L 8

Early version, 5. Ucca, ucca, ég az ucca

Hungarian Folk Songs [Volume I], Nos. 1–10 for voice and piano (1906, rev. 1938; BB 42)

Widely known melody: it is a popular art song composed by Elemér Szentirmay (1836–1908), included in the folk play Az öreg béres [The old farmhand] (1881) by Vilmos Győry.

Ucca, ucca, ég az ucca, messze látszik a lángja;
Piroslik a, piroslik a kedves babám orcája.
Nem titok, kimondom:
Összeölel, összecsókol engem az én galambom.

The street, the street, the street is on fire, you can see the flames from afar.
Rosy are, rosy are my dear sweetheart’s cheeks.
It’s no secret, I’ll say it,
My beloved lavishes hugs and kisses on me.