ST. JOHN'S EVE

ON A PLEASANT ST. JOHN,S EVE
IN THE QUIET OF A PRETTY HILLSIDE
A MOTHER SAT, WHILE AT HER KNEE
A FAINTING DAUGHTER FELL.


O MOTHER, MOTHER, MY HEART ACHES
BECAUSE LEON MAY NOT RETURN,
MAYBE HIS HORSE WILL THROW HIM FROM THE SADDLE
OR AN EVIL PERSON WILL KILL HIM.
(TWICE)
O CAROLINE, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
WHERE ARE ALL YOUR PROMISES?
YOU WROTE, "OH, COME, COME."
NOW YOU ARE IN THE ARMS OF ANOTHER.

MY HORSE, MY HORSE, LET US RETURN HOME.
THEY HAVE NO BREAD FOR US HERE.
THERE IN THE VALLEY WHERE THE STREAM FLOWS,
THERE IS OUR BELOVED HOME.
(TWICE)

POLISH VERSION:

Wieczor Pogodny

Wieczor pogodny Swietego Jana
Ucich pieknego pagorka,
Siedziala matka, na jej kolana

Upada zemdlona corka.

O Mamo, mamo, serce mnie boli,
Bo moze Leon nie wroci,

Moze go konik ze siodia rzuczi,
Albozly czlowiek ubile.

O Karolino, cozes zrobiloa
gdzie twoje wszystkie zaklencia,
Tys mi pisala, ach przyjedz, przyjedz, przyjedz
Teraz zes w innych objenciach.

Koniu muj koniu, wrocmy do domu.
Tu dla nas nie maja chleda.
Tam na dolinie, gdzie strumyk plynie,
Tam nasza chata kochana.

Submitter comment:

MY MOTHER USED TO SING THIS SONG TO ME WHEN I WAS A CHILD. SHE TOLD
ME SHE LEARNED IT FROM A LADY WITH WHOM SHE WORKED DURING 1926-1929,
IN VARIOUS DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS--WASHINGTON BLVD. BLDG., INDUSTRIAL
BANK BLDG., AND EATON TOWER (NOW BRODERICK TOWER).
THE LADY, SADIE MANDULAK, BROUGHT THE SONG FROM THE UKRAINE.
ON THE NOTE ON WHICH THIS SONG WAS WRITTEN, MY MOTHER WROTE:
"TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE." I TAKE THIS TO MEAN THAT THIS IS
THE WAY THE SONG IS REMEMBERED BY HER.
MY MOTHER USED TO SING THIS, IN ITS POLISH VERSION, TO ME WHEN
I WAS JUST A LITTLE GIRL. I REMEMBER SHE USED TO ROCK ME AND
OFTEN I WOULD FALL ASLEEP TO THE SONG. LATER (13 TO 15 YEARS LATER.
IN FACT.) SHE SANG THE VERY SAME SONG TO MY SISTER, AS SHE PUT
HER TO SLEEP.
 

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Szynal, Mrs. Andrew

Keyword(s): BABY ; CHILDREN ; LULLABY ; Lyrics ; MUSIC ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune

Date learned: 05-00-1965