Original Text
as sung by M. Ramskeid |
Translation
by John Irons |
1. Olaf han va i Voxtro
han va som ein Seljuronne
Far aa Mor dei ont ho væl
ifra han tala kunne. |
Olaf he was a fine young man
like a sallow bush the same
Father and mother they wished him well
from the time that he spoke their name. |
2. Olaf han va i Voxtrun
han va som ein Seljuteine
Fair aa Moir dei ont ho væl
fraa en kom i Heimi. |
Olaf he was a fine young man
like a sallow twig the same
Father and mother they wished him well
from the time to this earth he came. |
3. Han la sæg ne om Joleftansqvællen
den stærkan Svevnen fæk
han vakna inkji för om Trettandagjen
daa Folkje i Kyrkjune gjæk. Aa dæ va Olaf Aaknisonen
som sovi hæve saa længje. |
He laid him down a Christmas Eve
and soon fell fast asleep,
he did not wake till past Twelfth Night
when folk their church shall keep. And it was Olaf Aaknesonen
who slept a sleep so long. |
4. Han vakna kje för om Trettandagjen
daa Solli ran i Lii
idag vil æg te Kyrkjune
fortællje vil æg Draumane mine. Dæ va Olaf… |
He did not wake till past Twelfth Night
when sun’s dawn rays did gleam
today I will be off to church
I wish to tell my dream. And it was… |
5. Han vakna kje för om Trettandagjen
daa Soli ran i Lii
daa salade han ut fljotan Folen
aa la paa forgjylte Mile. Dæ va Olaf… |
He did not wake till past Twelfth Night
when sun’s rays ended his dream
then did he saddle his fine steed
its harness like gold did gleam. And it was... |
6. No stænde du för Altaren
aa læg ut Texten din
saa stænde æg i Kyrkjedynni
fortæle vil eg Drauman min. Dæ va Olaf… |
Now at the altar you do stand
and reel prayers off by the ream
I in porch outside will stand
where I will tell my dream. And it was... |
7. Fyste æg va i Uttexti
æg for ivi Tynnering
sonde va mi Skarlakskaape
aa Neglane a kvor min Fing. For Maanen skjine
aa Vægjene falle saa vie |
First on my journey I set out
o’er a plain of sand and thorns,
my scarlet cloak was sorely rent
from each finger the nail was torn. For the moon shines bright
and the roads are endless wide |
8. Saa va æg i Uttexti
æg for ivi Dyretraa
sonde reiv æg mi Skarlakskaape
aa Neglane a kvor mi Ta. For Maanen skjine… |
Then on my journey I set out
through the narrow ring of thorns
my scarlet cloak was sorely rent
from each toe the nail was torn. For the moon... |
9. Aa Gjallarbroi den æ vonde
aa inkje go aa gange
Bikkjune bite aa Ormane sting
aa Stutæn stænd aa stangar. For Maanen skjine… |
Then I arrived at Gjallar bridge
a bad place to go o’er
The hounds they bite the snakes they sting
and the bulls stand ready to gore. For the moon... |
10. Der saag æg dei Ormane tvei
dei hoggje kvorare i Kjæfte
va Syskjenboni i denni Heimen
dei mone kvorare ægte. For Maanen skjine… |
There did I see two snakes that fought
that struck at each other’s head
they were siblings in this world
that wanted each other to wed. For the moon... |
11. Æg hev gjængje Våsemyren
dæ hæv kje stai mæg nokon Grund
no hæv æg gjængje Gjallarbroi
mæ rapa mold i Mun. For Maanen skjine… |
Waded have I through miry bogs
where a foot can never touch ground
Crossed over Gjallar bridge have I
with grave-earth in my mouth. For the moon... |
12. Sæl æ den i Föesheimen
fattike gjæve Skor
han tar no inkje bærfötte gange
paa kvasse Heklemoe. For Maanen skjine… |
Blessed are those who here on earth
the poor man gave some shoes
He need not walk o’er the thorny heath
barefoot should he not choose. For the moon... |
13. Sæl æ den i Föesheimen
den fattike gjæve Rug
han tar inkje somloug gange
paa höge Gjallar Bru. For Maanen skjine… |
And blessed are those who here on earth
the poor man gave some rye
he need not take a dizzy walk
on Gjallar bridge so high. For the moon... |
14. Aa sæl saa æ en i Föesheimen
den fattike gjæve kaan
han tar inkje ræddas paa Gjallarbroi
fe kvasse Stute Hon. For Maanen skjine… |
And blessed are those who here on earth
the poor man gave some corn
he need not fear on Gjallar bridge
the fierce bull’s sharp-tipped horn. For the moon... |
15. Sæl æ den i Föesheimen
fattike gjæve Brau
han tar inkje ræddas i andre Heimen
fe lie noko nau. For Maanen skjine… |
And blessed are those who here on earth
the poor man gave some bread
he need not in the other realm
of any harm be in dread. For the moon... |
16. Sæl æ den i Föesheimen
fattike gjæve Klæi
han tar inkje ræddas i annen Heimen
anten for Spot hel Hæi. For Maanen skjine… |
And blessed are those who here on earth
the poor man clothes did give
he need not fear in the other realm
with hatred or mocking to live. For the moon... |
17. Saa tok æg paa ein Vettersti
der Isæne brunne blaa
men Gud skaut dæ i Hugjen min
æg vende der ifraa. For Maanen skjine... |
Then I set out on a winter’s path
where the ice was burning blue
but God put it clearly in my mind
so from there I fast withdrew. For the moon... |
18. Saa saag æg paa ei Vettersti
alt paa mi högre Hand
saa saag æg ne te Paradiis
der lyser ivi vie Land. For Maanen skjine… |
Then did I walk a winter’s path
all on my right hand
I caught a glimpse of paradise
that gleamed like a distant land. For the moon... |
19. Saa saag æg mæg te Paradiis
dæ mone inkje bære hænde
der kjænde æg atte Gulmo mi
mæ raude Gull paa Hænde. For Maanen skjine… |
Then did I walk in paradise
it could not have gone better for me
there with red gold on her hands
my godmother I did see. For the moon... |
20. Saa saag æg atte Gulmor mi
dæ mone kje bete gange
reis du dæg te Broksvalin
fe der sko Domen stande. For Maanen skjine… |
There did I see my godmother
it could not have been better for me
now set you out to Broksvalin
for there Judgment Day shall be. For the moon... |
21. Saa mödte æg Mannen
aa Kaapa den va blo
han bar eit Barn onde sin Arm
i Jori gjæk han te Knio. I Broksvalin der
sko Domen stande. |
Then it was I met the man
on his cloak was blood to see
a child he bore upon his arm
and sank down to his knee. In Broksvalin there
Judgment Day shall be. |
22. Saa møte æg Mannen
Kaapa den va af Bly
hans arme Saal i denne Heimen
va trong i Dyre Ti. I Broksvalin der… |
There it was I met a man
his cloak it was of lead
his sorry soul upon this earth
was miserly in famine. In Broksvalin there... |
23. Der kom færi norante
dæ tottes æg væra værst
fyry rei Grutte Graaskjæggje
han rei paa svartan Hest. I Broksvalin der… |
A mighty host came from the north
and now I feared the worst
With Grizzly Greybeard at its head
upon a jet-black horse. In Broksvalin there... |
24. Saa kom den færi sonnante
dæ tottes mæg væra bedst
fyry rei Sancte saale Mikkjel
aa næste Jesum Christ. I Broksvalin der… |
A mighty host came from the south,
and now I hoped the best
Archangel Michael at its head
closest to Jesus Christ. In Broksvalin there.... |
25. Saa kom den færi sonnante
han tottes me væra traa
aa fyry rei Sancte saale Mikkjel
aa Luren onde Armen laag. I Broksvalin der… |
A mighty host came from the south
and woeful it did ride
Archangel Michael at its head
his horn was by his side. In Broksvalin there... |
26. Dæ va Sancte saale Mikkjel
han blæs i Luren den lange
aa no sko alle Synde-Sjæline
fram te Domen stande. I Broksvalin der… |
Archangel Michael took his horn
and blew it loud and clear
And now for every living soul
does Judgment Day draw near. In Broksvalin there... |
27. Men daa skolv alle Synde Sjæline
som Aspelauv for Vinde
aa kvor den, kvor den Sjæl der va
dei gret for Syndine sine. I Broksvalin der… |
But then each sinful mortal shook
like aspen leaves in the wind
and each and every soul alive
shed tears for every sin. In Broksvalin there... |
28. Og det var Sancte saale Mikkjel
han vog i Skaalevigt
saa vog han alle Syndesjæline
hen til Jesum Krist. I Broksvalin der… |
Archangel Michael took the scales
and all did pay in kind,
all sinful souls that he there weighed
were to Jesus Christ consigned. In Broksvalin there... |
In Landstad's text follow
two verses of a more
modern nature.
They are left out here. |
|
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
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