Amerikan leski [American Widow] by Elisa Valkama (performed by Laulu Aika)

"Amerikan leski," composed by Elisa Valkama, an America widow in her own right, was published in 1905. Here, Finnish women are warned about the men who leave them behind on their way to America.

This version is performed by Laulu Aika out of St. Paul, Minnesota. You can find more of their work here: https://www.lauluaika.com/
Ralph Tuttila, mandolin
Samuel Breyer, cello
Lotta Kiuru-Ribar, vocals
Johanna Lorbach, violin
Eric Platt, mandolin
Tamara Baker, triangle, tambourine
Dan Kiuru-Ribar, guitar
Jaana Tuttila, nyckelharpa

On February 27, 2021, Songs of the Finnish Migration with Laulu Aika was the first event in the 2021 FinnFest music series and featured a discussion with Marcus Cederström and Tom DuBois from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, as well as a musical performance by Laulu Aika. Check out the performance with four additional songs:    • Songs of the Finnish Migration with L...  

If you're looking to sing at home with English lyrics, check out the translation of "American Widow" or "Song of an America-Widow" on pp. 52–55 in "Songs of the Finnish Migration: A Bilingual Anthology," available from University of Wisconsin Press: https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/5661.htm
Since he left me, that two-timing husband, I have no pangs of sorrow.
It’s a well-known thing in these here parts, an America widow.


If you are a good upstanding wife or a happily engaged young girl,
Never let your husband take to the road, or go traveling to the New World.


Many couples are no longer happy, it’s all because the man’s gone away.
America’s call has captured men’s hearts, while he left his wife there to stay.


Do not say it’s America’s doing, there’s all too many wives left behind
Ignominy places them in a prison, there to face censure unkind.


How I curse all those deceitful men whose ever-faithful brides’ hopes are lost.
Coldly they destroy their wives’ tender hearts just like a crop bitten by frost.


I am just such an abandoned widow, but I will never tell you my name.
My experiences I will relate, yes my own fate I will proclaim.


My dear husband he has gone and left me, he’s been away for eighteen long years.
For America he jilted me, oh he has left me to my tears.


He’s been gone my scoundrel of a husband, it’s coming up now on year twenty
He has left me weeping, all alone, with my cares and sorrows plenty.


No one else but God has heard my complaint, or looked upon my deep dejection.
I have had no man stand at my side, from life’s storms my first protection.


In these times I’m all alone and trying just to find a way to get on.
Matti Jaakko’s son is my husband’s name who to America is gone.


Divorce papers well he sent them here and I got them three years ago well nigh,
When they came to me I could plainly see that I could not on him rely.


My fate has been placed in the world’s hands and gossipers have made suggestions.
All my conduct has been scrutinized and of me there’s been cruel questions.


I have suffered all these many hardships, accustomed to them all I have grown.
I can tell you now a man like him I would never keep as my own.


Oh you women who’ve been jilted so, never visit friends or just socialize.
Never drink a drop, never have friends home, or you’ll sure face slander and lies.


Oh you jilted, never let some man with his smooth talk and his ways you beguile.
Never take his bait though a farmer great, or a young man with looks and style.


That man left me mournfully a’pining, his dear sweet mother has helped me out.
By my side she’s stayed she would be ashamed if ever people they found out.


I’m the daughter of a mean old crone, I can truly say no worse there can be.
I’m from Valkama and of my old man, I am telling things so truly.


All the suffering we abandoned women we will boldly read on Judgment Day.
For these many woes we must undergo, they will surely then have to pay.


Heed my counsel you forsaken women you who have been so blameless and wise.
If you want to be from such trouble free, never fall for all such men’s lies.


It’s the devil who ensnares good husbands and causes them their wives to betray.
With a wife at home there’s no need to roam or to lead another astray.


Many men they’d lock away their wives, they’d soon forget their poor wives so true.
They put on fine airs for the world to see, but what good does their pretense do?


From "Songs of the Finnish Migration: A Bilingual Anthology," translated by Thomas A. Dubois and Marcus Cederström. Reprinted by permission of the University of Wisconsin Press. © 2020 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved.

Learn more about the project at https://folklife.wisc.edu/

Thanks to Cris Anderson from Cris Anderson Productions, Inc. and goodstory for the wonderful work. Check them out at https://www.goodstory.us/

Thanks also to Mike Rivard and Vladimir Garrido-Biagetti.