Oleanna (song)

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Oleanna is a Norwegian folk song which was translated into English and popularized in the United States by Weavers member Pete Seeger. Pete Seeger's version is not just a translation, but contain verses that are not present in the original.

The song is a critic of Ole Bull's vision of a perfect society in America. Oleanna is actually the name of one of Ole Bull's communities in his colony New Norway. His society failed, and all the immigrants moved to other areas, because the dense forest made it hard to settle. The lyrics concerns the singer's desire to leave Norway, and escape to Oleanna, a land where "wheat and corn just plant themselves/Then grow a good four feet a day/While on your bed you rest yourself"; compare the song "Big Rock Candy Mountain".

The Kingston Trio recorded a version of the song with a rewritten lyric on their 1959 album "Here We Go Again!". That group also rerecorded a shortened version of the song with another set of lyrics as a radio advertisement for 7-up.

Contents

[edit] Lyrics

[edit] Original Norwegian

I Ole-Oleanna, der er det godt at være,
I Norge vil jeg ikke, slavelenket være.

(Chorus):

Ole-oleanna, ole-oleanna,
ole-ole-ole-ole-ole-oleanna

Ja, der er det bayerøl som bare Ytterborg kan brygge
Det flyter rundt om i bekkene til fattigmannens hygge

(Chorus)

Og brunstekte griser, de løper om så flinke
og forespør så høflig om noen vil ha skinke

(Chorus)

Og laksen, så lystig, den svømmer rundt i bekker
Og hopper opp i gryta, og sier du skal hekke

(Chorus)

Men kjerringa må styre og base og stelle,
og blir hun sint, slår hun seg selv må jeg fortelle

(Chorus)

Ja, Ole Bull ble millionær av å spille fele,
men Oleanna ville han med andre Nordmenn dele

[edit] An English Version

Oh, to be in Oleanna, that is where I'd like to be
Than be bound in Norway and drag the chains of slavery.

(Chorus):

Ole-oleanna, ole-oleanna,
ole-ole-ole-ole-ole-oleanna

In Oleanna land is free, the wheat and corn just plant themselves,
They grow a good four feet a day while on your back you rest yourself.

(Chorus)

Little roasted piggies roam around the city streets,
Inquiring most politely if a slice of ham you'd like to eat.

(Chorus)

Beer as sweet as Muenchner springs from the ground and flows away;
The cows all like to milk themselves, and the hens lay eggs three times a day.

(Chorus)

[edit] External links