Карпатський Реп [Karpat·sʹkyy Rep] [English translation]

Listen, dear people

What I want to tell you.

I want to sing a song

About all the guys.

If only my Mom knew

What Dmytro is capable of

Every Sunday she would

Dress me up in an artful way.1

If only my Mom knew

What Mikhaylo is capable of

Every Sunday she would

Dress me up nicely.

If only my Mom knew

What Ivanchyk is capable of

Every Sunday she would

Let me go to the dancing.

If only my Mom knew

What Vasyl' is capable of

She would just tell me

"Oh my God, no way!"2

A cuckoo was calling3

Somewhere over there

Where all the guys are good

But Mykola is the best.

A cuckoo was calling

Over there near the forest.

I don't love anyone

Like that Yurchik guy.

Yurchik, go to bed

Because you are tired.

Petryk, come to me

Because I like you.

My guelder-rose, my raspberry. 4

My guelder-rose, my raspberry.

I love Havrylo very much

And I'm in love with Lukin.

But when I don't see Andrey

I perish in vain.

And when I don't see Andrey,

I don't tell anyone.

I gave my hand to Yelavko

And went home.

I gave my hand to Yelavko,

And my kerchief to Hrytsko.

And I hug Semén

Like a small child.

As I was going home

I passed plum-trees.

I met Anastasiy there

Bringing me marigolds.

My guelder-rose, my raspberry.

My guelder-rose, my raspberry.

I was going home

Across a green meadow.

I met Shtefan and Onufriy.

I follow them everywhere.

As I was going home

The day was clear.

I met Khedor and Mykyta.

Those are my darlings.

A lily started to bloom

In front of my house.

I've cooked pastils

But Makoviy isn't around.

My dear Makoviy isn't around

And his Dad isn't around too.

I wish my Mom would marry me off

To that Ihnat guy.

Cause Ihnat has a nice house

And a new barn.

I don't know whether I'd become

Ihnat's destiny.

I don't know whether I'd be

Together with Ihnat.

Maybe Kuz'ma will marry me

If he wishes to.

This night at midnight

I had a miraculous dream.

If Kuz'ma doesn't marry me,

Then Danylo will do.

Though Danylo has a nice field

But his house is old.

I won't marry Danylo.

I would rather marry Safat.

My guelder-rose, my raspberry.

My guelder-rose, my raspberry.

Though Safat has a nice house

But his mother is old.

I won't marry Safat.

I would rather marry Slavko.

As I came to Slavko

I slammed the door.

I won't marry Slavko.

I would rather marry Yakym.

Yakym has bulls and horses.

Yakym has cows too.

If Yakym doesn't marry me,

Bless you all!5

I've sung you

This song

So that all good people know

How I sorted out the guys.

My guelder-rose, my raspberry.

My guelder-rose, my raspberry.

1. The lyrics is in one of the Western Ukrainian dialects. Some words have unusual forms or an obscure meaning.2. In Ukrainian it's literally "May God protect you!"3. Mentioning animals with no obvious connection to the story is common for Ukrainian folklore4. Mentioning plants with no obvious connection to the story is common too5. In Ukrainian it's literally "Be healthy all of you!"