Ciuleandra song lyrics

Foaie verde siminoc,

Tzinetzi Ciuleandra pe loc,

Shi-nc-odata mai baietzi,

Hop sha sha sha.

Tzinetzi-o flacai asha,

Pina n-ajunge puica,

Shi-nc-o-data, mai baietzi,

Hop sha sha sha.

Intaritzi-o nitzelush,

C-ajunge acush-acush,

Shi-nc-o-data, mai baietzi,

Hop sha sha sha.

Mai intaritzi-o de-un pas,

C-ajuns si n-a ramas,

Shi-nc-o-data, mai baietzi,

Hop sha sha sha.

Doua fire, doua paie,

Luatzi Ciuleandra la bataie,

Shi-nc-o-data, mai baietzi,

Hop sha sha sha.

Tot asha ca nu ma las,

Ca sint cu puica pe-un pas,

Shi-nc-o-data, mai baietzi,

Hop sha sha sha.

Doua fire, doua paie,

Ia Ciuleandra la bataie,

Shi-nc-o-data, mai baietzi,

Hop sha sha sha.

Translation

Green leaf of Siminoc*,

Keep the circle in place,

One more time boys,

Hop and so and so.

Keep it like that lads,

Until my darling catches up to me,

One more time boys,

Hop and so and so.

Strengthen it (fasten it) just a little,

She (puica*) is close to catch up with me,

One more time boys,

Hop and so and so.

Fasten it one more step,

She caught me up, but didn't stay,

One more time boys,

Hop and so and so.

Two straws, two grains,

Let's stomp* the Ciuleandra,

One more time boys,

Hop and so and so.

Keep it like that, don't let it down,

Cause I'm on same step with my darling,

One more time boys,

Hop and so and so.

Two straws, two grains,

Stomp the Ciuleandra now,

One more time boys,

Hop and so and so.

Note: Siminoc = everlasting flower, xeranthemum. The name of the flower is not essential; 'foaie verde de..' is the usual starting verse of Romanian folk songs, the flower or tree varying from song to song for rhyming purposes.

Note: puica, puico = my darling (fem.) -- means, in the initial sense, pullet, female chicken; it does not, however, have the negative connotations that its American exact translation has; it is also used in its masculine form 'puiule' = my darling. A more exact translation than stomp would be beat up; in Romanian the same verbal form is used to describe the action against a person.

Not many people realize that the words to Ciuleandra are actually English. Apparently, the singer had had a few too many drinks, and wasn't enuciating as clearly as she might have been. However, if you listen closely, you will realize that the words are as follows.

While there be sheep enough, soon as Ciuleandra pays off. She forgot the baby eggs (or to lay the eggs), Oh! Sha sha sha.

Soon as off the curb I shot, ruined a match and Jeffrey's car. She forgot the...

Underneath Zaristra's nose, smashed a chair and smooched a goose. She forgot the...

My daddy's soldier's boss. Ah, shoot! She bought a bus. She forgot the...

Dough feet and dough pie lost Ciuleandra's love, but aye. She fogot the... (Sorry, the words for this verse are missing. Apparently the transcriber had a little too much to drink also. We do know, however, that Jeffrey's car is involved).

Dough feet and dough pie, ah, Ciuleandra, I'm a guy. She forgot the...