Sing Swallow Sing (Carol of the Bells original) Complete song @ Itunes etc here www.ukrainians.org.uk
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Story behind the song
Sung by Chrystyna and Natalka Pasicznyk The old Ukrainian ritual of New Year's greetings songs. A group of singers (traditionally female) sing from house to house wishing the house owners health and prosperity. The songs date from pre-Christian times and were believed to have magical powers.They are sung on January 13, New Years Eve on the old Julian Calendar, through to the second "Holy Eve", the night before the Epiphany, Christ's Baptism, celebrated in Ukraine by Byzantine Catholic and Orthodox Christians on January 19th. This song's adaptation in English to the widely known "Ukrainian Carol of the Bells" by Peter J. Wilhousky an American of Ukrainian descent, became hugely popular, however his Christmas themed lyrics have no relation to the original. The original is about a swallow that flies into a household and sings of the lucky year the family will have. During the night of January 22 - 23, 1921, the composer who wrote the musical arrangement of this song as recognised worldwide today, Mykola Leontovych, as so many others of Ukraine's creative genius and intelligencia, was murdered by a soviet agent for his pro Ukrainian independence views. This version is in is original Ukrainian with an adaptation of the original lyrics.
Lyrics
Sing swallow sing
Fortune you bring
Into the homes
Letting you in
Happy are those
Hearing your song
Life will be kind
Life will be long.
Sing swallow sing
Bounty you bring
Days longer now,
Leading to spring
Chaff of the wheat,
Ear of the corn
Nestling ewes,
Lambkin are born.
Sing swallow sing
Praying you bring
News that a new
Time will begin
Peace in our land,
Hoping this year
Good will prevail,
Nothing to fear.
We lived off the land of
milk and honey
Envy of the world no
need for money
Chaff of the wheat,
Ear of the corn
Nestling ewes,
Lambkin are born.
Sing swallow sing
Praying you bring
News that a new
Time will begin.
Sing swallow sing!
© S.Pasicznyk 23/12/2014