Thursday, January 14, 2010

Dona Dona / Dana Dana / Donna Donna

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Original blog text (now outdated):
Americans, check out this message from Jimmy Buffet. Or I'll explain it to you right now: text the word "Haiti" to the number 90999 , you'll be asked to confirm, just type "yes", and 10 dollars will be donated to the American Red Cross Haiti relief fund.

Jimmy Buffet saying it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Dne1Mla-s

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Rise Up Singing chapter: Struggle, p.214
English lyrics by Arthur Kevess and Teddi Schwartz
Yiddish lyrics (in a more recent video of mine, but not sung here): Aaron Zeitlin
Melody: Sholem Secunda

Am E Am E / Am Dm Am E
Am E Am E / Am Dm AmE Am
On a wagon bound for market
Lies a calf with a mournful eye
High above him, there's a swallow
Flying freely through the sky

Chorus:
G - C - / G - C - / G - C Am / E - Am -
E - Am - G - C E / - - Am - Dm E Am -
How the winds are laughing
They laugh with all their might
Laugh and laugh the whole day through
And half the summer's night (dona dona)
Dona dona dona dona, dona dona dona doe (2x)

"Stop complaining!" says the farmer
"Who told you a calf to be?
Why don't you have wings to fly with
Like the swallow, proud and free?"

Calves are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why
But whoever treasures freedom
Like the swallow will learn to fly

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