Oleanna was a utopian experiment envisioned by violin virtuoso Ole Bull in the nineteenth century. He was very wealthy and purchased over 11,000 acres of land in Pennsylvania to form a perfect society. It didn’t work out so he returned to performing concerts.
Lyrics:
[D] Oh, to be in Oleanna!
[G] That’s where I’d like to [D] be,
[A] Than be bound in [D] Norway,
[A] And drag the chains of [D] slavery.
[D] Oh, to be in Oleanna!
[G] That’s where I’d like to [D] be,
[A] Than be bound in [D] Norway,
[A] And drag the chains of [D] slavery.
[Chorus:]
[D] Ole, Oleanna, [G] Ole, Ole [D] anna,
[A] Ole, Ole, [D] Ole, Ole, [A] Ole, Ole [D] anna.
In Oleanna land is free,
The wheat and corn just plant themselves,
Then grow a good four feet a day,
While on your bed you rest yourself.
Beer as sweet as Muchener
Springs from the ground and flows away,
The cows all like to milk themsleves
And hens lay eggs ten times a day.
Little roasted piggies
Just rush about the city streets,
Inquiring so politely if
A slice of ham you’d like to eat.
Aye, if you’d begin to live,
To Oleanna you must go,
The poorest wretch in Norway
Becomes a king in a year or so.