This traditional Lithuanian folk song, recorded by the influential scholar Jonas Basanavičius (1851-1927) in the late 19th century, represents an important element of Lithuania's intangible cultural heritage. Sung by villagers from Dziegcioriai, the song exemplifies how cultural memory and identity were preserved through oral tradition during periods when Lithuanian national expression was suppressed under Tsarist Russian rule.

The title, which translates as "Quietly, Quietly the Nemunas River Flows," immediately establishes the central natural symbol of the song. The Nemunas River holds profound significance in Lithuanian cultural identity as the country's largest river and a defining geographical feature. In folk tradition, rivers often symbolise the passage of time, continuity, and connection to ancestral lands, making this reference rich with cultural meaning.

Lithuanian folk songs, known as dainos, typically feature distinctive musical characteristics, including modal scales, parallel harmonies, and regional variations in performance style. The lyrical content often addresses themes of nature, agricultural life, love, family relationships, or historical events, creating a comprehensive cultural archive of rural experience and values.

Basanavičius's work in documenting such cultural expressions was crucial to the Lithuanian National Revival movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a physician, folklorist, and national activist, he recognised that preserving Lithuania's distinct cultural heritage was essential to maintaining national identity during a period of intense Russification policies that restricted Lithuanian language and cultural expression.

The preservation of this song by the Lithuanian Literature and Folklore Institute ensures that this cultural expression remains accessible to current and future generations, maintaining connections to traditional ways of understanding and relating to the natural environment through artistic expression.