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.
Karkali pacichu,
Što žyviecca dobra im
Biez turbot i licha
Što žyviecca dobra im
Biez turbot i licha.
Z halavoj prabitaj,
Hierb jahony zarastaŭ
Traŭkaj sakavitaj.
Hierb jahony zarastaŭ
Traŭkaj sakavitaj.
«Honar — što takoje?»
A druhi: «Hliadzi, voś tut
Ciela niežyvoje».
A druhi: «Hliadzi, voś tut
Ciela niežyvoje».
«Skvapnasć — što takoje?»
A druhi: «Hliadzi, voś tut
Zolata i zbroja».
A druhi: «Hliadzi, voś tut
Zolata i zbroja».
«Holad — što takoje?»
A druhi: «Jaho ž niama!
Bo rycaraŭ davoli».
A druhi: «Jaho ž niama!
Bo rycaraŭ davoli».
Zolata da stoli
Haladać ža my, kruki,
Nie budziem nikoli.
Haladać ža my, kruki,
Nie budziem nikoli.
Croaking just a little
About their happy life
With no mess or evil.
His head is crushed badly.
His coat of arms is covered with
Growing grass, so sadly.
“What is pride, my dear?”
And the other said, “Look down
At this lifeless body.”
“What is greed, my dear?”
And the other said, “Look down.
There’s lots of gold and weapons.”
“Do you know what hunger means?”
And the other said, “There is no hunger,
As many knights are there.”
Gold, and gems, and treasure;
Thus, we’re never gonna have,
Hunger, at our pleasure.
