# Le sekaj, sekaj smrečico

"Le sekaj, sekaj smrečico" ("Just Chop, Chop the Little Spruce") is a Slovenian folk song that follows a spruce from tree to boat: it is felled, hewn into a little boat, and sails away — leaving a girl weeping on the shore.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Slovenia |
| Sung in | Slovenian |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | Slovenian folk song; author unknown |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/le-sekaj-sekaj-smrecico/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (sl)

Le sekaj, sekaj smrečico,
ti drajla la la la,
da stesal si boš barčico,
ti drajla la la la.

### Verse 2 (sl)

Je smrečica posekana,
za barko je pripraljena.

### Verse 3 (sl)

Je barčica napravljena,
na morje je postaljena.

### Verse 4 (sl)

Odrin', odrin' od kraja preč,
ne boš me vid'la, ljub'ca, več.

### Verse 5 (sl)

Je barčica zaplavala,
je deklica jokala.

### English translation (en)

Just chop, chop the little spruce,
ti drajla la la la,
so you can hew yourself a little boat,
ti drajla la la la.

The little spruce is felled,
made ready for the boat.

The little boat is finished,
set upon the sea.

Push off, push off away from shore —
you won't see me again, my love.

The little boat sailed away,
and the girl was weeping.

## Common questions

**What is "Le sekaj, sekaj smrečico" about?**

The making of a boat, and a parting. Chop the little spruce, the song urges, so you can hew a little boat from it; the tree is felled, the boat is built and launched on the sea — and as it pushes off from shore ("you won't see me again, my love"), a girl is left weeping behind. The "ti drajla la la la" refrain runs through it.

**Why the sad ending?**

Because it is really a leaving song. The cheerful business of chopping and boat-building leads, step by step, to the boat sailing away and a loved one left on the shore — the old folk theme of setting off and leaving someone behind.

**Who wrote "Le sekaj, sekaj smrečico"?**

No author is recorded; it is a traditional Slovenian folk song, carried down by ear.

## Sources

- [Slovenske narodne pesmi — Le sekaj, sekaj smrečico](https://narodne-pesmi.si/pesmi/ljudske-pesmi-in-napevi/le-sekaj-sekaj-smreico/)