Nuku Nuku Nurmilintu
Nuku Nuku Nurmilintu is a very old ancient Finn song. It's traditionally sung as a lullaby and there are many variations and additional verses. The song sing about about a little bird, a wag tail (Motacilla Alba). As the lyrics talk about it drifting to a "white land" some people think this song could have a sadder hidden meaning of a mother mourning a child. Still it's sung still today to children as one well known lullaby.
There are written transcriptions of the melody from 1800 (Luvulta) and in 1885 its most known variation,thus this song is already is already Public Domain.
I am playing kantele which is Finland's national instrument.
ORIGINAL LYRICS (Finnish)
Nuku, nuku nurmilintu,
Väsy, väsy, västäräkki
Nuku nurmelle hyvälle
Vaivu maalle valkialle.
Lintu tuopi liinahapaijan
Haapana hyvän hamehen
Kaskeloinen korvatyynyn
Pääskynen peäalusen
Nuku, nuku nurmilintu
Väsy, väsy, västäräkki
Nuku nurmelle hyvälle
Vaivu maalle valkialle.
Sleep, sleep meadow bird,
Tired, tired, wagtail.
Sleep well in the grass,
Drift into the white land
Birds will bring you a linen shirt,
The wigeon will bring you a fine skirt.
The duck a little pillow to rest your head
The swallows, a cushion.
Sleep, sleep meadow bird,
Tired, tired, wagtail.
Sleep well in the grass,
Drift into the white land.
Pd. I merged several translations and used google translate. If you are native from Finland and want to propose any change please contact me :)
