FINNISH AMERICAN SONG TEXTS FOR SINGABLE TRANSLATIONS

Transcription

FINNISH AMERICAN SONG TEXTS FOR SINGABLE TRANSLATIONS
(Texts in BLUE have already been done!)
1. The Young Emigrant’s Departure from the Homeland
O maiden now you turn your eyes so tearful
Up towards the clouds that drift across the sky
But, love of mine, oh someday you’ll be cheerful,
When I come back to wipe your tears all dry.
As in the peaceful harbor you’re remaining
I think that fortune smiles on you not me.
For I shall be upon the waves complaining
So far from home and tossed by storm and sea.
If from your side stern fortune now must take me
And from my backwoods home I must go forth,
Yet on us both the North Star will shine brightly,
And point a peaceful harbor from the north.
I leave you with all of my family’s favor
Amid the meadows where my sisters play,
The mem’ry of my sorrow may you savor
As I, to test my fortune sail away.
I hope that if the Good Lord will not spurn me
Then from the southern strands, ‘cross sea and foam,
To your own arms my Savior will return me,
A waif returning to his childhood home.
Farewell, my love, I to the Lord’s protection
And humbly to His care my life bestow.
Yet grant me now this sign of your affection
A kiss to warm my heart as forth I go.
Farewell my love, perhaps this is the last time
That ever I may press your lovely hand,
But who in all the present and the past time
Could ever hold you with a love as grand?
Farewell you mountains and you fragrant valley,
Where peacefully I spent my childhood years.
Inside my heart I long for heaven holy
If not before, then there we’ll cease our cares.
2. Akseli and Hilda
Sit - ting in a lovely for - est of delight,
Akseli and his Hilda on a peaceful summer night,
The - young man and his bride, how they - spoke of love so bold,
Rememb’ring while together their - happiness of old.
Pret - ty but yet painful for Hilda was that night,
Sighing of her sorrow and the star-crossed lovers’ plight.
With her head upon his shoulder, and her back upon his sleeve,
Of forest and of lover at - once she must take leave.
“Far now - from our Finland father is taking me,
for distant California we are leaving certainly.
He will take me oh so far off, and - part me thus from thee,
For in his hard opinion, you’re not of quality.”
“Fare - well then my sweetheart, go with - him today.
I am - not his equal in my station I must say.
But - I’ll remain alone here and - on this shore I’ll cry,
Rememb’ring my dear true love un - til the day I die.”
“Hur - ting from this parting, far to the north I’ll flee,
where the - starry night sky, I’ - ll look at gratefully.
Its - beauty always gladdens my - heart in its distress,
If only I am certain of my Hilda’s happiness.”
Now the - ship is sailing, mournfully it does sway,
Tak - ing lonely Hilda to a land so far away.
But - on the shore stands Aksel, he - stands there all alone,
And watches as his sweetheart now - sails far from her home.
Mourn - ful Hilda’s standing, lost in her woeful plight,
In distant California and its forests of delight.
She - thinks of her dear true love whom she left so far behind,
Who ever for his sweet heart so - faithfully he pined.
Days they - turned to years now, times changed - like the tide.
Fath - er, he called Hilda to - stand by at his side.
His - mind it had now altered, as he lay there so forlorn
Akseli was no longer the - object of his scorn.
“List - en little daughter, my be - loved child
Cruel –ly I did treat you, for my jealousy was wild.
I – forced a lovers’ parting and – caused you great sorrow,
If Akseli were here now, I’d accept him as your beau.”
As he – lay there dying father – thus he said
Blessings - for her Akseli he gave on his death bed.
And – poor Hilda was left there on her father’s dying day,
And sat there weeping sadly, in a forest far away.
It was – on an eve’ning as the – sun went down,
Hil –da she said “Aksel” as she sadly now did frown.
As – she now pictured Aksel, a - wind it started near
And blew across the ocean to – light upon his ear.
Vellamo’s mermaid sported, sang in the clear blue wave
Akseli her dear true love now – stood before her brave.
“Oh – come into my arms now, how – sweet the words they sound,
for through the pow’r of love now, we – have each other found!”
“It is - I your Aksel who now – here stands by
Far from the distant north lands your – love has drawn me nigh.
There - in our native valleys I – no longer could stay,
When from that place my love bird was – forced to fly away.”
“Can it – be my Aksel, guardian of my heart,
It is – your safe harbor and – you my joy’s true art!
Oh – Finland my dear homeland, oh – north land that I love,
Now even in the heavens your – praise sounds up above!”
Vellamo’s loving mermaid in the – grove did spy,
Hil – da so contended in her love’s embrace did lie
How – long they kissed and embraced anyone can surely guess
Who’s seen a Finnish maiden with the man that she loves best.
Now there is nothing more to tell of this happy tale,
Akseli and his Hilda, their – love would never fail.
Soon – they arranged their wedding and – celebrated true
And all their days they lived out as – all true lovers do.
3. Young Men off to America
Men got a job off in America and ten long — years they stayed—.
Many a beau—tiful girl a— wi—dow— Amer—ica made—.
Men got a-board the— transAtlantic, as “All a-board” they-were calling.
Many a mourn—ful— tear full of sor—row— from their— eyes came falling.
Men they— went to America, they were hoping a fortune to-earn—.
They didn’t know— as they set out to go— if— they’d ever return—.
Men they— left their— boyhood homes and their steps they did never alter.
Back there— on—ly there sat so— lone—ly— many a mother’s daughter.
Men when they left for—America, sorrow to hearts they-were bringing.
Off on the At—lantic’s other side—there’s a hotel’s— bell they’re ringing.
“I am my mother’s— only son, and I now want to live this way—
I want to be— foot—loose and— free— in a land so— far away—.”
“My love he sent a— letter here, it was mailed from— New York City.
It was— not a letter parting from me— but a love let—ter so pretty.”
“My true— love who is far away, he— sent to— me a line—.
I could— see— an— I and a P— which meant he for— me did pine—.”
My true— love he— sent me card, in an envelope he did stick it.
He asked— me—, “My— love, tell me—, would you come if I sent you-a ticket?”
Long and— hard I— thought all day, and I looked up— in the sky—.
There did I see— that the birds so— free— they— always in pairs did fly—.
Mother she has two— fine young boys, but she frets for her oldest one—
Nobody knows— how— fortune it goes— what the younger will become—.
Off to a distant— shore they go as the sail of their ship unfurls—.
Oh what a day—, if we only could stay— in the arms of our Finnish girls—.
From their— girls they— took their leave, before Mid—summer’s day—.
They left them high— and— dry just— like— a—branch bro—ken away—.
There is a sign in America that— in the— rain has grayed—.
There on that plaque—you can read front to back— those—Finlanders’ song displayed—.
Up on the deck of that sailing ship, flew a flag in the breeze so mild—.
It is—true— when I say this to you— that a boy’s like a rapids wild—.
From their— Finland— forth they go, to this distant— land’s far parts—.
Money they earn— with a letter they yearn— to— send to their dear sweethearts—.
Father he said “My— only home I’ll give to— you son dear—.
All that I have— will be your to— sa—vor— if you’ll just stay here—.”
Father he had some good reason to— shed for his son some tears—.
Off to the world— his— son snuck— off— and— he was— gone ten years—.
Some of the best they have passed me by, with— jilting I have been stung—.
Most of the rest— they don’t pass my— test— but I’ll complain while I’m still young—.
I have been put on this earth you know so the back of the rich it sags—.
I was created and I’ll live all my days— as a drag on their money bags—.
Now ends my song of America, and I say to you what the heck
Do something wrong— and before very long— they’ll have noosed you— ‘round the neck.
4. Plans for America
To America I’ll go now, that’s a land I would see;
For a young and— strap—ing— youth this— Finland’s just too tiny.
Tickets to America, they aren’t so very costly.
If one thinks of the wealth and the riches that that fine trip will get me.
Wages are there mighty high, and plenty-of work to have there.
This first time while I’m still in my prime I will from this Finland get clear. (from
Finland I’ll get clear?)
All the other men who’ve gone there, such good things they tell me.
Such good wage at— any—— stage, well— such will not repel me!
Of my distant homeland Finland I will think tomorrow.
But once I get to where I am headed— I’ll control my sorrow.
Finland though is dear to me, its thousand lakes are my home.
Ever have I— loved this— land and — seen it as my own—!
Happily I see my homeland in my mind’s eye ever
Such a love must— come from above, so— I can’t leave forever.
Even if I get distracted, I will keep on working.
Honor comes to— those who— labor—, never their task shirking.
Never will I loaf ‘round idly, or spend my time drinking.
What you sow is— what you— mow, now— that’s something worth thinking!
Sorrow will not help you prosper, in that lovely joy-land.
Money there just— can’t com—pare there’s— much more than in Finland.
[or much to earn in Finland: moninkerroin täällä [kuin] suomelassa]
5. The Finn’s Departure to America
With the good Lord at my side I’ll gladly head off on my way,
To my friends who are so merry I’ll sing farewell on this day.
With my trip to America spreading forth in front of me,
I will pack all my belongings for the trip out on the sea.
Where the sturdy ocean liners ply the great waves and the foam,
O’er the ocean I will travel to the shores of my new home.
Much will face me on this journey, I shall be put to the test.
Some things will prove mighty chall’nges while some happen for the best.
As I march forth with my honor in all tri-als I’ll pull through,
I will earn me some— hard bread through the labor that I do.
For a long while I have tarried with the home folk around here.
So— give me now your blessing as my leaving draws— near.
To my dearest native country I will bid now fare—well.
From a traveler who is leaving but whose heart loves you— well.
6. A Youth’s Farewell when Leaving for America
If you look at this Finland, it is easy to see,
That the young men with ambition from this land they must flee.
And the maidens they are crying as the men head to sea,
From the ship decks they cry “Farewell” as they leave their country.
When we landed first at Stockholm they met us with delight,
when we told them where we’re headed they fixed our boat up tight.
As we headed on our travels we next landed at Hull,
With a girl under each shoulder, our time there was not dull!
Next we set off for more travel o’er the lands of England
And by morning of the third day we reached Gothenburg strand.
Then by fancy railroad carriage we did reach Liverpool.
It was barely six short hours till we saw that fine jewel.
As we took leave of that city, the— sea lay ahead,
Though we drank deep from our tankards, we felt sorrow instead.
And those ships there were mighty, built of iron and steel,
So that no one who was traveling any worry should feel.
As the winds that blew across us started ships’ sails to fill,
The excitement of the moment cheered the men’s hearts as well.
After two weeks of sailing had cut our numbers by two
We at last America rising out of the blue.
There you need not serve the wealthy nor bow down as they pass,
But attend to your own business and— earn your own cash.
Now we come ashore at last to this homeland we like well.
Will we ever leave this country? Well you never can tell.
7. The Traveler’s Song of Going to America
I’ll sing this day in my usual way as it is my want to do—
I’ll tell you how I am leaving now, for to travel the whole world through.
I’m headed off to America, in the world I mean to roam,
The wide, wide world I will see unfurled as I find me a fine new home.
On parting day we— raised a cup and we toasted our Finland.
We sailed away, with a “Hip-hurray!” raised a shout for our dear homeland.
Before too long we had sailed along, so that Stockholm we did see.
And when we said where we now did head, they got our vessel sea-worthy.
From there we road in— carriages bold, and it took us two days’ time,
But then we’d see Gothenburg’s beauty, and our stay there— it was prime.
We traveled next to a place called Hull, it’s a city of England.
And there we found many a sight and sound on that great city’s bustling strand.
Our next stop it was— Liverpool, where we got a chance to rest.
A fine city it— seemed to be, some—say it is England’s best.
Before us lay the— Atlantic, with its waves and stretches wide.
The only way we could cross one day was if God would— be our guide.
We sailed quite soon past— Ireland, till we left its shores behind.
I wonder what those— folk aboard were— harboring in their minds?
Those sailing ships they are well-equipped; they are built of iron strong.
No traveler needs to be afraid on such ships so— sleek and long.
The ocean waves tossed us down and up and the distances are great.
And truth to tell in the mighty swell many feared that this was their fate.
‘Twas ten long days that we sailed this way till at last the land drew near.
America came now in sight and it calmed our— many fears.
There is no need the rich man to greet, or to kow-tow to the priest.
But all can do what they mean to do, both the greatest and the least.
8. A New Song about the Travelers to America
Farewell my homeland, the land of my birth!
I’m off to A-merica for all I’m worth!
I’ll cross the many countries and the waves of the sea,
I’m just like a migrating bird flying free.
Over the Baltic a steamship does ply.
It will transport me to where Sweden does lie.
As we sail from the harbor all my friends near and dear,
They shout to me “Farewell! Good luck to you there!”
Out on the Baltic the shore slips away.
We are surrounded by waves and by spray.
We travel over waters till a shore comes in sight;
We now see Stockholm with joy and delight.
To Stockholm’s good harbor we come at last.
Then to another ship we are thereafter passed.
We leave Stockholm— behind as we go on our way;
And come then to Gothenburg where we can stay.
From Norway and Sweden, emigrants all
Are waiting for their passage from that port of call.
The captain he is English and he shows us on board,
And takes us around to each deck aft and forward.
We’re headed from Gothenburg by the sea,
And then to Eng—land we do sail directly.
We rock on the— billows of the great Northern Sea,
O’er dark wave and sky we sail intrepidly.
Into the Thames River our ship does come,
And up to the great city, famous London.
Its shores are all crowded and with people do team,
For me it is something I never have seen.
When we arrive there and we walk round about,
Oh the din and the racket, the noise and the shouts!
There’s no time in the fracas to— wander or sing,
For off to the station ourselves we must bring.
I then take the railroad, from that great place,
To travel across England at feverish pace.
We cross the mighty country as the train goes around,
And then it comes to stop at Liverpool town.
A great ocean-liner’s waiting for us,
It carries all— fam’lies without any fuss.
We travel in that steamer off from Europe’s great shore,
To come o’er the sea to America’s door.
The Atlantic’s vastness before us stands,
As crossing that ocean is in all our plans.
The ship she pushes forward and she speeds on her way;
The travelers laugh as they relax and play.
But soon things go sour, a strong wind does stir.
And now we see— lightning and hear the thunder.
A storm how it— rages and— lashes us mean,
And now at its worst this great ocean we’ve seen.
The storm sets upon us with wind and waves.
The onslaught of the ocean our vessel now braves.
But through the great— tempest our— good ship does ride
And moving straight forward takes storm winds in stride.
Sea sickness hits us and suff’ring does cause.
And then a great— fog comes and forces a pause.
For three days the— tempest our— seamen must fight,
But then comes a mild wind and sets us up right.
The end of the weather we have now seen.
And now spreads the ocean so blue and serene.
The sun peacefully shining warms all souls on board,
And many a passenger thanks the good Lord.
America’s mainland at last comes in sight.
It fills all our— eyes with such tears of delight!
And there on the horizon a— city I see,
With buildings and towers shining beautifully.
Our ship rushes forward toward the mainland.
And fortunate— feel we to reach that fair strand.
We boldly push ahead with a— full head of steam,
And then comes the moment when off we all stream.
We’ve come to New York, the city so fine.
We stand and we— look at the sun it does shine.
A crowd of happy denizens’re milling about,
And thousands of greetings the Finns there do shout!
The sights of the city, they pass by fast.
And off to the interior we’ve quickly passed.
And now that we are done with our— journey so long,
I can now stop singing this traveling song!
9. The Goodbye Song of the American Traveler
Now sorrowf’lly will I this my song begin,
For all of my old friends back there;
My feelings I’ve set down in these lines herein,
For my heart does great sorrow bear.
My friends, I deceived you, your trust I betrayed,
And led myself verily into harm’s way.
But friends, please forgive me, I beg you indeed
That in the hereafter from Judgment I’m freed.
My heart it is breaking in sorrow and pain,
My cares they are eating my whole!
I see now my punishment day coming plain,
That troubles and worries me so.
The tears from my eyes they will never subside,
For I am here suff’ring, no friend at my side.
I feel I’m deserted and so I will be,
No friend here to cheer me in all this country.
My leave did I take of my loving homeland,
Each hill and each knoll bid adieu.
My sister would join me to reach the new land,
And also my love’s coming too.
Together we’re planning to find a new home,
But arguments led me to set off alone.
My tears they are bitter, the memory will last—
Of you the most cru-el of friends of my past.
The stars in the heavens bear witness so true,
My lines are not telling a lie;
You heart seemed so honest and I trusted you,
When you said you’d always be mine.
Your promise of faithfulness I did believe,
You promised me you would me never deceive.
But you broke your promise and did me betray,
You’ll pay for deceiving me on Judgment Day.
My farewell I say as my song I do end,
I’ll never come back there to you.
This witness my soul does now unto you send,
If by chance there’s life still in you.
Your death knell, if ever it reaches my ears,
Then I’ll come back to Finland after the years
And unless I drown in completing my quest,
In Finland forever my soul it will rest.
10. The Song of the Immigrant to America
Thoughts of men are— turning ever
Toward America far away.
They yearn so for that endeavor,
From dear Finland now to stray.
In our eyes we— see the ocean,
Stretching outward wide and blue,
But with tears and deep emotion
We consider leaving you.
America— there’s no other
For a Finnish man young and brave,
There you’re not stuck with your brother
Having to work as his slave.
Father’s place so— fine and strengthened
It is now my— brother’s home.
So my travels now have lengthened
To America I’ll roam.
To Ameri—ca we’ re sailing,
Hoping there to— strike it rich.
Thousands strong in hope unfailing,
Heeding all the freedom pitch.
We have heard of— that land golden,
Through the world its— fame is known;
Now in droves with hearts emboldened
Anxious to come we are grown.
America’s— gold it does shine
Its allure is known everywhere.
Even the maidens they do pine
To be married off— there.
So our dreams how— far they’ll take us,
With such hope we— have been sent.
Though the journey it will make us,
Live as lowly immigrants.
Often are the— mem’ries drifting,
back to us of our native land.
As beneath the seas are shifting
Till we reach that distant strand.
Steam it strongly— does propel us
Boldly onward it pushes so.
Its strong drive it does convince us
Backwards now we cannot go.
Now we have our tickets on us,
To America they are bought.
Sorrow comes hard now upon us
Tears well at each parting thought.
Waste no time with words of yearning
Singing’s better— for desire.
Even if your heart is burning
like an iron in the fire.
Now to my Fin—land farewell I say.
You are dearer to me than gold.
In my heart your mem’ry will stay,
Ever there its power hold.
Ever more in your fields abounding
Let the flower of freedom be.
Grant in harvest so resounding
Fruit of true equality.
So that Finns both— there and here—
Can one heart— understood,
And reach out with goodwill clear
To embrace true brotherhood.
Let equality get a footing
Let the power of money die.
Then we Finns will not be needing
From our native land to fly.
11. Kaarlo and Alma
Beneath a lovely birch tree
Beneath the setting sun
Sweet Alma and her true love
Their courtship long had run.
He place upon her finger
A pretty ring of gold.
And Alma gave her heart to
That Kaarlo good and bold.
“Now hear my words my honey,
my lovely bride Alma,
I need to earn some money,
Off in America.
“You wait for me on this side,
Ane when I have come back,
You’ll be my loving true bride
And joy we shall not lack.”
So Alma vowed with such tears
Her Kaarlo to await.
It might take two or three years,
Before their wedding date.
But after three years’ waiting
A ticket came by mail,
And also a note stating
That she should thither sail.
But oh! The cruel betrayal!
This ticket was not true.
A scheming misportrayal
Of one of Kaarlo’s crew.
This man became acquainted
With Kaarlo’s plans in life,
And by this scheme so tainted
He would procure a wife.
As Kaarlo left for Finland
His bride at last to meet
Petturi called to his land
The faithful Alma sweet.
So Alma took her leave now
Of Finland then and there
The letter she believed now
She was so kind and fair.
She came to New York City
The trip she did not mind.
This faithful maiden pretty,
Her Kaarlo for to find.
But Kaarlo he had traveled
Back home upon a ship.
And found his dream unraveled
For Alma far did slip.
He was in consternation
And then it all came clear.
He heard her destination
And rushed to find her there.
In New York the deceiver
For Alma he did wait.
He met the sweet believer
Confused about her fate.
He knew her by her picture
That he had often seen.
He meant now to ensnare her
With his deceiving scheme.
He made her sweet acquaintance
And told her then his name,
As Alma searched with patience
For Kaarlo without blame.
Revenge it does not take long
Or so you may have heard.
For Kaarlo traveled headlong
As swift as any bird.
Petturi is proposing
In courting manner best,
When Kaarlo come imposing
And stabs him in the chest.
Petturi falls down bleeding
And writhes upon the ground.
This punishment exceeding
his wage he now had found.
Needs to be made singable…
12. Going to America
If I could get something done
And my talent would be turned into songs
Then there would be understanding
In which would be hidden an idea
That difficult America
It is too complicated
It always ignites a stern fire
That incites to move from the country
Fortune does not exist
On all roads of America
Even though they reject their suits
And give up their family
They rush there with excitement
With the feel for a big win
They do not strive for the promised
Land, described in the bible
Do not throw a twig in anger
Truth does not live in flesh
Sin is in our steps
On our trip and in between
When the Englishman had time
He sent a message
That he had found gold-land
Where the immigrants are invited
A man gets there with money
Yes, to Siberia on purpose
To dig in the golden land
Those graves of greed
What do you do with gold
When your are covered with black dirt
You go towards death
From where there is an invitation to the underworld
They only know shame
When they go from mine to mine
How are we doing here?
And how is the trip paid?
It is so sad for Finland
That there are many wanderers
Who would have a homeland
And would be allowed there
Hannus burial master
Prince and recruiter
He takes those there
Who think about money/ fortune
I can ask for forgiveness
Say my Amen in my song
If I have twisted wrong
Or turned the words upside down
13. Departure Song
I’m leaving for a distant foreign country.
So we may not have another chance to meet.
If by some chance you happen me to see,
I will be certain my former friend to greet.
You paid attention but you were mocking me.
You played your wiles and captured me with your art.
My true devotion you then took from me,
Turning my head and stealing away my heart.
So many times I asked you please to tell me
Why you no longer loved me like you did
Could it be maybe my hard poverty?
Was that the thing that left me— so jilted?
Without a care you blithely made your farewell
Without a thought you thoroughly broke my heart.
Then in my sadness in your arms I fell,
I don’t know when I from that— swoon did start.
One thing of you, love, [=boy] humbly I am asking
Come to my grave side upon a summer eve.
Unto that place a simple wreath please bring.
On my cold grave this you in my memory leave.
I have no one else I could say is my friend
Nor do I have left any honor at all.
Unto my grave your cruelty did me send.
Sadly I weep and after— you do call.
14. Song of an America-Widow
Since my husband headed out the door I have felt so many pangs of sorrow.
I’m like many women in these— parts, an Amer—ica-widow.
If you are a good upstanding wife or a happily engaged young girl—,
Never let your husband take to the road, or go trav’ling to the New World.
Oh how many marriages have suffered because the man has traveled away
Heeding America’s siren— — song, while he left his wife to stay.
Do not blame America for what happens, I know that’s an imprecision.
Better call this place a castle— strong, where the widow is imprisoned.
How I curse those men who will their wives deceive, until all a bride’s hopes are lost.
They trample their lovers’ heart into the ground, like a crop destroyed by frost.
I am just such an abandoned widow, but, I will never tell you my name.
My experiences— I will relate, yes my own fate I will proclaim.
My dear husband he has gone and left me, and has been away eighteen long years.
For America he jilted— me, oh he has left me to my tears.
For so long my husband has been gone, in years it’s nearly on short of twenty.
He has left me weeping, all a—lone, with my cares and sorrows plenty.
No one else but God has heard my complaint, or looked upon my deep dejection.
I have had no man stand at my— side, from life’s storms my first protection.
In this trying predicament I’m left to somehow find a way to get on.
Matti Jaakko’s son is my husband’s name who to America is gone.
Divorce papers well he sent them here and I got them three years ago well nigh,
When they came to me I then could see— that no more on him I could rely.
My— fate has been placed in the world’s hands and gossipers have made suggestions.
All my conduct has been scrutinized and of me there have been cruel questions.
I have suffered all these many hardships— and accustomed to them I have grown.
I can tell you now a man like— him I would never keep as my own.
Oh you women who’ve been jilted so, never visit friends or just socialize.
Never drink a drop, never have friends home, or you’ll sure face slander and lies.
Oh you jilted, never let some man with his smooth talk and his ways you beguile.
Never take his bait though a farmer great, or a young man with looks and style.
I was jilted by my husband, yes, but my mother-in-law I’m glad about.
By my side she’s stood and quite bad she’d take it if ever folk did find out.
I’m the daughter of a mean old crone, I can truly say no worse there can be.
I’m from Valkama and of my old man, I am telling things so truly.
All the distress that we’ve suffered here will be read out loud on that Judgment Day.
Then these many woes we must undergo, for them all he will surely pay.
Heed my counsel jilted women who in you conduct have been blameless and wise.
If you want to be from such trouble free, never fall for all such men’s lies.
It’s the devil who takes hold of men and does lead them their dear wives to betray.
With a wife at home there’s no need to roam or to lead another to stray.
Many men would shut their wives away, they would forget their own poor wives so true.
They put on fine airs for the world to see, but what good does their pretense do?
15. Song of America
On the sixth day of June we— parted
For to reach Amer—ica.
On our trip we— boldly— started
To that land so far away.
I can tell you of our sailing,
How we rocked on the ship to-and-fro.
That— was the last time— we would see
The sweet homeland we did know.
As we crossed the— wide At—lantic,
Our— passage it— was fine.
With delight we— were almost frantic
When New York came into sight.
On the shore stood many women
They greeted us— with waving hands
And they shouted “hurrah— hurrah—
Welcome boys come from Finland!”
And the girls made a point to invite us
With— them to have— a drink
Our old friends would— recog—nize us
At the saloon they did drink.
But we said to them most truly
“The saloon, it is out, that’s— plain.
For though we could go so— happily
We must right now board our train.
It was ten when we left the train station
And— headed off by fast train.
As we traveled across the— nation,
Six days passed and still the same.
Then the engineers they urged us
That mining was— work mighty bold.
It would not be hard to— learn the trade
And soon we’d be mining gold.
When we stepped on the mine elevator
Our— eyes were o—pened fast.
We— sank to a depth that was greater
Than three hundred fathoms down.
But— then at five— thirty
The captain called— it a— day.
A—round him we did— congregate
For we’d earned then our day’s pay.
Oh— many a lad he does regret
That he left home to— come here.
For a girl she— does worry and fret,
For her missing true love dear.
But— if we ever go back
To the homeland— we love— so
Then— oh will we get atten—tion
For the girls will love us so.
“Oh— how long— I have— waited
for— you to come— back home!
For so long you’ve been anticipated
Tell me everywhere you’ve roamed!
Tell me of your great adventures
I will listen so in—tent,
I— know you’re here as a bless—ing
And that you are heaven sent.”
I have crossed the— great At—lantic
And have seen Amer—ica.
And— throughout the land gi—gantic
I have earned a lot of pay.
And as money there was plenty,
I have spent it in sa—loons.
There’s been drink enough for— all my friends
As we sang our drinking tunes.
But— do you— want to— know now
Who has made up this— fine song?
It’s a guy who has suffered— mis’ry,
And in poverty for long.
He’s a young man with no friends near,
Nor anywhere— to find— rest,
He’s got no compan—ions— here
But just lives off there out west.
16. America’s Girls
A—merican girls— look so— fine
Decked out from their heads to their toes, their toes.
When they walk down the street in the ev’ning
In their fancy silk hose.
They have spent their days at the beauty salon
Their bangs are all curled to delight, to delight.
So the boys will have something to look at
In the ev’ning twilight.
Right inside their pockets they keep per—fume.
And spritsing themselves they do spray they do spray
So the boys they will smell them a-coming
From a mile away—.
They’ve got faces covered with lots of make-up
And rings in their ears that shimmer and shimmer
When they pass any boys on the street, those
guys’ blood starts to simmer.
On a pretty chain they have hung a— clock:
On their wrists— it keeps ticking and tocking.
So they know the— hour and the minute
When they are a-walking.
17. Rosenberg in America
Now no longer, now no longer— Rosen—berg is around here.
But he’s gone— to— America, where he is living in good cheer.
He wrote to his— friends bac home that there is no Finnish— cheapskate
Who would hear— what— goes on there and it every appreciate.
I have found as I look ‘round fewer knuckle—heads in— this place.
Fewer than— we— have back home but still I have found a— home base.
I put down on a house I found some hard Finnish cash in a hurry.
And I bought— me a home so fine and banished— every— worry.
Wise folk they never have to fear for acci—dents or— sorrow.
They won’t come— un—less someone decides trou—ble to borrow.
To set this down— in writing is a thing— I would— not dar.
But I have— been— assured that this will not— no anywhere.
I have a plan— and it is good, a saw—mill I— will buy
With that saw—mill— running, well those fat cats— I will defy.
All the banks in this land here treated me well— I do confess.
I’ve got two—hundred thou just now or maybe there’s just a little less.
The lumber is— bought and I’ll start my mill— up in a hurry.
With every—thing— oh so fine, what for should a man need to worry?
A square deal I— got in this land, in me— they place— their trust.
Oh ima—gine— a Finland where the wa—ges were so just!
Justice for the— men of Finland, to dis—cuss they do not care.
To consi—der— such a thing those fat cats—they do— not dare.
18. A miner’s song
Deep down underneath the surface lies the metal
There the machines pound and puff
There I shave, and find my bread
And I’m only happy, and never mourn
There I sweat my days and nights
Heavy and difficult is my job
Danger is not far away, when we push the mine cart
We only sing, we get courage from it
We get new enthusiasm from singing
We don’t remember the difficulties of the world
Sorrows do not weigh us down, it is always happiness
When we are young, there are no worries
What do I worry, pointlessly I mourn
When I earn my bread, one can eat without worries
My worth does fall, my back is stiff
I am only a man, I am only a man
19. The digger’s Song
So black it is, black is the eternal night
And clocks ring twelve
Only snoozing the fellows sit
With sweat drops on their brow
So black it is, black is the heart of underworld
Where I earn my bread
The capitalists have bought my arms,
Even my blood to be their slave
My dear, dear, oh so pale
You got my hearty to be beat
Now you rest on your white bed
My eternal mountain only covers
Oh lord, oh lord, I do not curse you;
I do not curse my destiny
I curse to power of the tyrants
And miss my freedom
I miss the freedom of humanity
Which has been crushed by proletarians
I long to look at blood roses
In the most fierce fight
20. Horrible Accident in the Excavation
No text, sorry!
21. The Young Tramp’s Song
Even though we are only young tramps
At the world’s market
We will one day row in the
Calm waters of life’s sea
Even though we only have the part of the
Salve right now and we carry our chains
We will one day fire our slave drivers
Even though we as hobos sing songs on the
Roof of cars, we will one day puff our pipes
In the Pullman porter’s wagon.
Even though we are young tramps
Without a nurturing home
We will one day sit in palaces like lords
Even though bloodsuckers now oppress us
We will one day sit in the saddle ourselves
22. The Lumberjack’s Song
Now I will sing a song about those lumberjacks
But one cannot find anyone like them at all
Sawyers they pull just a little crooked
And they light a smoke on the break
Sawyers they walk in the woods
Their wedges cling around their necks
The notcher knows his work, knows how to make a notch
How to place a mark, how to measure
Branch collectors do not worry, do not mourn days
They collect the branches in a bale, and sing their songs
The boys of France are loaders here
At quarter to, they yell to go home
The chain is pulled around the bale
“Hoppaheijaa” the horse driver yells from there
The horse drivers are woken up in the morning
They first have to put harnesses on the horses
At the wood collecting site they boys are always frozen
They always dance on top of the tree stub
At six o’clock at night when the horn blows
Then the boys collect/take their bones out of the woods
When we come home we start to wash
When we have washed and dried, then we go eat
There are a total of three masters here
For loaders, for sawyers, and for branch collectors
If someone wants to know who made this song
Then this song was sung boy those young sawyers
One of them is Frank, the other is Jalmar
And the third is from Kajaani, his name is Oskar
23. My Homeland is Finland
My homeland is Finland
Finland is my homeland
There is white-tipped bird-cherry tree
Which smells at the lake’s shore
The dear edges of the clearing
Are turning read from strawberries
Roses are most beautiful there
And there is the clearest moon
There mother with smiling lips
Rocks her baby in the crib
There I for the first time
Heard the birds singing in the woods
There also for the first time
Love was lit in my heart
May it have been God’s will
When it ended in tears
I tossed my native country
I sighed in my worries
When will I see it again, oh when
Finland’s
Finland’s sweet day
There poor me runs
At my grave the white-birch
Will surely plant a flower
24. The Betrayed Boy’s Song
In the north is beautiful Finland
Finland is my native country
There mountain ash and bird cherry
Smell by the river’s edge
The sweet edges of the clearing
Become red of strawberries
There are the most wonders
There is a clearer moon
There also love was lit in my heart
For the first time
May it have been God’s will
When it ended in tears
I sighed in my worries
At that moment I left my native country
Now again my amusements may stay behind
As long as I get to come home
I rush to its mounds
At my grave the white-birch
Will once plant a flower
Do you remember dear maiden
A time when we loved
When a burning kiss
Led feelings to ecstasy
Do you remember when we walked
Along paths on summer nights
How we enclosed the earth and sky
In our caress
Do you remember how the nights were
Filled with when were walking
Do you remember how vows streamed
Off our lips like a flood
When I said: “I am going far, but
You will hopefully remember me”
You swore in front of God:
“I will love you when I die”
Weeks rolled, years slid
I traveled to my homeland
Wonder if you my beloved
Remember the time, I thought
Again towards my beloved
I ran with rejoice
But why did you my beloved
Become so pale?
Another’s ring on her finger
Was gleaming on the maiden’s hand
Another’s kiss on her lips
Burned the kiss of the other
Oh how my heart crashed then
The day disappeared from my chest
At that moment my poor soul broke
I got a permanent wound
It was then that I swore
That I will never love
Because the one who I gave
My first love to, only betrayed
25. On Foreign Land
Alone, Alone
I have to run away
A bitter tear fills my eye
Brilliant remains my dear country
Far away dear native land
Native land, native land
Native land
When do I get to see you again
When will your minds shine for me
Your arms tender remove worries
For the longing one in tears
In tears
In tears
I walked in foreign land
Here my mother tongue does not ring
From lips songs do not sound
Far away is the mother tongue
Mother tongue
Mother tongue
Loving like a mother’s mind
The foreign language is completely strange
From there a break-song comes
The foreign voice is without love
Without love
In the North
It is fun to wander
There with gentle songs one moves
A flower sways on the brim
On top of splendid fields
In the North
26. Missing the Homeland
Those winds, those storms, they come roaring
And the land of hope is over there
So far that it cannot be seen on the ship
On the other side of the winds
And to that shore of hopes
Which is the destination of the only trip
But the ship is in the hands of the storm,
Takes many, so many to the wrong
And that’ why there are so many unhappy
People in this sea of life
That’s why life is so dark and unhappy
For so many
27. On Foreign Land
Beautiful is this summer evening, the dear evening of Sunday
Stars are tinkling in the sky, when I sit alone
I marvel the starts, I look at the sky
But I do not meet friends when I walk
My memories now slowly glide to the wild woods of the North
Where the surface of the lake shines, and the fires of the woods whirl
There the nature gives its people brightness during summer evenings
There birds sing competing, this brings joy to the chest
There leaves wave in the trees, the crop sways
A dear thank overflows in those, and rushes to God.
There pines hush, Finland’s song’s ring
The field’s flowers become green, this beautifies nature
Listen you beautiful people of Väinö, listen how quietly
The birch whispers from its mound to his people
Remember dear man of Finland, your most important duty
Away is dear house-stove, when you leave the native land
And the maiden with white hair, bloom so wonderfully
Like the most beautiful rose, you grow in your native land
Oh you my dear Finland, grow, increase always
Thrive like a bird cherry on the shore, you will reach glory
28. Maiden of Finland
Finland’s maiden graceful,
Walks with me,
If you come with me,
I will walk you home.
Your home is grand
But mine is more exuberant
Where I will take you
If you let me.
Thank you lord for the honor
I say to you lord
I will never come and
Live with you
Because your behavior is
Completely unworthy
Does the lord think
This maiden is like that
I tell you young people
As you leave
To write to the ladies
And give information from there
When boys are young
And at their best
Then they leave for
The other side of the ocean
29. From America
Now I take a pen in my hand
And write a letter,
Here from behind land and water
I extend my hand.
For the last time I greet
You with these lines;
How could you desert an
Old friend like that?
For you I have labored
For you Liis- yes…
Your shape I have remembered
Like it was imprinted
But don’t worry, I would
Still take you as mine
When you see me, your
Old fiancé, Mr. Matson
In Finland I was only Jaska
And a cheap farmhand
Now I am called mister
It is English- yes!
I was going to buy a ticket
For you to come here,
To bring you to your house
But you betrayed your fiancée
That simpleton Tommi from the cottage
Stole you from me
I wonder if you ever get coffee
Even just a drop?
A mistress would have been fine
You dear Lisapet (Elisabeth)
Now everything has changed…
Oh you, Elisabeth
You get to stay in suffering Finland
By the side of a herring
Eat Matson’s wheat bread
Now I just say goodbye
30. Vitikko’s Jani [=Jani Vitikko]
Three decades Vitikko’s Jani bummed around in the west,
Homesickness in his mold days made him to come back to Vimpeli
He walked around the Copper-island and made a trip to Arizona
And he ran a cabbage farm for a while one Air Iver’s land
When the pacific trail was built, the forest was flattened
When we blew up mountains, we escaped from the explosion with a train
One Irishman once hit Jani in a bar in Boston
Jani swayed, the world went slightly black in his eyes
Jani responded to the hit, the Irish yelled: “you hit me hard, even bones broke”
Jani thought while wiping his fist: “many have complained of that”
Mahkura Maija’s saloon was a familiar place for Jani
There along with beer glasses many stories were made
Sometimes they tenderly thought about the old land
Jani slammed a gold coin in the bar and bought a round
Yes boys, this is the west, here everything is great
But nothing compares to the midsummer sauna at home
The dusky nights of summer, the girls of the old country, and the clarity of the blue sky
Damn boys, let’s buy tickets for the next ship home
31. The Finnish Boy’s Amusement Song on his Way Home from America
I am from Finland, just from the middle
But I do not find the treasure in America
Your fralla rallalla your fralla rallalla
Your rati riti rati riti rallalla lei
As I am a boy of the North, a real man of time
I will not stay here for long.
Your fralla rallalla
I intend to go home, and one has to go
Even though there is almost nothing in the pockets
But it is the worst thing before I step on shore
When one should give an arrival shot in Finland
But why do I carry worries, but toss them all into the sea
That Astrea ship will surely take me to my homeland
In England we went to the city of Hulli
Where the heart was rejoicing and jumping like a cat
The time went and had to get on the ship
But the shoes of these boys do not get very wet
But when I started to sail on the Atlantic Ocean
I started to worry a bit about drinking
But the dear shore of Finland came in my mind
That one must surely give a happy dance with drunken eyes
When we got to shore, the jumps were delivered
And we barely shook hands, before we were rolling
Now as a last thing I tell you young people,
One should never travel the roads of the world/sea
Your….
Do not take it bad if I sing a little
You don’t have to laugh too hard.
Your…
32.
Go to America,
And I will go along too
The boats don’t sail during the winter
When the road is wavy
I am going to America
Everyone goes there
The roads in America
Are covered with sugar sand
The black open sea
Glitters blue
On the deck of an English ship
The Gold of Maaril glows/ glimmers
From England to America
It is a tar hawser/ cable
Along which boys walk
To the American pubs
I do now know about coming back
There is such easy work
There boys get to eat
Raisins and apples
When I get there
I will send you a letter
I ask you, my dear
Do you still like me?
Boys go to America
And girls become sad
When they get to the other side of the Atlantic
Song already sounds from the hotel
The boys go to America to get money
One does not know at departure
How many will come back from there
I’m going to America
To be a brick carrier
Because I was not good enough
For this town’s boys (to give night shelter)
But I would not yet go.
And I would not go at all
But my beloved is there
The flame wrote a letter
And told to wait
For fifteen years
Told to wait
Six years have passed
It’s only the other half
I will not yet this year
Accept the spare girls
My flame sent me a ticket
From the land of America
Told to start sailing
From Hanko’s port
In the small cape of Hanko
I put my self on a boat
Finland cannot support
Such a poor mother’s child
The boat is dark blue
Its door is yellow
You rich, me poor
We do not fit together
The flame came to escort me
All the way to Hanko’s port
A whole boatful of us left
To cross the sea
A boat dark blue
Sails on the Atlantic
On that boat this girl
Also intends to travel
America’s land is a warm country
But Finland is sensitive to chill
The girls of America say
Oh you poor boy of Finland
To land of America one has to go
For the sake of big money
Then I will one day sing
When I leave Finland’s land
On the shore of America is a dance floor
It has been painted yellow
There have many mama’s boys
Turned into men
The city on America’s shore
Shines silver
There the boys soon get to
Hug ladies in hats
Peaches grow on America’s land
In Finland blueberries
In America there are dollars
But in Finland marks
33. In the Wide World
In the wide world
You get try your luck:
You get to grab your own darling,
Rai, rallalalallaa
I am going to America,
Where will you go?
Go to America you too
To the school of ring-dance
America’s sea of ships
Is blue like smoke;
From America all the way here
The golden song sounds
A rose-wreath, a little wreath
Beautifies your head
During the coming summer
Your wedding will be celebrated
34. To America I Go
To America I go,
Come along
That our land’s beautiful girls
Would dry their homes
To America I go
Just for money
And yet a song I will sing
When I leave this village
America’s girls’ lips
Are like “brawn” grease
Figs, raisins
Grow in America
Across America’s sea
Is a tarred hawser
Along that boys roll
Into America’s tavern
The blue black sea
Looms blue
The upper mountains
Of America shine like gold paint
With a happy mind
And a laughing mouth
I leave this village
Even though I can hardly believe it.
35. Things are not good for Me Here
Things are not good for me here
There I’ll take a black girl
Ugly and rich
America is a warm country
And Finland sensitive to frost
America’s boys feel bad
For the poor Finnish girl
Jumping or dancing does not make me happy
Nor the marching of the women in this village.
Only the blue eyes of me beloved and her
Warm arm make me happy
To America these boys
Would go to find their own.
So that mamma’s pretty daughters
Will be left to dry out at home.
To America these boys
Go out of wisdom
But they do not go alone
But take their friends too
36. The Whistle of an American Ship
The whistle of an American ship
Sounds in my ears
Next to a slim and beautiful girl
This boy sinks down
In the mast of an American ship
A flag is waving
A young boy’s heart is like
A foaming river
The wind sways the mast
Of the American ship
My beloved is already swaying
On the spring couch on the Atlantic
The stern of the American ship
Has been painted yellow
Is it because of this, that all the girls
In this town have become so sweet
America’s country is such a warm country
I long to go there
As Finland’s land is too small for a
Young boy to travel
How crazy I was to buy a ticket
To travel the world
My beloved was left to mourn
At the station in Helsinki
37. The Girls go to Turku’s Shore
The girls go to Turku’s shore
To ask the boys to come with them
So that those boys of Finland
Will not be taken to America
In America, America,
It is fun to be
There saws and mills
Run on the rocks
Go to America my beloved
There is easy work
Raisins and VESKUNOITA = sweets
Are eaten in America
During the fall on
The ice on the lake,
Skiing conditions are good
In America the Atlantic ocean
Is blue like a mirror
You go to America,
Where will I end?
Go my beloved to America
To circle-dance school
38. Behind America
Behind America on the Atlantic ocean
There is so much water
There people who betray
Their friends can go
The wind blows in my
American love’s white hair
As she walks on land, water
And thinks only of me
Oh if I could live on America’s
Shore in a …….
Apple trees and black girls
Grow in America
39. When Boys Step
When the boys step on the machine [=train]
The machine below screams
Goodbye girls of this village
And now nothing else
When the boys step onto the boat
The boat sinks into the water
When the girls cry on the shore
So that the water sinks into the sea
40. On the Lake Shore in the duckweed
On the lake shore in the duckweed
A small duck was singing
I try to be alone with one boy
If I do not get a boy that I wish for
I will step onto the American ship singing
If I do not get a boy that I myself like
Then I will step onto the American ship
And jump into the ocean
41. During Midsummer
During midsummer the weather is warmer
After fifteen, a girl is more loving
Sun rallalalei, rali, rallalalei, boys play tricks
And the beloved went to America
And I was left, like a widow
He told me to wait twelve years
And six years have passed
It is another half
And during that time I do not accept a spare lover
And my beloved went to America on a sand train
And on a sand train
And little birds here sing in sorrow
42. American Girls’ Dance floor
American girls’ dance floor
Has been painted yellow
And I have not said that
I am worth my beloved
And I threw my old beloved
Into others’ arms
At least so long
That the gossiping ladies are quiet
I know my beloved’s great personality
It is good enough for those that are better
And many times she has also taken
People worse than me
And the foal was tied to a ring
And it neighs so magnificently
Boys they drank in American hotels
Glasses they clinked
I drink my spirits, sing my song
And live like I want to
What women in this town
Want me in their life
43. America’s Polka
The rhythm of America’s polka
Everyone does not know
Who doesn’t know the rhythm of polka
He does not marry a girl
We are only happy
Because we have no sorrows
And one does not want to
Spend time next to some boys
American ships sail on
The silver bridge
And boys get to lie
Next to their beloved at night
Let’s be happy
So that sorrow does not win
And gladly I would take care
Of another girl’s beloved
These girls’ singing sound
She is so eager to sing
She gets many mamas’
Boys to follow her
Let’s be happy
Even though we are not liked
If we do not get by pulling
We take and shove
44. Wonder what the Jaska of Kivimäki [rock hill] thinks
Wonder what the Rock-hill’s
Jaska thinks
When he wants to get to Huhtala’s Venla [=the girl Venla Huhtala]
When the machine sounded for the first time
Huhtala’s Venla cried,
When Jaska started to drive on the
Railroad
Huhtala’s big Herman
Has a thin and beautiful daughter
Rock-hill’s Jaska as a suitor
Little and handsome
Rock-hill’s Jaska he says
That oh for God’s sake
When the cradle starts to row
I will go to America
Rock-hill’s Jaska, a thin boy
Sings these songs
Because he can no longer pull
That Huhtala Venla’s neck
45. As I was from the door garden
As I was from the door garden
As I was from the door garden
And as I was from the door garden
The outermost flower
One boy for me
One boy for me
One boy for me
Has been born in vain
So much they have primped me
Just for that one boy
When the waters open
Why should we be mourning?
In our time of youth
When on both sides of the Atlantic
We have lovers
46. Oh If I could get the waves of the Atlantic
Oh If I could get to read the waves of
The Atlantic by myself
So that I could get my own
Beloved locked in my arms
Oh how the waves of the Atlantic
Would take my sorrows
I would leave my father and mother
And my birthplace
The waves of Atlantic do not
Grow blue flowers
Many boys love their beloved
For no reason
And the waves of Atlantic do not
Grow red roses either
Even though they take thousands
Of boys to shores of America
Like the stones are cold in the
Lake, under the ice
The same is the heart of the
Boy who travels
47. It is Fun to be on the ship
It is fun to be on the ship
When it is rocking
It doesn’t matter to
What country this ship goes
The lower branches of black cherry
I take and plant them in the ground.
And to everyone in this village (hilisuille)
I wish good luck
And they think I have fun
Because I always sing.
But with my song I put my
Little sorrows into (the bottom of) my heart
Neither my dad nor my mom
Gives me any notice.
Even if I in America
Would become a black boy’s girlfriend
48. When walking on forest paths
When I walked on paths in the forest I came to a rock
On it was written its new and old name
When I walked on paths in the forest I came to a pine.
And nothing is warmer than my own beloved’s bed
Let’s go boys to America, they girls have already gone
They are alone there and already miss us
If your girls here come to any harm, take them for a (train)ride.
As from six to six the hotels are open at each station.
On America’s shore the dance floor has been painted yellow
There have many mama’s boys turned into men
On America’s shore is a dance floor, oh how it’s good to be there
And my song will not sound at this village for too much longer either
49. I have been born on the sea
I have been born on the sea
Hei himputa rimpun, rimpun pila pila
I have been born on the sea
And I have been created on a ship
On the deck of an American ship
On the deck of an American ship
Has my baptism been
That cotton flutters
There on the sheet of copper
There on a sheet of copper
American coffee is boiling
A young seaman’s heart is
A young seaman’s heart is
Like a surging river
When we arrive to American harbor
When we arrive to American harbor
A fluttering flag is put on the mast.
50. I have taken the position of a maid
I have taken the position of a maid
And I only intend to serve
And I will not yet this year
Sail onto the Atlantic ocean
Even though my cheeks are not red
I say that I am still real
And that I dare to say to
You boys of this village
Roses, roses, fire red flowers
Which do not bloom in winter.
And one does not bother to only
Serve one boy one’s entire life
Seventy seven ships
Sail on the Atlantic
Seven time seven boys,
This girl intends to fool
I will not sail to America’s
Shore this year
Because God has made me
A maid to carry a chamberpot
51. Clouds are in the sky
Clouds are in the sky, stars are in the sky,
In the middle a fire is burning
And I do not mourn the days my love
Even though they are so miserable
The night was dark and numerous
Stars were in the sky.
And I did not get to say goodbye
When you left for the last time.
The house was stately, and they boy was handsome
And I would have gotten both.
Father and mother were working on it
But I did not fall in love.
Those leaves that fall down in the fall
They are so light and bright.
Those times that I cannot erase
From my mind are times passed
The boy goes to America
And we are not going to see him for a while.
For my mourning beloved
I sin this goodbye song.
52. Like the water
Like the water in the boiling rapids
Goes around the rock
The same way my young heart
Runs out into the world
I am not allowed nor should
Be allowed to love somebody
Because I myself am like a shepherd-girl
And my beloved is like a lord
I am not doing work
On the Kyyrä fields
When it is so good to be in America
And easy to act like a lord
The beloved has gone to America
And the girl is a widow of America.
Even if he would be there for fifteen years,
He told me to wait.
53. Viitala’s Minna
Minna Viitala has curtains
But Lissu Lilupakka has money.
Is that the reason it was bad for
Topu Laituri to be in the jail?
Jussi Viitukka went to America
With false id.
One girl got sad,
So that she almost went after.
Jussi says to his girl
Goodbye and be well.
Jussi Viitukka’s clear voice
Sounds over the Härmä river.
54. Have you heard?
Have you heard how the Kannus girls
Have had a stroke of luck in America?
And one has a daughter, the other one a son
And the third one hasn’t had one yet
Such greetings Jukka Peräkorpi had
Brought from Michigan.
When he had not thrown away his money,
He had played and drank in the saloon.
55. So in America
In America one does not have to do anything but press a button
Then all the wheels turn or stop
That’s why America’s kings’ have an easy job
He only sits next to the button and eats an orange
Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes, yes it is a wonder land
It would not otherwise be America
As it can be seen, they have it different than we
But we too are also going to join the development
If they begin to build a house there today
Already tomorrow the tenants will be thrown out
And it has also happened, that two men there have died
Of carbon monoxide/smoke, but they still live
There are a lot of dollars, that’s why one and the other
Leaves from here to grab them from the pile
Then we don’t notice until we get there
That the result is zero, and nails are bloody
A pig for example is slaughtered there
Nothing is wasted, everything is kept
The voice is put in a jar and a stamp on top
That we then get to hear over here in our cars
There women become younger and men lose weight
And amongst Finns, wives are often exchanged
But changing happens so often in that land
That after a year, each has his own (wife).
Wives are so fine, that always in a novel,
The maid reads the beginning, and the wife only the end.
The Maid sits with the lord, if the wife is not to be seen
And the maid goes in the toilet before the wife
Getting married is pleasant there too
In that too it is the land of “hurry up”
There children go to school just like here
Even though the parents have yet to be married
56. Land of thousand lakes and snow
There is a country, there in the north is a country
Where pine trees sway, spruces whisper.
Where the winds and storms of winter whirl
And the visitor rarely, very rarely remembers.
But to whom is the frost on the trees familiar,
And the path trampled in the forest as a child,
He has the memory and he can shout out:
-it is the land of thousand lakes and snow.
There is a country where snow sheens silver
And the Northern sky is lit by Northern lights
Here stranger’s signs lead my way
And the direction of my trip is supported along by gold.
I waved a lily like a slave-rose,
I get disappointed- rise- memories slowly roll
Always into the ground, far, in the bare North,
In the land of thousand lakes and snow
You also know a country, where home, your parents
Were left behind you, when you started to go for the west.
They do not demand anything from you, those gray-haired,
But in the corner of their eyes a tear glitters.
They stare into the stove, they wish every night,
That your bridge of hope would not shatter.
You remember them, that our fatherland
Is the land of thousand lakes and snow.
57. Ford
Girls they only dance and flap
With those fine boys.
This boy rides the country road
In his Ford.
Shoes are of rubber, bones of metal,
Her smell is gasoline.
In the thick paint are her cheeks
And other, of leather her skirt.
Her lap is soft and rocking
There I like to sit.
Even if I sit there for long
I do not like to get out.
My Ford’s eyes are shining
Like clear electrical light.
With those I can see even in the dark,
Even if the shine of stars is hiding.
Only a little I caress my Ford
And tickle under the chin,
Then my dearest is ready
To take me out into the world.
My Ford does not eat sweets/ baked goods
It only chomps on gasoline.
Even though I never hit it with a whip
It still gallops along merrily.
Sometimes even she complains
About nothing.
But her mouth is shut quickly
By pressing a button.
58. Viola Turpeinen at the dance in Kiipi
Still that time comes to my mind
When Turpeinen’s girl was charge
It was such relaxed doing
It was surprising everyone stayed alive.
As the accordion was singing on the girl’s chest;
Hittan tilatula hittantaa
Young and old were jumping with joy
Hittan tilatula hittantaa
The beginning looked as if all
Would work, everyone was in order.
Young and old people were wearing their bests
Even old ladies had looked in the mirror.
Everyone was dancing, fathers and mothers
Hittantilatula hittantaa
The children were dancing and mothers too.
Grandpa was also dancing to polka
The stiff became flexible/agile.
Only a couple old ladies remained on the bench
And their toes too were tapping.
The tempo got faster when the girl said:
And many said why hold back
The shoemaker was hitting like he was hitting a shoe
The carpenters were pushing like pushing their planer
There was a demand for wives and widows
The girls were in a humble mood.
And the mason was slapping as if he was putting cement on bricks
And the smith was stepping as if on hot coals
Seldom has polka been danced so fast
Seldom has it been so crowded
Grandmas were asking grandpas to rest
They say that they are already wet/sweaty
And the girl was playing like the bell of heaven
And the farmers were bending like the grass on the fields
There were tall ones there were short ones
And they didn’t have to be encouraged
They tempo kept increasing so that they fell once
And some were spinning on their behinds.
That girls was playing so nicely
It was not surprising they were crawling on all fours
59. Dream- Waltz
When a gentle quiet playing opens dreams
When a young man offers his hand to his maiden
With slow gazes he achieves his goal,
It is happy like this, to have a girl.
When the gentle breeze hums and the shores are splashing
Then the young can reach happiness in their clear eyes.
The setting sun glows and stars are blinking,
Oh happiness and desolation that love brought.
60. Do you still remember that night?
Oh my beloved, oh my friend
Do not forget me!
As long as my blood is warm
I will remember you.
Do you still remember that night
When we sank into dreams?
When the shine of the dear shore
Got us to kiss.
I went away from my home-shore
My friend stayed there
Sometimes those old memories
They warm my heart.
61. Will you come and dance girl?
The days of youth are
Still in my memory
When I walked and flirted
And danced singing
In the cottage the violins were playing
When the young people were celebrating:
Come along, come along,
Come and dance my girl.
Playing the waltz sounded
And boys brought girls along.
Mäkelä’s Mandi came also
And with her farmhand Franz.
They looked at one another so
That Franz took hold of Mandi:
Come along, come along
Come and dance my Mandi.
We danced the waltz so that
We got all dizzy,
We did not give way,
And the boys led the girls.
The master in the corner
Grabbed his wife around the waist:
Come now, come now,
Before you are too late.
Hiski Salomaa
Hiski Salomaa was the best known Finnish-American songwriter and singer in
Finland. He was originally named Hiskias Möttö and was born in Kangasniemi 5/17/1891
and died in New York 7/7/1957. Hiski moved to America in 1909 after his mother had
passed away. There he soon married Aini Saari who was from Vehmaa. Like her
husband, Aini was a seamstress. The couple lived among other places: in Michigan,
Minnesota, and finally in New York where Hiski had a restaurant. His song writing
which had already begun as a boy continued on the new continent and slowly Hiski
Salomaa became a popular performer in the Finnish-dance halls. In 1929 Salomaa got to
record with the Columbia company in New York, and finally recorded 18 songs over a
few years. Of these “Logger of the West” became the theme song of Metsäradio (forest
radio) in the middle of 1950, and the tune was known by most Finns. In 1970 Love
Records released 12 songs that have been found. Slowly more and more songs by Hiski
Salomaa were found. During the past ten years (TOM THIS NEEDS TO BE
CHANGED) these songs have been heard a lot. Only slowly has the original record
material been found, of which CBS in 1982 published 16 songs on the record Hiski
Salomaa, CBS 25197. A TV program was made of Hiski Salomaa in 1979, and at the
same time festivals for reviving comic-music were started in Kangasniemi.
62. My father’s cottage
This boy’s cottage was no bigger
Than the manor dog’s house
But it was so gentle and beautiful
To me and the only corner/place for peace
My father’s cottage was low and small
And it had tow steps
When I left from my father’s steps
Into this world
On the road by my father’s cottage
Grew two mountain ashes
I sat by their roots at night
And watched the beautiful moon.
When begonias and sunflowers
Bloomed on the windowsill
At dusk my mother’s old
Spinning wheel was humming quietly
When my deserted mother spun
Her spinning wheel at night
And the tears were running down her cheeks
So that it wet the wool
When death had taken six of her children
And death had brought had given them safety
And wondered if her dark son would
Crumble on the roads of the world
Then I heard the whispering voice
Over those waves of the Atlantic that
At home my deserted mother’s lap had turned cold
For that wanderer boy
That….
63. The Arrival in America of the Guy from Savo
We left for this country when we left home
And said goodbye to our mother
So that water was running from her eyes
Almost like raindrops from thunder clouds.
“Tomorrow”/the next morning we were at the cape of Hanko
We spoke Savo even though we already knew English
So no one answered us.
The Eastern see that was laying there so proudly
And the Arcturus was already lulling us
We watched our home shore from the boat
As the lighthouse was shining white.
We started to be sea-sick
And I started to puke/vomit.
From the snack box I got only candles out
And on top of that I ate salty fish
Then when we got to Hull
We had to go through the customs
We drove in a machine during the night
And arrived in Liverpool.
We went to look at the ship
It was longer and Äikeömpöö
It made us quite scared
When it screamed for the last time.
Stars they are blinking in the sky
We were again out on the Atlantic
On a water-bus boat.
It is storming and land cannot be seen
But as New York gets closer
The food in my bag becomes less
It is like being born again
When we got away from those storms of the Atlantic
To America we were brought
And in Maine we shoveled dirt
They did not need a head-man
They had taken men before me.
But there we went to forest camps
My Savo started to sound American
As a man from Pori started to say something
The man from Savo has to command.
64. The ground was white during winter
The ground was white during winter
And yellowish during summer
This boy had two girls as well
And one of them was of noble birth.
And the better wrote a divorce letter
To be placed by the window in the cottage
Said; now I’m going with the other
To talk to the priest
If it would have been the worse girl
I would not have mourned after her
I do not mourn that I will not get another one
But that I will not get one like her
When my beloved left me, this boy
Went to this golden lands of America
But because I am from a poor home
I did not get rich
And those waves of the Atlantic
Did not grow red roses either
But they lured thousands of boys
Into New York’s harbor
When our ship’s flag was fluttering
A stern northern wind brought here
In New York’s harbor a nigger girl
Who thought I was her beloved
So in New York’s harbor….
65. The dishwasher’s polka
Women they yell, drink, and eat
I just wash dishes here
Coffee from the pot wanted to get into
A stomach, but I cannot get everywhere
The milkman carries the milk early
Does not allow you to sleep in peace
The dog should be taken outside
And the cat’s bowl should be filled
I only wash dishes
And sweep the floor with a broom
Tilitilitilitilitittattaa
Thursday comforts us
Sometimes when the woman comes in the kitchen
She yells there like she is half crazy
Have you mad the man food
Bring coffee to him right now
Donuts should be made for the kid
And the baby should be changed
The parrot screams maid, maid
And the doorbell rings
I only wash dishes
Then when Thursday night comes
The floors are bending from polka
When Janne leads in Western style
And Puavo in Eastern
Others puff from here and there
The dress even almost falls off
The young ones are jumping across the floor
The old ones are sitting in the corner
The orchestra plays hiitula hiitaa…
Tilitili…
When one brings a beloved home from there
We go to the café to get something to drink
The cups are clinking crashing and banging
It feels like at Härmän’s wedding
When you sit there half the night
You have to start work when you come home
No time but to change one’s dress
And to send the beloved home
I only wash dishes
66. Kemppainen’s marriage
It was a big mistake Kemppainen says now
When I took that Tiltu Miettinen as my wife.
She goes dancing, she’s not seen at home
And I take care of the children
The love between us has turned cold as ice.
The flame that used to burn in our hearts
Is only a dark could above us
Even though I am home during the days
And Tiltu works
Despite this there is not much fun in our union
I used to work all day
I used to be the best
During that time, thieves
Used to come to Tiltu
And that started to shatter our home
And yesterday Tiltu sold our furniture for cheap
And now she made strangers watch our children
And she gave me nothing, threw me out
Like this Kemppainen now sing
And his mind is broken
And he kissed his bottle, so that his tongue would quicken
Oh Kemppainen
67. Logger of the West
Here’s a logger from the timber camps of the West
And I’ve rambled nigh all over!
I have been out to Butte and L. A. to boot,
Red Lodge and Miami, sir.
I have been on the sea and the continents,
And the peaks up in Alaska!
And at ev’ry place I go the wild girls all know
The loggers of the West.
Now a logger is a guy who’ll take him a gal
Even if she is somebody else’s
Never fear, not a tear will he shed at all
When he leaves those Eastern lasses.
‘Cause a Butte gal is fine, L. A. stars they shine
what a snow bird in Alaska!
and they whisper one and all, “Have you seen this fall,
that rambler of the West?”
Where’s a Mexicali gal, Honolulu pearl
Or a pretty Filipina
There this logger has been with them one and all
Better than any city slicker.
Where I cast my eye, my heart beats high
What beauties head to toe!
If their singing you heard you would think it a bird
This logger’s heart does know.
Now Frisco I’ve seen, Oregon I have been
Where there’s summer and snowcapped mountains.
To Dakota I’ve come and Palm Beach I’ve swum
Making loads of old and new friends.
When you build your house, settle ‘neath the pine
That day for joy you’ll shout.
Though the storms of life can cause us strife
It’s freedom that will win out.
68. Dahlman’s Parties
I once got an invitation to a party, Mrs. Dahlman’s name-day party
Joy was not missing there that night, because sorrows were forgotten
There were drinks of many kinds, we also played some cards
It is not surprising if one has gotten a hangover from Dahlman’s surprise-party
The Party guests surprised Dahlman, The children are sleeping in the corners
The dog started to bark at the guests, Dahlman offered shots
A little bit was placed on the dogs lips, this put Bob in a better mood
The party table has been made nice, and wine has been poured into the glasses
There the gramophone was playing a waltz and the younger ones started to dance
I asked Mrs. Hill to dance, others drank and ate Norwegian herring
And the night was already in place, because I too started to sway
Mrs. Dahlman was picked up and they bought her a lamp as a gift
Hot dogs and ice cream was eaten, and the tongue was wet with beer
69. Verses from here and there
Now I have looked for work again
And broken the bottom of my shoes my walking
And the heels have worn out
Carefully looking at my hands
And wonder where the problem is
When new ones are not appearing.
This is looking awful
And many a boy’s heads are turning gray
Wall street laughs in its beard
As it controls everything
Paavi is already yelling
That even churches are going bankrupt.
The Bolsheviks now make museums out of churches
And I guess that disturbs the priests’ sleep a bit
As they are running out of work
I guess the future looks like an autumn evening.
If England’s workers go on strike
Yrjö always gets a cough
And the prince’s horse always trips
And his nose always gets injured
War reparations are already hurting Germany’s stomach
Spain sent their king on a trip.
In France unemployment does not matter
As the rich people of the world eat and drink there.
Uncle Sam is a smart man
He knows business very well.
Here living pictures are in power
Many artists have been unemployed
As the machine took their job too
And thousands became jobless on the streets.
Many a musician sold their pipes for cheap
And ate their last money for lunch.
Here in Sam’s land there are
About five hundred thousand of us Finns
Here we live like in heaven
Even though many has come here without permission.
For us parties (political) are big here
We have halls like Babel had walls
In many places we have six
And when a fight erupts we build a new one.
Even though the republic now controls us
Still the democratic time will come
And everyone is marching forward up the stairs
And we are ever awaiting taking things on our shoulders.
Many boys have thrown their gloves on the bar
And drank the bad whisky of today
So that the boots always end upwards
When singing for the last time.
70. Song about artists
This is a song about today’s artists
Have you even heard anything like it
They pop up like mushrooms in rain
And in the group are small and large
Himputa, himputa, himpumpaa
This boy always sings polka
Others are already sitting in places of honor
Others are sitting on Pekkarinen’s Tatu’s shirt
There is a man who makes songs
Others are only enjoying the taste of the product
Even though music is the biggest of the arts
The players of it are miserable
They blow in a horn, pluck on a violin
Pockets are empty that means there’s nothing
Are artists are self centered
One is better than the other
But everyone is going on tours
Even Virsula’s Maija is giving a concert
They all have the same program
Both Maija and Matti
There is nothing new
Even though if one would listen for hundred months
But there is no better art here
Now even old trash is used
None of us have the alphabet of music
But we all sing with the gramophone
The daily job feels heavy to us
That’s why we are going on tour
Who knows even five songs
Goes and gives a concert
The voice can be like that of a goat
Because the program is continued with jazz
Because the program is continued with jazz
Arthur Kylander
For some reason Arthur Arkadius Kylander has received much less attention despite the
fact that he is the most versatile Finnish-American song writer. He was born in Lieto
2.16.1892, moved to Turku 10.6. 1910 and to America around 1914. His wife Julia also
participated in the song writing and performing as a composer, pianist, and as an
accordion player. Julia was born in America. Kylander’s parents were; Juhani Heikki
Juhonpoika Varila from Kaustinen and Iida Sofia Juhontytär (Kylmä) from Ullava.
Kylander worked as a lumberjack in Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and
Minnesota. During years of need him and his wife worked in Hollywood as butler-cookteam and finally they ended up as tree growers close to Placerville in California.
Kylander’s Pine-ridge became a very popular destination among Finns; especially the
sauna in Pine-ridge was famous. There could be up to three hundred guests at the farm at
one time. Apparently his most productive songwriting period was from the 1920s to early
1930s, during which the couple traveled around performing together. Still in 1952 after
Kylander’s appendix surgery had limited his abilities to work in the woods, the couple
went on a one year tour around the country. Next to Viola Turpeinen, Arthur Kylander
seems to be the only performer among Finnish-Americans who is still remembered in
different states. In the 1920s he printed two booklets with humorous songs and recorded a
total of twenty of his own songs between 1927 and 1929. Arthur Kylander died in 1968,
his wife Julia apparently died at the end of the 1970s.
71. The immigrant’s first difficulties
The cape of Finland was left behind, it disappeared in the horizon,
Like the others, my road takes me to the golden land of the west.
As the foreign language rang, I stayed to listen
The first words that stuck to my mind, which I remembered like this:
“No sir, no sir, no sir, no-o-o-o, no sir,
No sir, no sir, no sir, no!”
At the railroad station I heard that they needed a man,
I got to work and thought: I get to work.
They yelled to me there: “Hurry up” and other things
Which I did not yet understand, so I answered:
Once again when I walked without a destination in Missouri
I fell in love quite badly with a young girl of course.
I swore to her: “my dear, I will love you only,”
I asked: “become my own,” But I got the answer:
Time flies, one cannot resist it,
But time at least teaches you something.
I understand well, if they say: “take your time”
But “hurry up” who ever screamed, and to that I think:
72. Before and now
Days and years change, past habits change
The human today is quite busy.
I few years back we still lived in peace,
We traveled slowly by horse and carriage.
But now it is different, only by car
We travel like we are going to put out a fire, yes indeed!
This present time is filled with machines,
Strange and busy is the entire human.
People used to listen when the priest reproached them,
They drank for their sins, and collection got money.
The end of the world is coming, church goers become fewer,
The poor pastors wage only decreases.
Ike this everything changes around the country,
Changes like on would only drive a car, yes indeed!
Before in Finland when one got to talk to masters,
The hat was removed and the nose was clean of snot.
Gone is this too, wonder what the consequence is,
Maybe the lords themselves know!
Ike this everything changes around the country,
Changes like on would only drive a car, yes indeed!
73. Wanderer
I’ve had to wander in the world
They only call me a hobo.
And even though my wandering is bitter,
I am still free of sorrow.
This life will soon be over,
Which is why I don’t want to dull it with sorrow.
Everything that shadows my happiness, gets to
Stay behind the grave.
We put railroads around the country
Stealthily they travel all around.
Even though I sow and harvest on the
Prairie I still have had to have an empty stomach.
In mines in Alaska and Montana I worked for a while
In the forests of Utah and Texas I swung my axe.
And when ever that wintry weather comes
This boy goes south.
The girls of the south wait there
If they still remember my last trip.
I voice sounds: Com’ on boy!
I cannot turn down their invitation.
Black mouth, I love you,
A palm tree lends us its shadow.
Oh girl, you I take along with me always,
I always wait for you, come along,
I will share my bread and meat with you,
When ever I catch a chicken.
At night by the fire, I will lull you on my
Knee. We do not care, and we dance our
Sorrows away in a box-car.
74. PAITARESSU Victor
PAITARESSU Victor, =”shirttail”
Mom’s favorite,
Youngest of the brothers, little rascal.
Whatever mother started to do,
For example started to bake,
Victor immediately started to demand:
Victor wants, wants to taste the dough
Mom give already, give my little kiss
And as Victor already grabs the side of the bowl
Which is sitting to the table, mother always warns:
Do not, do not, do not, do not, Victor
Do not, no you cannot Victor!
But because Victor is used to be forbidden
He did not take his mother seriously
He wanted and wanted, because he could
And it annoyed mother
When he also encouraged his brothers to want some too.
Time flew by, Victor
Grew, matured, and got older.
As young they competed in the village’s dance competition.
Also Lisa Maria started to bloomed
And Victor tied her into the game of love.
Beautiful was the summer night, the crickets where chirping
One the grass Lisa sat with Victor.
When he wanted, from Lisa wanted
A little kiss
Lisa resisting said:
Look how you wrinkled my dress.
He did not take Lisa seriously
And it annoyed Lisa
Victor started work with his brothers
The road of a working slave opened in front of him.
It also started to dawn in Victor
That he only got little for what he did.
So, when the boss walked by:
“the pay is too little” said Victor.
When he wanted, the boss to raise his pay,
The boss said to him condescendingly:
Your pay is big enough.
He did not take the boss seriously
And it annoyed the boss
75. Waltz of the Unemployed; “Come ‘round again”
When trapsing around as a drifter,
It would happen to me ev’ry day,
I never could find me employment,
Though at fact’ries and mines I would stay.
But each time the foreman, he’d say to me plain,
“Come ‘round again, yes, come ‘round again:
then maybe there will be something for you.
Who knows, won’t ya come ‘round again?”
When feeling the deep pangs of hunger,
I would stop by the bread and soup line.
But ev’ry one had had their portion
And- none was left over for mine.
But the ladler just said to me once again
“Come ‘round again, yes come ‘round again,
if tomorrow your hunger still irks you
Well then, won’t ya come ‘round again?”
I ran into my former true love,
As I wandered through town one fine day
I saw from her ring she was married,
But I thought she might ask me to stay.
But I was mistaken, and she said to me:
And when my old husband is off at work,
Just then, won’t ya come ‘round again?”
Though trapsing around ever hungry
It- does my heart good just to see
That sometimes the rich men are lined up
In the same bread-and-soup line as me.
And then it is my turn to say this to them:
when you get the idea to do real work,
Well then, won’t ya come ‘round again?”
76. Spine Doctor =Chiropractor
I was here in the new land
Just like the other ones from the old country.
Heavy work was pressing on my shoulders
And my belt had to be tight.
But then when I became a bit Americanized
Then I otherwise also went forward,
I threw my shovel away
And picked a new career.
Now I am mister doctor
Yes Sir! D. C chiropractor
I only improve spines now.
I cure blind and disabled.
If someone feels an illness:
Come; come to me then
You will surely get help
As soon as I fix a vertebrae
In your spine.
If it happened that your liver would split and
Your lungs would not work at all;
Or if pain was felt in the pinky-toe
They reason can always be found in the spine.
Also for those that are jealous.
And those that hair is falling out.
They surely have something wrong with
Their spine, that I know for sure!
But if you come to me in time
You will surely be cured.
The human body is like a machine
That sometimes needs to be “over hauled”
Those who have been here for my treatment,
Run again like a Ford tractor
In your spine
Sick people have come to me
When their spines are crooked,
But I put those in place too
And maybe even in place too much.
I need to check one more place
That little nub in the back of the head,
Then I start to surprise people
And even to awaken people from the grave.
Here is a doctor who uses the knowledge of nature
And doesn’t give any medicine,
Those that have come to me,
Never go to anyone else,
If someone is feeling an illness
Come, come, come to me
In your spine.
77. Lumber-Jack
Greetings from the backwoods
From the hear land, from the wilds
From the fields of the wild nature, from the deep woods.
Where the joys of the city do not exist
And the boys also get to live like monks.
So then the patience boiled over.
The lumberjack left his house and thought:
We only have one life to live
So boys let us party some in the city.
About the feelings of the backwoods
The men are singing admiring,
How everything is so poetic under the trees.
Lumberjack is a real man of luck,
Because we get to live under those trees
As food- we of course have fresh meet,
That has been kept in Chicago for a decade.
The berries sweet in front of me: strawberries:
They surely call it “business” in the city.
There late at night
When boys are in bed,
At times a strange tune can be heard.
If you heard that sound,
Men would probably think that
The boys are having a night concert.
But the boys are almost sleeping
And the beans that they had for dinner sing.
The trees are accompanying with their humming,
A full moon shines, poetic, yes, isn’t it?
How in the backwoods
There is such a poetic feeling,
Than when one come to the city from there,
A maiden is in sight,
Oh lord, how sweet!
She can be even sixty years old,
One still has the urge to kiss,
To hug and to put her on your knee.
When one is filled with the poetic feeling of the woods.
One can still have a slightly impaired judgment.
We boys of the woods
Do not have any
Nice clothes or any good manners.
Also these boys do not use good
Language, “Oh devil” is a greeting to someone familiar.
To bow, nice clothes, nice words,
Can be the blanket for a mean heart.
They are fit for kings, for diplomats.
But not for us, us loggers, the boys of the backwoods.
78. Mikko’s and Mantta’s Florida Trip
Summer has passed and fall has come
Mikko is tired of his job.
When Mantta complains, Mikko only answers
“I am too tired, no, no, not now.”
Manta said she is getting moldy here
Let’s go to Florida.
You are like a like worthless ace!
Mikko already admits: “well let’s go.”
The weather is freezing and the dogs are barking
And the car is already greased.
The quality of weather has already been gotten.
And the road has been found on the map.
And it only takes two days
After the winter weather has been left behind us.
The weather becomes milder
And soon the tip of my nose will be hot.
When the wheels are rolling my head gets dizzy
Look, look at the thermometer.
Straight and crooked are many in number,
They miles are adding up to thousands.
“There oranges are growing!”
Mikko shouts to Mantta.
Wonder where those crocodiles are,
The thought already worries Mantta.
We have come to the hall and brought greetings
Heard and told news.
We’ve shaken hands because we haven’t seen each other
In years, we have thought about past times.
And soon has we hear the rhythm of the dance
It reminds us of our earlier times.
I wonder if the power is still in the knees?
I guess we’ll find out soon.
They dancing becomes faster and everyone is enjoying it
Then someone yells “change”!
Manta too thought that she’s get a new man
When she heard the voice.
But everything didn’t go quite like that.
Just when it was the last change
She noticed to her annoyance
That her old one was in her arms!
Mikko and Manta and the sand of the Atlantic
Were all familiar with one another.
There they went and everyone knew
That they were not there alone.
There are people like at Hentunen’s wedding,
There laying on the sand tanning.
Others have fat on their bodies
Others are just warming their bones.
If you think that the cold winds of the North
Are yelling at you, remember: it is always warm
When the Golf stream surrounds you.
Still on the beach Manta wonders:
“I would not have believed myself,
How much there is of warm and salty water,
Just as if Mikko would done it.”
The fun is now over, and there is a hurry to get home
Manta has just one sorrow.
She says: “Oh now there is some sand in my shoe,
And I guess I left some behind me too.”
Mikko comforts Manta by saying:
“Do not worry about it, you can take it as a souvenir
From Florida, and we’ll come back in the fall.”
79. Finnish-American grandmother and granddaughter
Grandmother sits in her rocking chair
And granddaughter sits on her knee.
So many questions the child asks
And grandmother answers, answers and smiles.
Grandmother had surely herself as a child sat
On her dear grandmother’s knee and asked questions.
The granddaughter’s language is different, the words are
Different too, but the feeling is the same
She talks to grandmother like this:
Once upon a time, long, long ago
Yes, grandpa was handsome and gay
And grandma was lovely and beautiful
My mother said one day
But tell me grandma, tell me
When grandpa says: “I love you”
How do I say in Finnish
“I love you, too!”
When sun already set and the day was turning into dusk
The child became tired and got bored with asking questions.
That evening glow of the West, it brought those last rays
If I tell you, you might not believe, the beautiful picture it created.
Grandmother was glowing
Just like when she was young,
It removed the lines in her face,
And brought back old memories.
Grandfather was also there
He had snoozed in his sleep
Maybe he was still dreaming
As he was singing his tune.
Once upon a time, long, long ago
My grandpa was handsome and gay
And grandma was lovely and beautiful
As granddaughter is today
But tell me grandma, tell me
When grandpa says: “I love you”
And grandma said in Finnish
“Nonsense to you!”
80. A Finn and the sauna
At times it is thought, when they study the Finnish man
What is the common identifier of the people of the north?
That I studied too and therefore I can now sing,
That it is surely the sauna,
Because a Finn will always miss the sauna
Every Saturday night even here.
It is also said: the once a Finnish boy started to walk in Africa,
Where there is no ice, no winter weather, and now rumbling snow storms,
There little black girls serve you dates
And urged to seek shade under the palm trees.
Even though it warmed the Finnish boy’s heart a bit,
He was already longing for the sauna in a short while.
In the sauna, on the benches, there where we beat with a bath whisk,
It reduces longing, one can also lengthen life with sauna.
I love starts to bother too much,
If your heart is aching or heavy,
Then it is best to quickly run to the sauna,
So that the disease does not take too much control.
And finally when we take our last journey from this world
And even if the door is opened to the hotter place,
The hotness there does not bother a Finn,
He will surely make a fire in the oven and bathe
Surely so hot and fire
So the even Beelzebub has to laugh.
81. A memory waltz
When I listen to the sound of tunes
When the waltz softly plays,
Then thoughts about the passed
This waltz brings to my mind.
There are many memories, there are bitter ones,
But those I do not think about.
In those wonderful whirls of the waltz
I only think about those memories:
When my youth
Was still in bloom
That time that has passed
I am re-living again.
Worries of tomorrow disappear
And an everyday feeling,
Comforts my heart.
This memory waltz.
When youth was bursting with joy
I did not remember worries
My beloved was sleeping in my arms
Oh! How it was charming.
And the waltz was swaying as
If it was on waves, that how fun it was.
And the heart was thriving in
Those surges of music
When my youth
Was still in bloom
Comforts my heart.
This memory waltz.
You immigrant girl if you start to
Think about past memories
And the most beloved memories
Make your eyes tear up,
Wipe away your tears and let me see
Your smiling gaze.
Waltz with me it will bring you comfort,
Calm your emotions.
When my youth
Was still in bloom
Comforts my heart.
This memory waltz.

FINNISH AMERICAN SONG TEXTS FOR SINGABLE TRANSLATIONS

Transcription

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