old finnish lullaby

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Jayebee
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old finnish lullaby

Post by Jayebee » Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:00 am

My grandmother came from Joinsuu Finland and she sang a lullaby to me and I in turn sang it to my children and grandchildren. I would love to know if what I sing makes any sense and if indeed anyone can verify this lullaby. It goes something like this - please excuse the attempt!!

Ul uling poiga,
Pienna linnun poiga,
Piena linnula pickula nooka
Jola se poiga se hoita.

Hope someone somewhere can help me.



old finnish lullaby

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Rob A.
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by Rob A. » Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:47 am

Jayebee wrote:My grandmother came from Joinsuu Finland and she sang a lullaby to me and I in turn sang it to my children and grandchildren. I would love to know if what I sing makes any sense and if indeed anyone can verify this lullaby. It goes something like this - please excuse the attempt!!

Ul uling poiga,
Pienna linnun poiga,
Piena linnula pickula nooka
Jola se poiga se hoita.

Hope someone somewhere can help me.
Well...I think this is Aa, aa allin lasta...No. 9 about halfway down the page....

I'll let some native speakers fully translate it for you, as it is a bit too colloquial for my level of Finnish.... :D :D

....but poiga=poikaa...."partitive form of "boy"
...pienna=pientä....partitive form of "little"
...piena should be pienellä ....little ...adjective "agreeing" with bird
...linnula=linnulla..."on-bird"...meaning "the bird has..."
...pickula=pikkuinen...."tiny"
...nooka=nokka,,,"beak"
...jola=joilla...addessive form of "which"
...hoita=hoitaa.."to take care of"

AA AA Allin lasta

Aa aa aa aa Allin lasta,
pientä linnun poikaa. x2
Pienellä linnulla on pienet siivet,
joilla se poikiaan hoitaa. x2

Aa aa aa aa Allin lasta,
pienen linnun poikaa. x2
Pienellä linnulla on pikkuinen nokka,
joilla se poikiaan hoitaa. x2

Aa aa aa aa Allin lasta,
missäs´sull´on pesä. x2
Lahokannon kainalossa,
on pienen linnun pesä. x2


[Edit: Here's a youtube clip.....]


EP
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by EP » Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:42 pm

I cannot remember who sang that to me. My mother or grandmother. It was so terribly sad that I cried. This part:

Aa, aa, allin lasta,
pientä linnun poikaa.
Ei ole isää, ei ole äitiä,
joka häntä hoitaa.

There is no mother, there is no father,
who takes care of him...

Jayebee
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by Jayebee » Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:47 pm

Thank you to those who so quickly helped me out. In watching the UTube presentation I realize that the tune my grandmother used is slightly different - not nearly so mournful. I was disappointed to learn that it is such a sad lullaby. At least for us here in Canada where we have forgotten the few words we learned the song is gentle and the words do not convey sadness. I so appreciate your help as I will continue to sing it with a better understanding and with a feeling that my heritage is still alive.

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Pursuivant
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by Pursuivant » Thu Nov 19, 2009 4:02 pm

most Finnish lullabys are sad...
... then again "rock-a-bye-baby" is quite... mad?
"By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes."

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onkko
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by onkko » Thu Nov 19, 2009 4:10 pm

Well sadness is cultural thing. It is a sad song but in same time it tells that even if you dont have parents you are taken care of.
Finnish songs are sad and melancolical but with undertone what tells there is hope when you do best you can. I think its because of pressure between russia and sweden and no real oppoturnity for finn over 1000 years.
As one immigrant said "every finnish song is sad" :)
My favourite song is
Caesare weold Graecum, ond Caelic Finnum

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Pursuivant
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by Pursuivant » Thu Nov 19, 2009 4:30 pm

If not *all* a whole lot of Finnish music is "sad" because its in flat keys...
Last edited by Pursuivant on Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
"By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes."

Rob A.
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by Rob A. » Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:30 pm

...
Last edited by Rob A. on Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Jayebee
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by Jayebee » Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:16 pm

Interesting to note that the Finns are somewhat melancholy, but then considering their struggles it all makes sense. My grandmother could play the Spanish guitar and her songs were often very sad sounding - nothing like our country music or Spanish flamenco. On the other hand she was so loving, kind and she had that "SISU" which we saw and learned about. I see that strength in my sister. My grandmother needed it as she was widowed in Canada with 3 daughters to raise. She left us with a great legacy.

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Pursuivant
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by Pursuivant » Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:20 pm

Well its them "tough ladies" that made Finland, their men ate iron nails and crapped chain but also lived to age 45 and died of a stroke as well...
"By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes."

opinto
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by opinto » Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:18 pm

Kauniita :cry: Jumalan armosta.
haluan oppia puhumaan suomea peremmin Kirjoitaa se

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Violette
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by Violette » Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:03 am

Hei..

After reading these posts I'm hoping someone can help me find the name and singer of this song my Mother used to sing when she was cooking...smiles. Mind you it isn't a lullaby but is very melancholy like so many Finnish songs. I think they used to play it on Finnish radio during the 50's (maybe) my Grandmother sent the lyrics to Mom and then when she died I foolishly gave the written lyrics to my cousin.
At any rate, I could never find out who sang the song. I've even checked U-tube and haven't found it there (yet) It really is a beautiful song and it will definitely get those tears flowing.

The song is about an elderly mother who is watching over her dying son. The room is very dark so her boy asks her to bring a lamp so that he might see better. She brings the lamp, the boy thanks her etc. Eventually he asks her to shut the light because he's about to die.

Here are a few phrases from the top of my head in no particular order because I can't remember it.

"...on äiti vanha ja kunnel sylmiin hän katsoo poikansa kalpea
On poika äidin ja sillä tiellä...
"...tuo Aiti lamppu en nähdä voi... (ja sitten)
...toi äiti lampun...


Öi äiti, äiti... nyt poika loistää, sututta lamppu nyt äiti öi.
" Men are like parking spaces; The good ones are taken and the only ones left are handicapped."

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Pursuivant
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by Pursuivant » Thu Dec 31, 2009 7:32 am

So you must have some "proper version" I only know this:



oi mutsi mutsi, stikkaa lamppuun eldis
mä kohta kohta, delaan jengist vex
kai valkoisen sprigin sä mulle jostain slumppaat
mut galsaan skrubuun kohta slebataan

oi mutsi mutsi ei kande sun sniidaa
kaada toinen knyybi glasariin
oi mutsi mutsi turha on sun spiidaa
jos brenkku vie tän deekun kavariin

As for being "standard Finnish"... lets say its

o momma momma strike da lamp for bright
me gwonna die die off di gang
you be dealin me a white zootsuit
I be done inna icey hole nuff soon

o momma momma donna worry
pour anotha dram inna glass
o momma momma donna cry
if booze take this drunkie inna earth
"By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes."

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Violette
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by Violette » Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:12 pm

You know what... it does sound vaguely familiar and I do think this is the same song but of course revised.
Thanks for this version. I JUST LOVE IT !!!
love the smokin jazzy blues sound.
(makes note for utube search "Siiri Nordin" )

I went back and listened to it. then I listened to Tuomari Nurmio's version. It isn't the same song...it could be an offshoot tho'
" Men are like parking spaces; The good ones are taken and the only ones left are handicapped."

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Violette
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Re: old finnish lullaby

Post by Violette » Fri Jan 01, 2010 7:18 pm

I may have found it. The song is probably called "Aiti ja Poika" written by Ville Alanko and performed by the Dalape Orkesteri. Anyway I still can't find the lyrics online nor a recording of the song, which may have been done much earlier...like in the 30's.

sincerely obsessed
" Men are like parking spaces; The good ones are taken and the only ones left are handicapped."


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