A traditional healing song from Caucasus Georgia, addressed to the supernatural beings that were dreaded more than any others. The room where an ill child lay was strewn with flowers and lit with candles, while the women caring for the child would sing. This was all part of creating calm and beauty with which to appease the 'lords' (bat'onebi), a euphemism for contagious diseases like measles, mumps and smallpox, which exacted a horrible toll of death and disfigurement among the children of the Caucasus.
The song should be sung slowly and gently.
lyrics
Oh lords, help, have mercy, oh lords
Beautiful lords, bedecked with violets and roses
White sheep and a herd of goats; a lamb came jumping
The lords enjoyed this, and turning away, left us
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