Donna Donna

(The story behind this song, which is often used to introduce it when it is used as a slow-down song, may not be strictly true, so I'll leave it off for now, till I have had a chance to check a few more sources. This is, in any case, one of the prettiest songs in the PV songbooks.)

On a wagon bound for market
There's a calf with a mournful eye
High above him flies the swallow
Winging swiftly through the sky.

CHORUS: 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 donna donna donna
Donna donna donna don
Donna donna donna donna
Donna donna donna don

"Stop complaining," said 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?"

CHORUS

Calves are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why
But whoever treasures freedom
Like the swallow has learned to fly.

CHORUS