The idea behind this was unique, and the educational value was high, but I got tongue-tied on pacing in a number of places... 3-5-3...

That due to two factors: for one, I substituted confess (2 syllables) for dance (1 syllable) at the end of each verse to convey the torture of Mr. Viljanen and also Verse 4, the submit button mixed two lines (2 and 3) together. I proofed and there was a gap, so I corrected it and yet it still got displayed wrong- ran together... not my fault.

He put up quite a show, and yet did not confess with bloodied mouth/ He spoke with tears of oppressive years, the fears, and what Communism was all about/ Treason he denied, treason he denied, only stating that which he believed/ Mr. Viljanen, Mr. Viljanen, confess!!!

I know well the original song. It is a Finnish Communist ballad, and tells the story of Leander Viljanen, a painter and the head of Red Guard of Tuusula parish. He was caught in the aftermath of Finnish Civil War, and tortured to death. The Finnish Civil War 1918 was an extremely bloody fight, and more Reds lost their lives in the aftermath than in the actual fighting. My family had men fighting on both sides.

Oh, BTW, 555. The translation was excellent, and follows quite well the original. Do you know Finnish, or how did you do it? The original, "Balladi toveri Viljasesta" can be found in YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_woJ2YgpTg

Believe it or not but I have the old communist record of the Ballad and it's translated lyrics in English. I took that info and integrated it into the Mr Bojangles song. Only flaw is that the lines are so long for that song that when I hit submit, the 4th verse lines 2&3 got mixed!!! That's why I posted the correct sequence above. Also Susanna you inspired me to look up the Viljanen name and these 2 songs are for you ;)

Surely you remember comrade Viljanen and the 'hotel of Okhrana' Surely you remember the cool June night, when Viljanen disappeared We were communists, and we still are We remember comrade Viljanen, who was murdered by the Okhrana When we were accused of treason, Viljanen only said Honourable Judge, if you excuse me, I will go out to laugh We were communists, and we still are We remember comrade Viljanen, who was murdered by the Okhrana There was something about Viljanen's smile, that annoyed the Okhrana When his torturers got tired, he told them: 'Let's go on' We were communists, and we still are We remember comrade Viljanen, who was murdered by the Okhrana Comrade Viljanen probably knew, what was awaiting him That early morning, when they came for him His teeth had been punched in, and his fingers broken But still there was no sign of humiliation, or the so important confession We were communists, and we still are We remember comrade Viljanen, who was murdered by the Okhrana He knew how prisoners were treated at the Okhrana's He might have become a dangerous witness The sun had already risen, and the moisture was gleaming When Viljanen stood by his grave, looking east He didn't cry for his own sake, he was only sorry for his brothers that the lords of Finland were getting killed on the fields of Carelia We were communists, and we still are We remember comrade Viljanen, who was murdered by the Okhrana The memory of Viljanen doesn't call us to crave vengeange in blood It calls us to bury what's old and to build something new It calls for the workers of Finland to join a great front It calls us to build a better world We are communists, and we are going to build it It is our international work and duty