Thread: Translation and russian lyrics of "the old linden tree&

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me out here. I am trying to get hold of the original Russian lyrics, as well as an English translation, of the Russian folk song: "Липа вековая" or "Lipa Vekovaya". This is translated as either "The Old Lime Tree" or "The Old Linden Tree". Finding the lyrics seems to be quite difficult, since the song is more popular as an instrumental for solo guitar or balaika orchestra.

I appreciate that it might be hard, since I don't actually have the original Russian lyrics to offer. I was hoping that someone might be familiar with the song already, or, you might want to have a go at interpreting the lyrics from the operatic version, which can be obtained here.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

"Липа вековая"

Липа вековая
Над рекой шумит
Песня удалая
Вдалеке звенит

Луг покрыт туманом
Словно пеленой
Слышен за курганом
Звон сторожевой

Этот звон унылый
Давно прошлых дней
Пробудил, что было
В памяти моей

Вот все миновало
Я уж под венцом
Молодца сковали
Золотым кольцом

Только не с тобою
Милая моя
Спишь ты под землею
Спишь из-за меня

Над твоей могилой
Соловей поёт
Скоро и твой милый
Тем же сном уснёт

the close to the original translation

The [100 years] old lime tree
Is murmurung over the river
The bold song
Is ringing far away

The meadow is covered of fog
Like in the shroud
The watch bell peal
Is heard beyond the mound

This sad peal
Of the long past days
Awoke what was
In my memory

Now everything have gone
I am (standing) under the wedding crown
The lad has been chained
By the golden ring

But not with you
My darling
You are sleeping under (in) the ground
You're sleeping because of me

The nightingale is singing
Above your grave
Your darling will sleep soon
By the same dream

The song is very nice, but I somehow heard it about the lass and more than that - it seems like I have heard the traditional Irish or Scottish song too with similar subject.

"Lipa Vekovaya" by Zhanna Bichevskaja http://www.wingspan.ru/zel/Track04.mp3
one of the best, imho

Seems like the tradition has the various words of this song.

The artist form your link, sidd, does not sing the secong part and the third part sound a bit unclear, but here is what I can hear:

Пробудила милой
......ые черты
Вспомнил с новой силой,
Как любила ты

It awoke my darling's
[...the unclear lovely adjective....] appearance (features)
I recalled with the fresh power
How much did you love.

Originally Posted by BappaBa

"Lipa Vekovaya" by Zhanna Bichevskaja http://www.wingspan.ru/zel/Track04.mp3
one of the best, imho

Чудно. Спасибо, братан

Originally Posted by xRoosterx

Originally Posted by BappaBa

"Lipa Vekovaya" by Zhanna Bichevskaja http://www.wingspan.ru/zel/Track04.mp3
one of the best, imho

Чудно. Спасибо, братан

=)
Если понравилось, вот залил еще несколько хороших песен в ее исполнении:

"Черный ворон" http://www.wingspan.ru/zel/Track01.mp3
"Казачья притча" (Сон Стеньки Разина)http://www.wingspan.ru/zel/Track03.mp3
"Сибирская баллада" http://www.wingspan.ru/zel/Track11.mp3
"Любо, братцы, любо" http://www.wingspan.ru/zel/zanna_lyubo.mp3

Кр-р-расота! голоса очень нравится ее.

Originally Posted by xRoosterx

Кр-р-расота! голос_ очень нравится ее.

Wow, I truly was not expecting this to be answered. Thanks so much to everyone that has posted. Especially Leof, this has really made my day

I'll definitely be coming back here when I get around to learning Russian.

You are welcome!