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Dva kruki (Two Ravens)

Student's mock song, that was popular in many European countries in 15-16 c. It has lyrics based on "The Three Ravens" English folk ballad with a similar general story. Also known a Scots language ballad called "Twa Corbies" with the same story, but is sung to a different melody. In all these songs the knights are being mocked at, their attachment to the roots, emblems, thirst for power, glory and wealth. This song was popular in Poland and The Grand Duchy of Lithuania as a part of students drinking folklore. Unfortunately the Belarusian variant hasn’t survived, so for reconstruction of this song Polish and German variants were used. The music for this song was restored on a Belarusian folk song basis. Music and lyrics restoring by Zmicier Sasnoŭski. Actual English translation by Alena Martsyanava and Volya Dzemka.

Na halincy dva kruki
Karkali pacichu,
Što žyviecca dobra im
Biez turbot i licha
Što žyviecca dobra im
Biez turbot i licha.
 
Pad halinkaj rycar spaŭ
Z halavoj prabitaj,
Hierb jahony zarastaŭ
Traŭkaj sakavitaj.
Hierb jahony zarastaŭ
Traŭkaj sakavitaj.
 
Zapytaŭsia pieršy kruk:
«Honar — što takoje?»
A druhi: «Hliadzi, voś tut
Ciela niežyvoje».
A druhi: «Hliadzi, voś tut
Ciela niežyvoje».
 
Zapytaŭsia pieršy kruk:
«Skvapnasć — što takoje?»
A druhi: «Hliadzi, voś tut
Zolata i zbroja».
A druhi: «Hliadzi, voś tut
Zolata i zbroja».
 
Zapytaŭsia pieršy kruk:
«Holad — što takoje?»
A druhi: «Jaho ž niama!
Bo rycaraŭ davoli».
A druhi: «Jaho ž niama!
Bo rycaraŭ davoli».
 
Prahnuć liudzi ŭsie viaki
Zolata da stoli
Haladać ža my, kruki,
Nie budziem nikoli.
Haladać ža my, kruki,
Nie budziem nikoli.
 
Actual English translation:
 
On the tree there were two ravens
Croaking just a little
About their happy life
With no mess or evil.
 
The knight is sleeping under the tree.
His head is crushed badly.
His coat of arms is covered with
Growing grass, so sadly.
 
And the first raven asked,
“What is pride, my dear?”
And the other said, “Look down
At this lifeless body.”
 
And first raven asked again,
“What is greed, my dear?”
And the other said, “Look down.
There’s lots of gold and weapons.”
 
And the first raven asked,
“Do you know what hunger means?”
And the other said, “There is no hunger,
As many knights are there.”
 
Humans always long for wealth,
Gold, and gems, and treasure;
Thus, we’re never gonna have,
Hunger, at our pleasure.
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