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Oi u luzi chervona kalyna

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"Oi, u luzi chervona kalyna"
Image of a 1922 print of the song
Song
LanguageUkrainian
English titleOh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow
Released1914
Genrepatriotic
Songwriter(s)Stepan Charnetsky
The song performed by the military band of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and three choirs in Vinnytsia

"Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow" (Ukrainian: Ой, у лузі червона калина) is a Ukrainian patriotic march first published in 1875 by Volodymyr Antonovych and Mykhailo Drahomanov.[1][2][3] It was rewritten in a modern arrangement by the composer Stepan Charnetsky in 1914, and was subsequently used by the Sich Riflemen of the First World War. The song has many variations.

The song "Oi u luzi" was in the repertoire of Feodor Chaliapin.[4]

The red viburnum (Ukrainian: червона калина, romanized: chervona kalyna) is a national symbol of Ukraine. It is a deciduous shrub that grows four to five metres tall.[5] A silhouette of it is depicted along the edges of the flag of the president of Ukraine.

Following the 2014 annexation of Crimea, and then the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, singing "nationalist anthems" such as "Chervona Kalyna" in Crimea became punishable by fines and imprisonment.[6][7]

History

[edit]

Red Viburnum berries (kalyna) are a symbol that has been a part of the Ukrainian culture since ancient times.[5] The text of the song derives from a folk composition dating from the times of the mid-17th century Khmelnytskyi Uprising, which was recorded by Volodymyr Antonovych and Mykhailo Drahomanov during their ethnographic studies in 1875. The song was popularized after being included into Stepan Charnetskyi's play Sun of the Ruin (Ukrainian: Сонце Руїни), which premiered in early 1914. After the beginning of the First World War in the same year, it became adopted as one of the anthems of the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen, the first ethnic Ukrainian military formation of the 20th century. In 1925 Chervona Kalyna was recorded in the United States by Metropolitan Opera singer of Ukrainian origin Mykhailo Zozuliak, also known for making a recording of the National Anthem of Ukraine nine years earlier. In 1944 the song was issued as a recording for the second time with arrangement of Alexander Koshetz.[8]

During and after the Second World War, Chervona Kalyna was also used by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.[9][10][better source needed] Due to the song's association with the Ukrainian people's aspiration for independence, singing it was banned during the period in which Ukraine was a Soviet Republic from 1919 to 1991. Nevertheless, in 1961 a version of the song's text was published in a collection of historical songs issued in Kyiv.[11] Open performances of the song became widespread in Ukraine during the late 1980s, when it was frequently used at protest meetings. Around that time a modified version of the text was created by Ukrainian dissident Nadiya Svitlychna.[12]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

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Andriy Khlyvnyuk, of the Ukrainian band BoomBox.

In March 2022, the song gained international attention when an Instagram video[13] of an a cappella rendition by Andriy Khlyvnyuk, of the Ukrainian band BoomBox, singing the first verse of the song was remixed by different artists around the world. The melody was somewhat changed. According to Valentyna Kuzyk, in this variant, "the energy of the primordial breath breaks out of stable forms and enters a new life space".[14]

BoomBox was touring in the United States when the Russian invasion of Ukraine started on 24 February. In response to the invasion, Khlyvnyuk cut the tour short to return to Ukraine to join the armed forces. He recorded the video while wearing army fatigues, standing near Sophia Square in Kyiv, and uploaded it to his Instagram account on 27 February, where it became viral.

David Gilmour of Pink Floyd created an original song around Khlyvnyuk's vocal track of "Oh, the Red Viburnum..."

The first artist to remix[15] Khlyvnyuk's rendition was South African musician The Kiffness in early March.[16] At the end of the same month, Ukrainian ice dancers Oleksandra Nazarova and Maksym Nikitin performed to the song at the 2022 World Figure Skating Championships in protest of the invasion.[17]

In April 2022, Pink Floyd made use of Khlyvnyuk's recording for the vocal track of "Hey, Hey, Rise Up!", a single and video that the band released in aid of Ukrainian humanitarian relief.[18][19] In the video, Khlyvnyuk's performance is projected behind the band while they are performing and is sometimes shown full screen. The song opens with a sample from another recording of "Oi u luzi chervona kalyna", by the Veryovka Ukrainian Folk Choir.[20][21]

Since then, new versions have appeared on YouTube,[22] including remixes of the original remix.[23][24][25]

Banned in Crimea

[edit]

Following the 2014 annexation of Crimea, and then the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, singing "nationalist anthems" such as "Chervona Kalyna" in Crimea was deemed to discredit the Russian army, and was punished by fines and imprisonment. In September 2022, the Russian occupation authorities in Crimea jailed and fined members of a wedding party for "discrediting" the Russian Armed Forces by playing the song.[26] The singers of the song in an online video were imprisoned and fined.[27][28]

Sergey Aksyonov, the Russian leader of the Crimean peninsula, warned that authorities would punish people harshly for singing such songs. He said that "People who do this are acting like traitors", and that there was a special FSB security service group working on the matter.[28]

Charts

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Lyrics

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Ukrainian original Ukrainian Latin alphabet English translation

Ой у лузі червона калина похилилася,
Чогось наша славна Україна зажурилася.
А ми тую червону калину підіймемо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей-гей, розвеселимо!
А ми тую червону калину підіймемо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей-гей, розвеселимо!

Oj u luzi červona kalyna pochylylasia,
Čohoš naša slavna Ukraina zažurylasia.
A my tuju červonu kalynu pidijmemo,
A my našu slavnu Ukrainu, hej-hej, rozveselymo!
A my tuju červonu kalynu pidijmemo,
A my našu slavnu Ukrainu, hej-hej, rozveselymo!

Oh, in the meadow a red kalyna has bent down low,
For some reason, our glorious Ukraine is in sorrow.
And we'll take that red kalyna and we will raise it up,
And, hey-hey, we shall cheer up our glorious Ukraine!
And we'll take that red kalyna and we will raise it up,
And, hey-hey, we shall cheer up our glorious Ukraine!

Не хилися, червона калино, маєш білий цвіт,
Не журися, славна Україно, маєш вільний рід.
А ми тую червону калину підіймемо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей-гей, розвеселимо!
А ми тую червону калину підіймемо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей-гей, розвеселимо!

Ne chylysia, červona kalyno, maješ bilyj cvit,
Ne žurysia, slavna Ukraino, maješ viľnyj rid.
A my tuju červonu kalynu pidijmemo,
A my našu slavnu Ukrainu, hej-hej, rozveselymo!
A my tuju červonu kalynu pidijmemo,
A my našu slavnu Ukrainu, hej-hej, rozveselymo!

Do not bend low, oh red kalyna, you have a white flower,
Do not worry, glorious Ukraine, you have a free people.
And we'll take that red kalyna and will raise it up,
And, hey-hey, we shall cheer up our glorious Ukraine!
And we'll take that red kalyna and will raise it up,
And, hey-hey, we shall cheer up our glorious Ukraine!

Марширують наші добровольці у кривавий тан,
Визволяти братів-українців з московських кайдан.
А ми наших братів-українців визволимо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей-гей, розвеселимо!
А ми наших братів-українців визволимо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей-гей, розвеселимо!

Maršyrujuť naši dobrovoľci u kryvavyj tan,
Vyzvoliaty brativ-ukrainciv z Moskovśkych kajdan.
A my našych brativ-ukrainciv vyzvolymo,
A my našu slavnu Ukrainu, hej-hej, rozveselymo!
A my našych brativ-ukrainciv vyzvolymo,
A my našu slavnu Ukrainu, hej-hej, rozveselymo!

Marching forward, our fellow volunteers, into a bloody fray,
For to free our brother Ukrainians from the Moscovite shackles.
And we, our brother Ukrainians, we will then liberate,
And, hey-hey, we shall cheer up our glorious Ukraine!
And we, our brothers Ukrainians, will then liberate,
And, hey-hey, we shall cheer up our glorious Ukraine!

Ой у полі ярої пшенички золотистий лан,
Розпочали стрільці українські з ворогами тан.
А ми тую ярую пшеничку ізберемо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей-гей, розвеселимо!
А ми тую ярую пшеничку ізберемо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей-гей, розвеселимо!

Oj u poli jaroi pšenyčky zolotystyj lan,
Rozpočaly striľci ukrainśki z vorohamy tan.
A my tuju jaruju pšenyčku izberemo,
A my našu slavnu Ukrainu, hej-hej, rozveselymo!
A my tuju jaruju pšenyčku izberemo,
A my našu slavnu Ukrainu, hej-hej, rozveselymo!

Oh in the field of early spring wheat, there's a golden furrow,
Then began the Ukrainian riflemen to engage the enemy.
And we'll take that precious, early wheat and will gather it,
And, hey-hey, we shall cheer up our glorious Ukraine!
And we'll take that precious, early wheat and will gather it,
And, hey-hey, we shall cheer up our glorious Ukraine!

Як повіє буйнесенький вітер з широких степів,
То прославить по всій Україні січових стрільців.
А ми тую стрілецькую славу збережемо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей-гей, розвеселимо!
А ми тую стрілецькую славу збережемо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей-гей, розвеселимо!

Jak povije bujneseńkyj viter z šyrokych stepiv,
To proslavyť po vsij Ukraini sičovych striľciv.
A my tuju strilećkuju slavu zberežemo,
A my našu slavnu Ukrainu, hej-hej, rozveselymo!
A my tuju strilećkuju slavu zberežemo,
A my našu slavnu Ukrainu, hej-hej, rozveselymo!

When the stormy winds blow forth from the wide steppes,
They will glorify, throughout Ukraine, the Sich Riflemen.
And so we will preserve the glories of these riflemen,
And, hey-hey, we shall cheer up our glorious Ukraine!
And so we will preserve the glories of these riflemen,
And, hey-hey, we shall cheer up our glorious Ukraine!

[edit]
  • Red Viburnum berries (kalyna), the subject of the song
    Red Viburnum berries (kalyna), the subject of the song
  • A commemorative coin released by the Government of Ukraine in 2022 with the inscription taken from the third line of the song
    A commemorative coin released by the Government of Ukraine in 2022 with the inscription taken from the third line of the song
  • A graveyard of Sich Riflemen soldiers near Ternopil. The song was written in their honor.
    A graveyard of Sich Riflemen soldiers near Ternopil. The song was written in their honor.

References

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  1. ^ Від Хмельниччини до Хливнюка: як змінилася пісня «Ой у лузі червона калина…» за цілі епохи визвольної боротьби
  2. ^ "Ой, у лузі червона калина...". Історія легендарного гімну січових стрільців, що сьогодні звучить по-новому на весь світ
  3. ^ History of the song "Red Viburnum" is the history of our people
  4. ^ Шаляпин, Федор (2017). Страницы моей жизни (in Russian). Litres. p. 189. ISBN 978-5-0409-3491-1.
  5. ^ a b Adams, William Lee (18 March 2022). "Go_A release "Kalyna" to raise funds for Ukraine…and to remind the world it must unite to fight evil". Kalyna (guelder-rose) is a symbol that has been a part of Ukrainian culture since ancient times. Its meanings were transferred through the ages in legends and songs. A broken kalyna tree was a sign of trouble and tragedy; abuse of this tree was a shameful act. Ukrainian people carefully protected it because there was a belief that kalyna grew only next to good people. According to our ancestors, kalyna has a power that brings immortality and can unite generations to fight evil.
  6. ^ "Из «Яндекс Музыки» по требованию Роскомнадзора убрали песню «Червона калина» в исполнении лидера «Бумбокса»". Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  7. ^ "Преподавателя из Крыма избили и арестовали из-за публикации в ВК песни «Червона калина». Ранее его уволили из техникума за прослушивание песни «Bayraktar»". Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  8. ^ Володимир В'ятрович (2022-04-23). "Історія пісні "Червона калина" — це історія нашого народу" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  9. ^ "Avramenko, O.M., Shabelnykova, L.P. Chapter 12. Riflemen songs. Ukrainian literature. Sixth grade. (textbook)" (in Russian). School.xvatit.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  10. ^ Kovalev, Valery (11 March 2016). Саур Могила. Litres. ISBN 978-5-04-002029-4.
  11. ^ ""Ой у лузі червона калина". Історія пісні". 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  12. ^ Володимир В'ятрович (2022-04-23). "Історія пісні "Червона калина" — це історія нашого народу" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  13. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cae5TydPAxh/
  14. ^ Kuzyk, Valentyna (2022-08-08). "Алгоритми конструювання символічної образності пісні "Ой у лузі червона калина"". МУЗИКА (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  15. ^ Ukrainian Folk Song 🇺🇦 ARMY REMIX, Andriy Khlyvnyuk x The Kiffness on YouTube
  16. ^ "The Kyivness (The Kiffness) remixes Ukrainian folk song – tops charts worldwide". CapeTalk. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  17. ^ Russell, Susan D. (March 25, 2022). "Nazarova and Nikitin – A Courageous Dance". International Figure Skating. Archived from the original on 2022-03-26.
  18. ^ Pink Floyd - Hey Hey Rise Up (feat. Andriy Khlyvnyuk of Boombox) on YouTube
  19. ^ "'This is a crazy, unjust attack': Pink Floyd re-form to support Ukraine". The Guardian. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  20. ^ Grow, Kory. "David Gilmour: Why I'm Bringing Back Pink Floyd After 28 Years". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  21. ^ Хор імені Г. Верьовки - Ой, у лузі червона калина (G. Veryovka Choir - Oh, red viburnum in the meadow) on YouTube.
  22. ^ Ой у лузі червона калина (концерт "Доброго вечора! Ми з України!") on YouTube
  23. ^ Ukrainian Folk Song Marimba Remix on YouTube
  24. ^ Бумбокс - Ой, у лузі червона калина (The Kiffness) and GUITAR (VOVA from My Lions Pride) on YouTube
  25. ^ Chervona Kalyna (Червона калина 🇺🇦) The Kiffness Remix 2.0: YAVAS MEGAMIX on YouTube
  26. ^ "Crimea Wedding Party Arrested, Fined For Playing Ukrainian Patriotic Song". The Moscow Times. 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  27. ^ "Miss Crimea Fined for Singing Patriotic Ukrainian Song". The Moscow Times. 2022-10-04. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  28. ^ a b "Miss Crimea fined for singing patriotic Ukrainian song". The Guardian. 4 October 2022.
  29. ^ Top Radio Hits Ukraine Weekly Chart. TopHit. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  30. ^ "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Monthly Chart March 2022". TopHit. Archived from the original on 2022-04-12. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  31. ^ "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Annual Chart 2022". TopHit. Archived from the original on 2022-12-30. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
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