“Doraji (도라지)” is one of the most famous Korean folk songs. The song speaks about a mountain root vegetable called doraji. Growing up in East Tennessee, Elena was surrounded by many songs inspired by mountains and mountain life. When she first heard “Doraji (도라지),” Elena loved how the song felt so connected to the mountains, mountain life, and to food, which is why she created her own version of the traditional song that connects both Korean culture and Appalachian mountain songs.

  • Listen to “Doraji (도라지),” Track 3.3.
Track 3.3 – “Doraji (도라지),” Song
  • Sing the chorus melody to “Doraji” using English chorus Track 3.4.
Track 3.4 – “Doraji (도라지)” English Chorus
  • Learn the chorus in Korean, using pronunciation Track 3.5.

Track 3.5 – “Doraji (도라지)” Korean Chorus Pronunciation

  • Sing the melody and the Korean lyrics together using Korean chorus Track 3.6.

Track 3.6 – “Doraji (도라지)” Korean Chorus

  • The song features two traditional Korean instruments, the piri and the gayageum.
  • Listen to Tracks 3.7 and 3.8 to hear each instrument.

Track 3.7 – Piri Demo

Track 3.8 – Gayageum Demo

  • View the instruments using SG 22.

“Doraji (도라지)”

Doraji, doraji, doraji,

In the deep, deep mountains, white doraji

Though only one or two roots I pull

Slowly but surely my basket grows full
Eh-he-ya eh-he-ya, eh-he-ya,

eh-ya-la nan-da ji-wah-ja ja choh-da
Under your spell my heart melts away

Doraji, doraji, doraji,

Shim, shim, san john-eh bek doraji

han-dul buh-li-man keh-oh-do

de-ba kun-i chol, chol, chol da nohn-un-da

eh-he-ya, eh-he-ya, eh-he-ya

eh-ya-la nan-da ji-wah-ja ja choh-da

ol-shi-gu cho-gu-na neh sa-lang-ah

eh-he-ya, eh-he-ya, eh-he-ya

eh-ya-la nan-da ji-wah-ja ja choh-da

ne-ga ne-ga-jang, seul-i sal sal da nok-in-da

Doraji, doraji, doraji,

In the deep, deep mountains, white doraji

Though only one or two roots I pull

Slowly but surely my basket grows full

  • Elena’s version of “Doraji (도라지)” is sung in close harmonies.
  • Using the body scale on TG page 20 have students explore singing close and far harmonies.
  • Watch Elena sing close and far harmonies using the video resource below.

Doraji is a mountain root vegetable. Like carrots and potatoes, the doraji vegetable grows underground.

Doraji root is usually cooked and eaten as a namul, which is a way of seasoning vegetables in Korea. 

Doraji namul is said to have medicinal qualities for the lungs, which is why it is so popular in the mountains where breathing can be more challenging.

As a class, generate a list of words that might be used when cooking a recipe e.g., measure, dash, sprinkle, cup…

Brainstorm words that describe what your school day looks like (these will become the ingredients for your class recipe). Suggested prompts:

Brainstorm words that describe your class (these will become how you describe your class dish). Suggested prompts:

Example outcome: “take a dash of reading, a cup of love, a sprinkle of hard work and we have Ms. Smith’s fantastic, sweet, smart and hard working first grade class!”

Follow up questions for social-emotional awareness:

Add gayageum, harmony, namul, piri to the Musical Word Wall.

See Glossary

SG 22 – Discover Korean Instruments
SG 23 – Explore the Mountains
SG 24 – Write Your Favorite Recipe

Track 3.3 – “Doraji (도라지)” Song

Track 3.4 – “Doraji (도라지)” English Chorus

Track 3.5 – “Doraji (도라지)” Korean Chorus Pronunciation

Track 3.6 – “Doraji (도라지)” Korean Chorus

Track 3.7 – Piri Demo

Track 3.8 – Gayageum Demo