Doraji (folk song)

Doraji (Korean: 도라지) is a folk song popular among the ancient Korean peoples.^[1] The song originated from North Korea. Doraji means a wild flower found in Korea, which is usually called the Chinese bellflower in English.

Arirang and Doraji are the two folk songs that represent North and South Korea. They are both are performed in the triple meter.

Lyrics

The Korean lyrics and their translation are:

• (1절) 도라지 도라지 도라지 심심산천의 도라지　 한두 뿌리만 캐어도 대바구니로 반실만 되누나 (후렴) 에헤요 에헤요 에헤애야 어여라난다 지화자 좋다 저기 저 산 밑에 도라지가 한들한들

Doraji, doraji, doraji! I walk over the pass where doraji flowers bloom. It is a path that is familiar to me. Hey-ya, hey!

• (2절) 도라지 도라지 도라지 은율(殷栗) 　금산포(金山浦) 백도라지　한 뿌리 두 뿌리 받으니 산골에 도라지 풍년일세

Doraji, doraji, doraji! I look at these white flowers that remind me of my mother, in the evening with the twinkling stars. Hey-ya-hei!

• (3절) 도라지 도라지 도라지 강원도 금강산 백도라지　 도라지 캐는 아가씨들 손맵시도 멋들어졌네

Doraji, doraji, doraji! When I wear these white flowers on my hair, it reminds me of my young days and my dreams. Hey-ya, hey!

Chinese translation

This song is also sung by the ethnic Koreans in China:

• In Chinese: 道拉基　道拉基　白道拉基， 道拉基　道拉基　白道拉基， 道拉基　道拉基　白道拉基，白白的桔梗哟长满山野；只要挖出一两棵， 挖出桔梗装在筐里， 你借口去挖桔梗，就可以装满我的小菜筐里， 挖出给儒仅以裙包， 其实到情郎坟上去鲜花，哎嘿哎嘿唷　　哎咳唷　 你呀叫我多难过.

In CCTV New Year's Gala 2009, it was sung by Arirang Group, a boy band with four chaoxianzu members.

References

1. Atkins, E. Taylor (2010). Primitive Selves: Koreana in the Japanese Colonial Gaze, 1910-1945. University of California Press. pp. 163–164. ISBN 9780520266735.

Both Arirang and Doraji are well known in Japan also:

• Doraji (in Japanese)