“Oleanna”

Description

The singer sings the praises of "Ole, Oleanna," where "land is free," the crops grow themselves, the livestock cooks itself, and "the poorest wretch... becomes a king in a year or so."

Notes

Ole Bull was a Norwegian fiddler who tried to found a colony in Pennsylvania. Despite his extravagant hopes for the settlement (satirized in this song), it was too poor and too far from transportation arteries, and eventually failed. - RBW

The town now calls itself "Oleona," and contains a museum celebrating the colony. - PJS

Cross references

Recordings

  • Pete Seeger, "Oleanna" (on PeteSeeger10) (on PeteSeeger12)

References

  1. Lomax-FSNA 42, "Oleanna" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. Silber-FSWB, p. 47, "Oleanna" (1 text)
  3. DT, OLEOLEAN*
  4. BI, LoF042

About

Author: (English words by Pete Seeger and others)
Earliest date: 1936 (tune)/1955 (English words -- recording, Pete Seeger)
Found in: US