The Old Woman and The Barefoot Maiden (Part VI)

At this point

in the performance

Della sings her song entitled Oi Aiti/Oh Mother

It is an ancient Finnish song of lament

sung by women

Della sings it in Finnish

included here are the words translated into English

The images of Della 

are from her performance piece

"The Echo of the Ancestors"

 in Marquette, Michigan

during the Finnish Grand Festival 2005

I want to tell thee my worries now

O mother, my breast is troubled

As the storms of life stole my peace

And that which was dearest to me

In the morning of my life I fell in love

And watched the golden clouds

O mother if only I had known to look

In the black earth of death

Perhaps I would have kept

My childhood faith in my breast

And perhaps the glow of my hope

Would still be light in the sky

O mother comfort me 

Thy child’s cheek is burning

As the struggle and disappointment of life

Have hurt me sorely

-------

The Echo of the Ancestors

was created, written, sung and performed
by Della

You can watch Della 

singing Oi Aiti/Oh Mother

in a different context

for the Finnish Heritage Building Fund

at the Finnish Labour Temple
a CD and DVD was created as a fund raising project

Local singers

as well as performers from Finland participated

Della appears at 4:51
Enjoy!