Rose Jermusyk
The Twelve Brothers
00:04:05 :: 00:05:00
Under a white flag,
we’d have been brothers;
under a red flag,
I’ve grown all alone.
Under a white flag,
I’d have know blue skies;
under a red flag,
I’ve twelve little clouds.
Twelve little coffins
locked in a back room,
twelve little princes
out in the wide world,
twelve little coffins
(each with a pillow),
twelve elder brothers
I’m meant to bring home.
Twelve little pillows
Mother kept only,
though her twelve princes
those ten years had grown.
Out in the wide world
I sought my brothers;
promised our mother
I’d bring them back home.
Twelve brothers older
I found in the wood.
Twelve lovely lilies
I thought to give them.
Twelve raven brothers
flew away needing
seven years’ silence
to bring them back home.
I was a young girl
when the king loved me.
I’m just a young girl
his fear has betrayed.
How lucky I am
my brothers found me,
and all is mended
so we can go home.
Twelve elder brothers
I meant to bring home.
Promised our mother
I’d bring them back home.
Seven years’ silence
to bring them back home.
Now all is mended
and we can go home.
I was a young girl
when the king loved me.
I’m just a young girl
his fear has betrayed.
Twelve elder brothers
I meant to bring home.
Now all is mended,
please, let us go home.