The line "Oi, kad aš gertau dieną, naktelę" translates to 'Oh, if I could drink all day and night' in English, offering a glimpse into the candid expressions of desire and longing that characterise much of Lithuanian folk tradition.

This lyric comes from a traditional Lithuanian folk song recorded by Jonas Basanavičius (1851-1927), a pivotal figure in the Lithuanian National Revival who devoted his life to documenting and preserving Lithuanian cultural heritage. The song was collected from villagers in Dziegcioriai during Basanavičius's extensive fieldwork in the late 19th century, a period when Lithuanian national identity was being consciously reclaimed and reasserted after centuries of political domination by neighbouring powers.

The song's theme of drinking reflects the social realities of rural life, where alcohol often featured prominently in celebrations, community gatherings, and as a means of coping with hardship. Folk songs addressing drinking frequently navigate complex emotional terrain, expressing everything from celebratory joy to melancholic escape from difficult circumstances.

This particular lyric's power lies in its directness and the universal human desire it captures—the wish to indulge without constraint or consequence. The expression of such yearnings in folk music provided a culturally sanctioned outlet for sentiments that might otherwise remain unspoken in everyday life.

Preserved by the Lithuanian Literature and Folklore Institute's Lithuanian Folklore Archive, this song represents an important element of Lithuania's intangible cultural heritage. Such archives play a crucial role in maintaining connections to traditional cultural expressions that might otherwise be lost in the transition to modern society.