Tere, tervitusi Poolast! I got interested in the Estonian language in 2021, and since then I’ve been learning the language and listening to various Estonian songs. I really love the folk band Untsakad (idk if it’s well-known in Estonia or not), and one song caught my attention. It’s the song “Soo”, which was also performed by the band Jäääär. I looked up the English translation of the lyrics, and it seems to be somewhat symbolic. I don’t know how to interpret it.

Does anyone know the meaning behind this lyrics? Is it some kind of metaphor?

Thanks in advance.

The song: https://youtu.be/pKdOzyPHtJU

6 comments

  3. Swamps and bogs have a lot of unwritten history and folklore in Estonia. We’ve been invaded and occupied many times in the past, wars, slavery, you name it. Swamplands are known to have secret pathways to them, and the belief is that the locals either know those pathways or are favored by the swamp and granted passage, while the oppressors follow blindly and drown. Despite this poetic justice, our swamps and forests are not enough to protect us, and hence the bittersweet melody of the song.

  4. As the story is covered well already, id recommend listening to Metsavennad by Untsakad. Its one of the most well known songs by Estonians.

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