Donna Donna was written by Shalom Secunda in 1940 as part of the musical Estkerke. Translated from the Yiddish. Donna means "calf" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Donna
lyrics
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
Donna donna donna...
Stop complaining, says the farmer
who told you a calf to be?
why don't you have wings to fly with
like the swallow so proud and free
How the winds are laughing
they laugh with all their might
laugh and laugh the whole day through
and half the summer's night
Donna donna donna...
Calves are easily bound and slaughtered
never knowing the reason why
but whoever treasures freedom
like the swallow has learned to fly
How the winds are laughing
they laugh with all their might
laugh and laugh the whole day through
and half the summer's night
Donna donna donna...
credits
from I Will Go Into The Day,
track released January 11, 2014
Caroline Herring, guitar and vocals
Marla Feeney, violin
Charles Williams, guitar
Rob Henson, bass
Irish singer-songwriter Oisin Leech's acoustic folk music is characterized by its muted beauty and intimate, solitary quality. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 16, 2024
The haunting new record from Canadian folk artist Avi C. Engel bridges old and new traditions with a minimalist approach. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 24, 2024
I am a big Emily Barker fan. This little EP is basically some old songs ( circa 1940's ) done by a very talented artist with a beautiful voice. Don Soper