and the countries provide their songs to fill the pauses. It was created for 2000 Sydney olympics by "most wanted husband" Marijus Mikutavičius and inspired entire subgenre of "sport anthems" for different events, teams and sports but still has not been surpassed in popularity. Together with the neo-folk and sung poetry the sport anthems became an antithesis to internationalization in music.
| Trys milijonai Marijus Mikutavičius Galbūt per daug ir per ilgai mes kariavom, Bet ir aš ten buvau, REFRAIN: Ir aš tūkstantį kartų sakiau savo draugui: REFRAIN |
Three million Marijus Mikutavičius Perhaps we fought for too long - and in too many wars But I was there too REFRAIN: For a thousand times I told my friend: REFRAIN |
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October 10th, 2015 - 10:29
I am an Australian and am interested in English translation for the first and second verse of Lithuanian song – Bijūnēlis žalijas. Would very much appreciate it.
October 11th, 2015 - 19:08
ORIGINAL TEXT:
Bijūnelis žalias,
Bijūnėlis gražus,
Bijūnėlio žali lapai,
Raudoni žiedeliai.
Bijūnėlį lenkiau,
Gražų žiedą skyniau,
Gražiais žiedais bijūnėlio
Galvelę dabinau.
TRANSLATION:
Little peony green,
Little peony pretty,
The leafs of little peony are green,
The blossoms are red.
I bent the little peony,
I plucked the pretty blossom,
I used the pretty blossoms of the little peony
To beautify [my] little head
August 1st, 2016 - 19:56
Looking for the original text and translation for a children’s song my grandmother used to sing. It had hand motions and started like vida, vida.
August 2nd, 2016 - 07:44
Unfortunately that’s relatively little information. If you’d write more lyrics I could translate.
February 15th, 2018 - 15:50
Is this the little bird song? Birdie, what hurts you? “My head”?
April 14th, 2018 - 20:44
My father was from Lithuania and used to sing a song called “Tu Lietuva Tu Mana.”
It is on youtube but I am sure he used to have a verse or two in it about Stalin, Hitler and Italy, unless he decided to write his own lyrics. Are you aware of these extra lyrics? Anyhow, do you have an English translation of that song?
April 15th, 2018 - 04:27
I am not aware of these extra lyrics. They may be written by him or, perhaps, more likely, by somebody else, as folk songs regularly get expanded. In any case, such lyrics/versions that are tied to a particular era of history tend to wither later, as they no longer seem actual after the politicians mentioned lose power and die, and the threats come from somebody else. Whereas the main patriotic lyrics are seemingly eternal and they remain and they may still be sung and recorded.
The main part of the song is translated like that:
You are Lithuania, you are mine, you are beautiful Fatherland
Lithuania, you are mine, shalala homeland.
Old mother put me to sleep and carried me
And gives me away for war, aged 21
You are Lithuania, you are mine, you are beautiful Fatherland
Lithuania, you are mine, shalala Homeland.
(shalala here is a meaningless word to give rhyme/rthytm)
April 15th, 2018 - 13:55
What is the difference in meaning between Lietuva and Lietuvėla?
Also….
Mane sena motinėla
migde ir nešioja,
Dvidešint vienų
metelių karan dovanoja.
Panevežia slaunas miestas,
mūras mūravotas,
Ir kas metai mūsų brolių
prie mieros nustotas.
Ąžuolėli tu medeli,
kodėl nežaliuoji,
Brolukėli tu jaunasai,
kodėl nedainuoji
April 15th, 2018 - 14:37
Yes, I have translated the first four lines of this, as well as the refrain.
“Lietuvėla” is a diminutive of Lietuva. Actually, one of many forms of diminutives, others could be Lietuvytė, Lietuviukė and so on. English language does not have diminutives, except for a few words (e.g. “puppy” for “dog” or “kitty” for “cat”), while Lithuanian language has many diminutives for every word and they are especially common in folk songs. Basically, diminutives could carry the meaning of “little”, “lovely”, “beloved”, etc. So “Lietuvėla” would be best translated as “Lovely Lithuania” based on context.
Also, “Lietuvėla” is a dialect word. In fact, entire song is written in a dialect. The standard version would be “Lietuvėlė”, also “Panevėžio” instead of “Panevėžia”. Words like “slaunas”, “mieros” does not exist at all in standard modern Lithuanian.
Approximate translation of the rest of the song would be:
Old mother
Has put me to sleep and carries me
Aged 21,
She gives me away for war
The famous city of Panevėžys
Masonry built of bricks
And every year by our brothers
Stopped by peace(? – the real meaning of this is not fully clear to me)
Oak, you lovely tree,
Why don’t you have green leaves?
Lovely brother, you youngster,
Why don’t you sing?
(in all cases “lovely + some word” is an approximate translation of a diminutive)
August 19th, 2018 - 00:54
The name of the country – LIETUVA- is feminine, so it is MOTHERLAND ( NOT fatherland) .The vowel endings are generally feminine. If it was LietuvAS, then it would be masculine.
August 19th, 2018 - 07:09
The original Lithuanian word is “tėvynė”, from “tėvas” – “father”. In Lithuanian, there is no word “motinynė” derived from “mother”. There is an alternative word “gimtinė”, literally “birthland” but usually translated as “homeland”.
As the English language has no feminine and masculine genders, in the English language the word “Lithuania” has no gender at all. In Lithuanian, the use of “tėvynė” (Fatherland) is common for any country regardless of the grammatical gender of its name.
March 3rd, 2019 - 08:21
Thanks for your informative website.
I would like to find out the meaning of a song my Lithuanian grandmother, Amelia Kavalas sang to me as a child. Sorry, I can only write phonetically.
Gevet possibilia, geset possibilia
Staro a sedova zebik nimagu
Tra ra ra, Tra ra ra ra ra ra ra–
Staro a sedova zebik nimagu
If you can make any sense of this, I will be grateful.
March 4th, 2019 - 17:41
This song is not Lithuanian. It sounds Russian. In 1795-1915, 1940-1941 and 1944-1990 Lithuania were occupied by Russians (Russian Empire, then by the Soviet Union), therefore, many people who grew up in this era had to learn Russian language and songs as well. Even if some people were pro-independence or anti-Russian, they would often still remember the songs they learned in their childhood and sometimes sing them.
April 4th, 2019 - 19:33
ide like to thank you you were such a great help
January 15th, 2020 - 02:50
Hi:
I am trying to identify a song my grandfather used to sing to us as children. It began with the words: Ta la lee la, Ta la lee la, Ta la lee la la la.
My grandfather immigrated to the US in 1922 from Kubiskis. His sir name was Alekna.
My sister and I have tried to recreate the song and have a mp3 recording of what we could remember. I would be willing to send it out if it would be helpful in identifying the song.
May 4th, 2022 - 14:29
I would like to find a Lithuanian song about art
May 18th, 2022 - 11:52
What art in particular? Art in general is not a usual subject for songs…
August 7th, 2022 - 20:34
I am looking for the lyrics (and English translation if possible) to a sutartines which has as its refrain “Ciutela Ciutute”. I realize that these are most likely vocable or nonsense syllables. I have heard a version that transposes other lyrics onto the melody and i would like to find the original lyrics. I have used the melody as a basis for an original composition of my own, so knowing the original lyrics would be good. Thanks for any help or suggestion of where to look.
Stanley Chepaitis
August 31st, 2022 - 16:40
Maybe you can help me. I was taught 2 Lithuanian songs from Minor Lithuania. I still can sing them,and know roughly the translation,but I want to know if that is real Lithuanian language or curish Lithuanian. One song .. I have no idea how to write it .Nevena plauka irsasche Nele gir gir gir gar gar gar Irsasche nele… which means that ducks are swimming on the river Memel… I could even send you a sound file if that helps also with the other song I know about a major in a village or town. Thank you so much
November 2nd, 2022 - 10:37
https://youtu.be/coAGAPz2GaU this is quite similar altho this version is about ducks swimming on a lake.