dona dona

It must be the busiest month for jewelers.  

I've been sending orders out to stores that are getting ready for the holidays.  

During finishing those rings, I was singing dona dona song.

This Yiddish song is popular in Japan. 

As kids, we sang this song as a joke when we were on a school-bus comparing us to calves that were carried on a wagon to a market.  

I felt like I was seeing those rings off at the gate of our home. 

They are on an old wagon and will be on a trip shortly.

When I found English version of this song today, I was shocked that this song was a bit cruel in English.  

Wow, the third verse, how realistic is that.

Dona Dona

1. On a wagon bound for market
There's a calf with a mournful eye.
High above him there's a swallow
Winging swiftly through the sky.

How the winds are laughing
They laugh with all their might
Laugh and laugh the whole day through
And half the summer's night.


Dona dona dona dona
Dona dona dona down
Dona dona dona dona
Dona dona dona don


2. "Stop complaining," said the farmer
"Who told you a calf to be;
Why don't you have wings to fly away
Like the swallow so proud and free?"


3. Calves are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why.
But whoever treasures freedom,
Like the swallow must learn to fly

Original Yiddish text by Aaron Zeitlin & Shalom Secunda
tr. Arthur Kevess & Teddi Schwartz