3344. Arirang (Traditional Korean/Pete Seeger) Old Fokeys Zoom Concert

Details
Title | 3344. Arirang (Traditional Korean/Pete Seeger) Old Fokeys Zoom Concert |
Author | raymondcrooke |
Duration | 2:46 |
File Format | MP3 / MP4 |
Original URL | https://youtube.com/watch?v=DdjJoOKk0CU |
Description
Another song from the Old Fokeys Zoom Concert of Songs From Around the World. After Peter Lim and I sang Chinese songs, I sang this well-known Korean song before moving on to Japan.
Pete Seeger sang this Korean folk song on his 1950 album, using an English translation by Arthur Kevess.
About 400 years ago, there was a very despotic emperor in Korea who hanged anyone who opposed him. Legend has it that he had 10,000 people hanged on a tall pine tree on top of Arirang hill, outside Seoul. One of the condemned men marching to his last death sang a song about how much he loved his beautiful country and hated to say good bye to it. It was picked up by the other prisoners, and it became a tradition in Korea that any man condemned to death had the right to sing it before his execution. There are now many versions of the song, both in lyrics and melody.
When Japan colonized Korea it became a prison offence to sing the national anthem of Korea or any patriotic song. Arirang became an unofficial anthem, sung by the guerillas who fought against the fascists. It was sung in both North and South Korea as a symbol of unity.
Lyrics and chords:
G
Arirang Arirang Arariyo
.................... D7 ..... G
Arirang Ko-gae-ro nomoganda
........................... D7.......... C.. G
Narul borigo ka-sim-num nim-in
........................... C ........ G
Simnido mo-ot-gas-so bal-byong nanda.
Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo
Crossing the hills of Arirang-o
In my home land of 3000 ri,
There’s an abundance of flowers to see.
Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo
Crossing the hills of Arirang-o
Oh, my country men, why are your voices hushed?
Only the waterfalls and fountains seem free.
Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo
Crossing the hills of Arirang-o
Numberless are the stars twinkling in the night,
Endless the sorrow we know in our life
Arirang, Arirang, Arario
Crossing the hills of Arirang-o
You can see a playlist of my songs from Asia, Africa and the Middle East here:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=PL3EA30970DB19283E
Lyrics and chords of many of my songs are no longer available, as my website has expired. I am currently posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos and those that are too long to post in full will be found on my new website: https://raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.com