Latvia was put down by the Sun,
Where the ends came together.
White sea, green land.
Latvia had the key of the gate.
Which Daugava did protect.
Foreigners tried to break the gate,
The key fell deep into the sea.
The ground was struck by blue lightning,
The key taken from the devil.
Death and life Latvia locked in,
White sea, green land.
Latvia was put down by the Sun
On the white sea’s land,
Wind blew over the sand.
What will the children of Latvia drink?
The sun ordered God,
To dig out Daugava.
Animals dug it out,
God filled it with water from a cloud.
Water of life, Water of death
Filled the river up,
I dipped in a finger tip,
And felt both in my soul.
I dipped in a finger tip,
And felt both in my soul.
Sun was our mother,
Daugava the nanny of our pain,
Thunder was the devil’s kicker,
That was our father.
Rainis [pseudonym of Jānis Pliekšāns] (1865 – 1929) Latvia
Translated by Prof. Jānis Kudiņš
Source: Phenomenon of the Baltic singing revolution in 1987-1991: Three Latvian songs as historical symbols of non-violent resistance, Jānis Kudiņš, Muzikologija 2019 Issue 26, Pages: 27-39
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