THE CAPTIVES
Cuckoo! calls the Cuckoo....
In the dawn, in the dawn the young Cossacks are crying,
Far away from their loves, in prison lying,
The dungeon’s dark, their hope is gone,
But the Cuckoo calls, in the dawn, in the dawn!
Blows the wind, blows the wind—From the sea were it blowing
’Twould bear us away beyond all knowing!
Our heavy chains we’d leave behind
If over the sea should come the wind.
O the sun! O the sun in Ukraine shining!
Take us to where our loves are pining....
The Cossacks have their dance begun,
The dance of joy, in the sun, in the sun.
Blue sea! On the sea with the wind they’re dancing—
Our brothers surely are advancing
From prison chains the sad to free.
O swiftly come, o’er the sea, o’er the sea!
Cuckoo, calls the Cuckoo....
In the dawn, in the dawn the Sultan sleeping
Is wakened by the sound of weeping—
“Bind stronger chains their limbs upon
That none may flee, in the dawn, in the dawn!”