That Amazing Song: Dona Dona - Joan Baez & Yiddish Acapella

Dona Dona by Joan Baez. For those who haven't heard it, it's truly is a collector's item! Savour this masterpiece by a singer who continues to dominate the folk and country music scene even today.

DONA DONA

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 don

Dona dona dona dona

Dona dona dona don

"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?"

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 don

Dona dona dona dona

Dona dona dona don

Calves are easily bound and slaughtered

Never knowing the reason why.

But whoever treasures freedom,

Like the swallow must learn 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.

Dona dona dona dona

Dona dona dona don

Dona dona dona dona

Dona dona dona don

An incredibly melodic song...in Baez's magical vocals.

Baez had based her song on an old Yiddish song of the same name created for a Jewish play by the name of Esterke. The song was written by Aaron Zeitlin and composed by Sholom Secunda. Both were Jews who had suffered during the Nazi regime.

Thus, the song contains veiled references to the persecution of Jews by the Nazis. Read the English lyrics of the song (given above) against this backdrop. The "calf" being taken to the slaughter house is a symbol of the Jews (easily bound and slaughtered, never knowing the reason why). The "farmer" is the heartless Nazi. The "swallow" is a symbol of non-Jewish people who escaped the oppression of the Nazis.

But the background story isn't the only thing special about this song. It's the rendition. It's an a capella version. No musical instruments. Only human voices. Fascinating!

Here are the Yiddish lyrics in case you want to follow the words...

DONA DONA

oyfn furl ligt dos kelbl,

ligt gebundn mit a shtrik.

hoykh in himl flit dos shvelbl,

freyt zikh, dreyt zikh hin un krik.

lakht der vint in korn,

lakht un lakht un lakht,

lakht er op a tog a gantsn

mit a halber nakht.

Dona dona dona dona

Dona dona dona don

Dona dona dona dona

Dona dona dona don

shrayt dos kelbl, zogt der poyer:

ver zhe heyst dikh zayn a kalb?

volst gekert tsu zayn a foygl,

volst gekert tsu zayn a shvalb.

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 don

Dona dona dona dona

Dona dona dona don

bidne kelber tut men bindn

un men shlept zey un men shekht,

ver s'hot fligl, flit aroyftsu,

iz bay keynem nit keyn knekht.

Dona dona dona dona

Dona dona dona don

Dona dona dona dona

Dona dona dona don