On a wagon bound and helpless
lies a calf who is doomed to die.
High above him flies a swallow,
soaring gaily through the sky.
	
Wind laughs in the cornfield
laughs with all his might.
Laughs and laughs the whole day through
and half way through the night.
Dona, dona, dona, dona
Dona, dona, dona, na
Dona, dona, dona, dona
Dona, dona, dona, na

Now the calf is softly crying:
"Tell me, wind, why do you laugh?
Why can't I fly like the swallow
Why did I have to be a calf?"

Wind laughs in the cornfield,
laughs with all his might.
Laughs and laughs the whole day through
and half way through the night.
Dona, dona, dona, dona
Dona, dona, dona, na
Dona, dona, dona, dona
Dona, dona, dona, na

Calves are born and soon are slaughtered,
with no hope of being saved
only those with wings like swallows
will not ever be enslaved
Wind laughs in the cornfield.
laughs with all his might.
Laughs and laughs the whole day through
and half way through the night.
Dona, dona, dona, dona
Dona, dona, dona, na
Dona, dona, dona, dona
Dona, dona, dona, na