Kalinka

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"Kalinka" ("Калинка" in Cyrillic) might be the best-known Russian song of all time. It has been mistaken as being a genuine folksong, but was actually written in 1860 by the composer and folklorist Ivan Petrovich Larionov 1830-1889 and first performed in Saratov as part of a theatrical entertainment that he had composed. Soon it was added to the repertory of a folk choral group, and the rest is history.

The song celebrates a snowball tree, with a speedy tempo and light-hearted lyrics. Singers and dancers many a time get into a frenzied celebration of song and dance while performing this song.

Several clubs and companies have been named Kalinka as well as a breed of show dog, the Kalinka terrier, and a minor character in Mega Man 4.

[edit] A Version of the "Kalinka" lyrics

Russian:

Калинка, калинка, калинка моя! В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!

Хэй! Калинка, калинка, калинка моя! В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!

Ааааааааааааааааааах! Под сосную, под зеленою Спать положите вы меня, Ааааааааай! Ай люли, люли, ай, люли, люли, Спать положите вы меня

Припев

Ааааааааааааааааааах! Сосенушка ты зелёная Не шуми ты надо мной Ааааааааай! Ай люли, люли, ай, люли, люли, Не шуми ты надо мной

Припев

Аааааааааааааааааааааааах! Красавица, душа-девица, Полюби же ты меня, Ай, люли, люли, aй, люли, люли, Полюби же ты меня!

Припев

English translation:

Snowball bush, snowball bush, my snowball bush,
In the garden there's the berry, my raspberry..
Under the pine, under the green pine,
Lay me down to sleep.

Ah, you dear pine, you green pine,
Don't you rustle so loud over me
Ah, beautiful maid, dear maid,
please fall in love with me!