‘Vigil Bressane’ (Veillée Bressane) postcard. Bourg-en-Bresse, France 1905
Love Song
‘Konopa konopa Koho rada vidímn’ (Hemp Hemp – To One Who I Like To See) is an ancient Slovak song steeped in the culture of hemp. It also happens to be folking gold!
The ancient hemp song is said to originate from around the area of the town of Detva in the Podpoľanie region of Central Slovakia. The song was traditionally sung by groups of women while processing the hemp harvest.
The entertaining folk song was sung not only for fun to pass the time while working but was also used by the working women to keep pace in the spinning and processing of hemp.
Much like a modern day love song this ancient hemp tune has it all! The pursuit of young love, the heartbreak, an all night party and of course sex!
Konopa konopa – Koho rada vidím (Hemp Hemp – To the One Who I Like To See)
Hemp, hemp,
green hemp on our door
no one shuts up
Hey,
give me the vision,
give you sight to stay with me
the vision of the rize
No one’s shut up,
he does not even call
or ask if the girl is at home,
Hey …
I’m home at home,
look for me at home
and let our door shut up,
Hey …
Who I see, I’ll do it:
On and off the road
I’ll call,
Hop, rada dara dadada
Play musicians to the morning
And when I go to say
to whom I will say,
Hop, rada dara dadada
Whom would I be,
my dear to you,
that you got me all night long for yourself.
Hop , rada dara dadada
The sun from behind the rock,
Do not say that we slept together
Do not tell anyone,
not even the whole world.
My mother would find out about it
My mother would find out about it
My mother would find out about it
Konopa konopa – Koho rada vidím / ŽSSk Vajana – Dve dievčenské z Detvy (Slovak Folk Songs)
another version
Konopa konopa performed by Folklorny Subor Lipa
Woman playing violin, 1890’s