Name: Kata - Grímur á Miðalnesi (Faroese folk song) @Vikingskog
Uploaded: 2026-09-26T08:17:00-05:00
Duration: 8 min 17 s
Description: Kata - Grímur á Miðalnesi (Faroese folk song)

Kata - Grímur á Miðalnesi (Faroese folk song)

Vikingskog 2026-09-26 | Kata - Grímur á Miðalnesi (Faroese folk song)

Staffan var en stalledräng (Swedish folk song)

Vikingskog 2023-01-21 | Artist: Folk & Rackare

Turid Spildo - Haugebonden (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2022-12-24 | Artist: Turid Spildo
Drawing by J.Th. Lundbye
The song is a yule-themed song about Haugebonden.
Haugebonden = "Mound/barrow-farmer", a gnome living on the farm and belived in folk lore to be the first owner of the farm, typically he is given food under a specific tree on the property during Yule/christmas as a sacrifice.

Agnes Buen Garnås - No Æ Det Joli Au (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2022-12-24 | Artist: Agnes Buen Garnås
Painter: Hans Dahl
The song is about the various food they have prepared for jul/christmas.

Pirnales - Sven i rosengård (Swedish folk song)

Vikingskog 2022-12-03 | Artist: Pirnales
This is a short variant of the 'Sven i rosengård' ballad.
The story is that a son is late to return home, and when he arrives his mother asks him where has he been so long. He answers that he has been in the stable, giving the foals water. She asks him why his sword is bloody, and he answers that he has slain his brother. He says he will flee (this part is not in this variant). She asks him when will he return, and he says when the raven turns white, i.e never.

The ballad exist in all the 3 Scandinavian countries with different variants. Iceland also has it:
«Því flóir blóð á sverði þín,
einvalds son minn?»

«Ég hefi drepið mann í dag,
mín móðir mild undir hlíða»

And a similar ballad have existed in England:

«Why dois your brand sae drap wi bluid
Edward, Edward,
Why dois your brand sae drap wi bluid,
And why sae sad gang yee O?»
(Percys Reliques of Ancient English Poetry (1765))

Lyrics:
Hvan har du varit så länge, du Sven i Rosengård?
Jag har varit i ställe, I kära moder vår.
- I biden mig på rosenstig. I vänten mig ej mera.

Hvad har du gjort i ställe, du Sven i Rosengård?
Jag har vattnat fålar alle, I kära moder vår.

Hvi är ditt svärd så blodig, du Sven i Rosengård?
Jag slog ihjäl min broder, I kära moder vår.
- I biden mig på rosenstig. I vänten mig ej mera.

När får jag dig hemvänta, du Sven i Rosengård?
När korpen den blir hviter, I kära moder vår.

Och när blir korpen hviter, du Sven i Rosengård?
När svanen den blir svarter, I kära moder vår.
- I biden mig på rosenstig. I vänten mig ej mera.

English:
Where have you been for so long, Sven in Rosengård?
I have been to the stable, our dear mother.
-

What have you done in the stable, Sven in Rosengård?
I have watered the foals, our dear mother.

We are your sword so bloody, Sven in Rosengård?
I have beaten my brother, our dear mother.
-

When can I expect you home, Sven in Rosengård?
When the raven turns white, our dear mother.

And when will the raven turn white, Sven in Rosengård?
When the swan turns black, our dear mother.
-

Det Gingo Två Flickor (Swedish folk song)

Vikingskog 2022-10-01 | Artist: Gunnfjauns Kapell
Painter: Arthur Rackham
Shortly summarized the song is about two girls, one rich and one poor, who both want to marry the same rich man. They are out walking, the rich one is glad and the poor one is sorrowfull thinking she has no chance to marry the man. The rich one says to the poor one that the man will pick her because she's rich and that she should seek her equal (a poor man), meanwhile the rich man is eavesdropping on them.
He jumps out from his hiding place and takes the hand of the poor girl and says she shall be his and he shall hers.

Sågskära - Sven Nordman (Swedish folk song)

Vikingskog 2022-09-30 | Artist: Sågskära
Painter: John Bauer
This is a swedish variant of the 'Sven Svane' medieval ballad which i have posted Norwegian variants of before.
It's a riddle-song, Sven Svane(Also known as Sven Vondved, Sven Svanevit, Sven Nordman), the story is that Sven Svane is a knight or a warrior and while out travelling he meets a wanderer who challenges him to a game of riddles (the song are the riddles and the answers Sven gives). The various variants of the ballad varies a bit but all have the wanderer and the riddles. Generally the story, outside of the riddles, is that Sven is seeking vengeance on his fathers killers and he kill a lot of people, including his own mother who turns out to be a witch.

Other variants:
youtube.com/watch?v=Sldi1e3Go50
youtube.com/watch?v=l58FXLMCj2I
youtube.com/watch?v=_F0wWL2_ocU
youtube.com/watch?v=Ch8RWWw9F7k

Swedish info about the ballad https://musikverket.se/svensktvisarkiv/files/2017/06/Vislex_Sven_Svanevit.pdf

Magnus Holmström - Till farfar (Swedish folk music)

Vikingskog 2022-09-29 | Artist: Magnus Holmström
Painter: Adolph Tidemand
Instrument: Nyckelharpa

Leif Rygg - Tussebrureferda På Vossevangen(Norwegian folk)

Vikingskog 2022-07-15 | Artist: Leif Rygg

Camilla Granlien - Sven Svane (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2022-07-04 | Artist: Camilla Granlien
Painter: Theodor Kittelsen

Budeievise (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2022-06-24 | Painting: Hans Dahl

Heddal Stave Church in Norway

Vikingskog 2022-06-04 | ...

Tiriltunga - Aksel og Valborgs vise

Vikingskog 2022-04-17 | Artist: Tiriltunga
Painter: Arthur Rackham

Description of the song:

Aksel and Valborg were betrothed as children, but Prince Hagen falls in love with Valborg. He tries to have the betrothal invalidated. He talks to his confessor, Brother Knut, and the monk suggests that they all come to church. There he says that Aksel and Valborg can not marry. They have the same godmother, and thus they are spiritually related. The divorce took place through a symbolic and dramatic act: they cut across a cloth, a symbol for the sheet in the marriage bed. After that they had to go separate ways, and Valborg was bethrothed to Hagen against her will.

Both Aksel and Hagen have to go to war, and Hagen fell. Aksel avenges him, but loses his own life. Valborg goes to a monastery.

With 200 stanzas, "Aksel og Valborg" is our longest ballad. For good reasons, it has not lived only in oral tradition, but it has lived on paper as well. The oldest written record of it is from 1570.

This song exist in both danish, swedish and norwegian variants. This variant is quite shorter than the full song, only having 7 out of 200 stanzas.
The language of the lyrics in this version is in danish, though sung by a norwegian and with norwegian pronounciation, thus sounding quite different from actual danish. Danish was the official writing language in Norway at the time. A danish folk music researcher named Axel Olrik suggested the song might have originally have been created by a danish noble family living in Norway.

Sågskära - Konung Erik och Spåkvinnan (Swedish folk song)

Vikingskog 2022-03-05 | Artist: Sågskära
The song title means 'King Erik and the seeress'

Näcken och Sko-Ella (Swedish folk music)

Vikingskog 2022-01-26 | Artists: Eric Sahlström, Gösta Sandström
Instrument: Nyckelharpa
Title translates to 'The Nixie and Shoe-Ella'

Ella is mythical swedish woman known from stories around 1400-1500 and was said to be more evil than the devil himself, she's called Shoe-Ella because the devil gave her shoes after she completed a mission for him.
Here's a painting from 1487 showing the devil handing her the shoes using a long pole, as he did not dare to go near her:
http://www.dannemorabygden.se/skoell8.jpg

As for the story behind this tune and her connection to the Nixie i dont know and havent been able to find anything about it. The Nixie is known for being a excellent violin player and there are various folk songs in Norway and Sweden said to be composed by it.

Agnete og Havmannen (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2022-01-01 | Artist: Lajla Renate Buer Storli
Title means 'Agnete and the merman'

The song is about a woman, Agnete, who is walking across a bridge in England and is greeted by a merman in the sea below. He asks if she wants to be his wife, she says yes and he takes her down into the depths of the sea. They end up having many children together, but one day Agnete hear the church bells ringing. She travels to the church, but the merman comes after her and tries to get her back.

There are many variants of the song, this one is a quite shortened one and leaving out some details, there's some minor differences in the various variants.

Here's a more general description of the ballad from a Norwegian folk song book:

"Agnete crosses a bridge, and at the same time a merman appears from the sea. He asks if she wants to accompany him home to his kingdom, and Agnete answers yes. Agnete stays with the merman for many years and gives birth to several children. But one fine day she hears the church bells ringing, and she asks the merman for permission to go home and go to church. He agrees, but she must promise to return to her children, and moreover she must not follow the custom of the Christians, such as bending her knees and sitting in the church chair with her closest relatives. But Agnete acts contrary to what the merman has said. He hurries to the church to get her back, but she refuses, and in most cases he has to travel without her."

Ingebjør Sørbøen - Torekallvisa (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-11-10 | Artist: Ingebjør Sørbøen
This song is a old folk song of Þrymskviða, to my knowledge its the only Norwegian folk song that is about norse mythology.

The song follows the story of Þrymskviða; Thor (Torekall) came home from the forest and notices theives has stolen his hammer. Loki flies to Grimmeligård (in Jotunheim where the Jotuns live). The jotun Gremmil tells Loki that he has stolen the hammer and has it buried, if Thor wants it back he has to bring his youngest daughter so he can marry her.
Instead Loki makes Thor dress up as the bride and they travel to Jotunheim, during the feast Gremmil is astonished how much food the bride eats.
Gremmil then tells the small trolls(jotuns) to bring forth the hammer. They do so and puts it on the table in front of the bride. Thor takes the hammer and kills every jotun and then travel home to Åsgard.

The name explanation for Torekall is Tore == Thor, kall is dialect variant of karl which means man (like in huskarl/housecarl).

It is belived that the song is from the 1400s in Norway and Iceland(Þrymlur), it later spread to Denmark and Sweden so danish(Tor af Havsgård) and swedish (Hammarhämtningen) versions of it exist as well.

Daniel Kelly - Hind Horn (British folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-10-16 | Artist: Daniel Kelly
Painting: Arthur Rackham

Info about the ballad:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hind_Horn
gutenberg.org/files/44969/44969-h/44969-h.htm#Ballad_17

Isbrytaren, polska efter Byss-Kalle (Swedish folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-09-26 | Artists: Eric Sahlström, Gösta Sandström
Instrument: Nyckleharpa (Swedish key harp)
Picture: "Entry of Gustav Vasa in Stockholm, 1523" by Johan Gustaf Sandberg

Digital reconstruction of a norse pagan temple

Vikingskog 2021-09-17 | In 2020 during a archeological excavation in Ørsta in western Norway the remains of a structure was found that the experts interpret as a pagan temple. The video shows the location and a digital reconstruction of how it might have looked. Links with more info below.

"The University Museum of Bergen have undertaken archaeological excavations at Ose farm in Ørsta municipality, Western Norway. A large area has been opened, revealing traces of Iron Age settlement. Of particular interest are several longhouses from the Late Iron Age and Early Middle Ages.

The most spectacular find from the excavation however is a building, situated at the western end of the site. The building is 14 meters long and 7 meters wide. It is supported by sturdy wall posts, showing a bow walled structure with rounded end. The interior of the building lacks the typical double rows of roof-supporting posts in its construction, commonly observed in the contemporary three-aisled longhouses. Instead, the inner center is comprised of four large posts situated 3 x 3.5 meters apart.

A handful of Southern Scandinavian buildings from central Late Iron Age sites such as Uppåkra in Southern Sweden and Tissø in Denmark display the same construction as the building at Ose. Although the settlement at Ose pales in comparison to these sites in terms of scale, the building must also be interpreted a pagan temple.
Evidence of the worship of the old Nordic gods is previously known elsewhere in Norway, but this is the first find of a well-preserved temple. Consequently, the Ose find is unparalleled in a Norwegian context."

lifeinnorway.net/sensational-find-of-pagan-temple-remains-in-norway
livescience.com/ancient-viking-temple-to-thor-odin-unearthed.html
dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8821137/1-200-year-old-pagan-temple-used-animal-sacrifices-worship-Old-Norse-Norway.html

Music by Halandir. Digital reconstruction by University of Bergen.

Daniel Kelly - The Outlandish Knight (British folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-09-16 | Artist: Daniel Kelly open.spotify.com/artist/259ryE0pBJDAOayk4NK5KK
Info about the song: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Isabel_and_the_Elf_Knight
Lyrics:

1 An outlandish knight came from the north lands,
And he came a-wooing to me;
He told me he'd take me unto the north lands,
And there he would marry me.

2 'Come fetch me some of your father's gold,
And some of your mother's fee,
And two of the best nags out of the stable,
Where they stand thirty and three.

3 She fetched him some of her father's gold,
And some of her mother's fee,
And two of the best nags out of the stable,
Where they stood thirty and three.

4 She mounted on her milk-white steed,
He on the dapple grey;
They rode till they came unto the sea-side,
Three hours before it was day.

5 'Light off, light off thy milk-white steed,
And deliver it unto me;
Six pretty maids have I drowned here,
And thou the seventh shall be.

6 'Pull off, pull off they silken gown,
And deliver it unto me;
Methinks it looks to rich and too gay
To rot in the salt sea.

7 'Pull off, pull off thy silken stays,
And deliver them unto me;
Methinks they are too fine and gay
To rot in the salt sea.

8 Pull off, pull off thy Holland smock,
And deliver it unto me;
Methings it looks to rich and gay
To rot in the salt sea.

9 'If I must pull off my Holland smock,
Pray turn thy back unto me;
For it is not fitting that such a rogue
A naked woman should see.'

10 He turned his back towards her
And viewed the leaves so green;
She caught him round the middle so small,
And tumbled him into the stream.

11 He bobbed high and he bobbed low,
Until he came to the side;
'Catch hold of my hand, my pretty fair maid,
And I will make you my bride, my bride,
Yes I will make you my bride.'

12 'Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted man,
Lie there instead of me;
Six pretty maids have you drowned here,
And the seventh has drowned thee.'

13 She mounted on her milk-white steed,
And led the dapple grey;
She rode till she came to her own father's hall,
Three hours before it was day.

14 The parrot being in the window so high,
Hearing the lady, did say,
'I'm afraid that some ruffian has led you astray,
That you have tarried so long away.'

15 'Don't prittle nor prattle, my pretty parrot,
Nor tell no tales of me;
Thy cage shall be made of hte glittering gold,
Although it is made of a tree.'

16 The king being in the chamber so high,
And hearing the parrot did ay,
'What ails you, what ails you, my pretty parrot,
That you prattle so long before day?'

17 'It's no laughing matter,' the parrot did say,
'That so loudly I call unto thee,
For the cats have got into the window so high,
And I'm afraid they will have me.'

18 Well turned, well turned, my pretty parrot,
Well turned, well turned, for me;
Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold,
And the door of the best ivory.'

Reidun Horvei - Vøttranotté (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-09-03 | Artist: Reidun Horvei
Painter: Theodor Kittelsen

Gard Nergaard - Så fere me med hoyst (Norwegian folk music)

Vikingskog 2021-09-03 | Artist: Gard Nergaard
Painter: Hans Dahl

Harald/Mari Foss - Kultan (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-08-23 | Artists: Harald + Mari Foss
Painter: Hans Dahl

Harald Foss - Tarall (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-08-23 | Artist: Harald Foss
Painter: Kjell Midthun

Bukkehorn (Norwegian folk music)

Vikingskog 2021-08-08 | Artist: Dont know
Painting: 'Balder' by Johan Egerkrans
Instrument: Buck horn, a Norwegian folk music instrument of goat horn

Harald Foss - Hav megin, mikið leynit

Vikingskog 2021-08-08 | Artist: Harald Foss
Painter: Harald Damsleth (illustration of King Harald Hårfagre)

The Knight and the Shepherd’s Daughter (English folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-08-02 | Artist: 5 Hand Reel
Lyrics:
Oh it’s of a shepherd’s daughter
Keeping sheep all on the hill-o
And by there comes a king’s fair knight
And he would have his will.

He’s ta’en her by the middle sma’
And by the silken goon-o
And he has had his will before
He rose her up again.

“Now that you’ve had your will o’ me
Come tell yo me your name-o
So when our bairnie it is born
I might call him the same.”

“Oh some they call me Jack,” he said
“And some they call me John-o
But when I’m at the King’s high court
They call me Willful Will.”

He’s mounted on his milk-white steed
And then away he did ride-o
She’s kilted her petticoat round her knee
And run at the horse’s side.

And when she came to the waterside
She bowed her head and swam-o
And when she came to the other side
She took to her heels and ran.

When she came to the King’s high court
She tirled at the pin-o
And wha was there but the King himself
To let the fair maid in.

“Good morning to you, fair maid,” he cried.
“Good morning, sir,” says she-o
“Have ye a knight intae your hall
This day has robbèd me?”

“Has he robbed you o’ your gold
Or any o’ your purse?”
“No, he’s robbed me of my maidenhead
And that’s a damned sight worse!”

“Well, if he be a married man
Then hangèd he will be-o
But if he be a single man
His body I’ll give to thee.”

The King’s called out his merry men
By one by two by three-o
And Willie was once the foremost man
But last behind come he.

And he came crippled and he came blind
Came fourfold o’er a tree-o
But be he crippled or be he blind
The very same mannie was he.

“Had I drunk the well-water
When I had drink the wine-o
To have a shepherd’s daughter
For to be a true lover of mine.”

But when they came intae the kirk
The joke was to be seen
For she was the Laird of Fyvie’s lass
And he was a squire’s son.

Harald Foss - Rolandskvadet (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-08-02 | Artist: Harald Foss
Lyrics:

Seks mine jarlar heime vera, gøyme det gullet balde,
Andre seks på heidningalando då svinga dei jørni kalde!

- Rida dei ut av Franklandet med dyre dros i sadel,
Bles i luren Olivant på Ronsalavollen -

Runde dei opp sine silkjesegl høgt i sigalråe,
Sigla dei ut åt heidningalando i vikune ein og tvåe.

- Rida dei ut av Franklandet med dyre dros i sadel,
Bles i luren Olivant på Ronsalavollen -

Årene og ankaret tok inn på kvite sand:
Det var Roland, konungafrenden, trødde den fysste på land.

- Rida dei ut av Franklandet med dyre dros i sadel,
Bles i luren Olivant på Ronsalavollen -

Slogest dei utpå Ronsarvollen i dagane två og trjå;
Blåmennan fall for Rolandssverd som gav seg fyri ljåe.

- Rida dei ut av Franklandet med dyre dros i sadel,
Bles i luren Olivant på Ronsalavollen -

Fram så søkte blåmann-fjøldi, skygde fyri sole;
Reddast var ein jamningen bad Roland blåse i hornet.

- Rida dei ut av Franklandet med dyre dros i sadel,
Bles i luren Olivant på Ronsalavollen -

Roland sette luren fyr blogga munn, så bles han i med vreide;
Ljoden ber ivi hav og fjell, i trio dagar av leide.

- Rida dei ut av Franklandet med dyre dros i sadel,
Bles i luren Olivant på Ronsalavollen -

Det var Magnus kongjen, no set han i å gråta:
Kva tru vantar frenden min? No høyrer eg luren låta!

- Rida dei ut av Franklandet med dyre dros i sadel,
Bles i luren Olivant på Ronsalavollen -

Det var Magnus kongjen,
Skundar han sin ferd:
Daud låg Roland konunga-frenden,
Heldt i hand sitt sverd.

- Rida dei ut av Franklandet med dyre dros i sadel,
Bles i luren Olivant på Ronsalavollen -

Heim kom Magnus kongjen.
Og settest dei alle traude.
Skipet var fullt av sylv og gull,
Og heidningan låg att daude.

- Rida dei ut av Franklandet med dyre dros i sadel,
Bles i luren Olivant på Ronsalavollen -

----------------------Translation ----------------------
"Six of my earls will stay home, to guard the precious gold
The other six will swing their cold iron in heathen lands"

-They rode out of the Frankish lands on saddled beasts
Blow your horn Olivant at the Roncevaux Pass -

They raised their square rig high on the yard
They sailed out to the heathen lands for two workweeks.

-They rode out of the Frankish lands on saddled beasts
Blow your horn Olivant at the Roncevaux Pass -

The oars and the anchor reached white sand:
It was Roland, the king's kinsman, who was the first ashore.

-They rode out of the Frankish lands on saddled beasts
Blow your horn Olivant at the Roncevaux Pass -

They fought at the Roncevaux Pass for two to three days;
The bluemen fell before Roland's sword like grass before a sickle.

-They rode out of the Frankish lands on saddled beasts
Blow your horn Olivant at the Roncevaux Pass -

Then came the army of bluemen, so many they blocked the sun;
Most frighten was a peer begging Roland to blow his horn.

-They rode out of the Frankish lands on saddled beasts
Blow your horn Olivant at the Roncevaux Pass -

Roland put the horn to his bloodied mouth, and gave a fury blow;
The sound range over mountains & seas, for three days & nights.

-They rode out of the Frankish lands on saddled beasts
Blow your horn Olivant at the Roncevaux Pass -

Go quick“ take with you the strongest companions,
See if you can take Dvelgedolgen of Rolands hand”

-They rode out of the Frankish lands on saddled beasts
Blow your horn Olivant at the Roncevaux Pass -

The horn reached King Charlemagne, immediately he got worried:
"What happened to my kinsman? I hear the sound of his horn!"

-They rode out of the Frankish lands on saddled beasts
Blow your horn Olivant at the Roncevaux Pass -

It was King Charlemagne,
who found his kin:
Roland the king’s kinsman laying dead,
holding on to his sword

-They rode out of the Frankish lands on saddled beasts
Blow your horn Olivant at the Roncevaux Pass -

King Charlemagne returned home,
And everyone with him was exhausted.
The ship was filled with silver and gold
And all the heathens layed behind dead

-They rode out of the Frankish lands on saddled beasts
Blow your horn Olivant at the Roncevaux Pass -

Emma Björling - Herr Hillebrand (Swedish folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-08-01 | Artist: Emma Björling
Lyrics:
Herr Hillebrand han rider uppå Lena lillas gård
- Vore jag själver ung som en lilja -
Ute för honom Lena lilla hon står
- I minnes så väl jungfru Lena -

Herr Hillebrand han räcker vit hand ifrån sig
- Vore jag själver ung som en lilja -
Lena lilla, Lena lilla troloven I mig
- I minnes så väl jungfru Lena -

Intet mera aktar jag Herr Hillebrands ord
- Vore jag själver ung som en lilja -
Än jag aktar skarn under mina skor
- I minnes så väl jungfru Lena -

Lena lilla rider långt ute för land
- Vore jag själver ung som en lilja -
Där möter hon själve Herr Hillebrand
- I minnes så väl jungfru Lena -

Herr Hillebrand han tager Lenas vitgula lock
- Vore jag själver ung som en lilja -
Den sveper han om sin sadelknopp
- I minnes så väl jungfru Lena -

Herr Hillebrand han rider i dagarna tre
- Vore jag själver ung som en lilja -
Så fort som han red måste Lena springa med
- I minnes så väl jungfru Lena -

Herr Hillebrand han rider till sin moders gård
- Vore jag själver ung som en lilja -
Ute för honom hans moder står
- I minnes så väl jungfru Lena -

O höre du Herr Hillebrand vad jag säger dig
- Vore jag själver ung som en lilja -
Hvi förer du så bleker en brud hem med dig
- I minnes så väl jungfru Lena -

Hvi skall hon ej vara vit, hvi skall hon ej vara blek
- Vore jag själver ung som en lilja -
Ty hon haver sprungit i dagarna tre
- I minnes så väl jungfru Lena -

De lade Lena lilla i praktfullan grav
- Vore jag själver ung som en lilja -
Och Hillebrand i mörkaste fängsel övergav
- I minnes så väl jungfru Lena -

--------- Translation ---------
Sir Hillebrand rides in to the courtyard of little Lena’s mansion.
- If only I was young as a lily! -
Lena greets him there.
- You well remember Lena -

Sir Hillebrand reaches out his pure, white hand:
- If only I was young as a lily! -
“Little Lena, little Lena, be my betrothed!”
- You well remember Lena -

I value Sir Hillebrand’s words
- If only I was young as a lily! -
less than I value the dirt underneath my shoes!
- You well remember Lena -

Little Lena rides far out on the land.
- If only I was young as a lily! -
There she meets Sir Hillebrand himself.
- You well remember Lena -

Sir Hillebrand takes little Lena’s golden lock of hair
- If only I was young as a lily! -
and ties it to the pommel of his saddle.
- You well remember Lena -

Sir Hillebrand rides for three long days.
- If only I was young as a lily! -
As fast as he rides, Lena needs to run along.
- You well remember Lena -

Sir Hillebrand rides to his mother’s mansion.
- If only I was young as a lily! -
His mother greets him there.
- You well remember Lena -

Listen, Sir Hillebrand, to what I’m saying:
- If only I was young as a lily! -
”Why do you bring a bride as pale and white with you?”
- You well remember Lena -

”Why wouldn’t she be white, why wouldn’t she be pale?
- If only I was young as a lily! -
She’s been running for three full days.”
- You well remember Lena -

They lay little Lena in a magnificent tomb
- If only I was young as a lily! -
and throw Sir Hillebrand in a dark prison dungeon.
- You well remember Lena -

Gaelic folk song - The Mermaids Croon / Crònan na maighdinn-mhara

Vikingskog 2021-07-16 | Singer: Joanne McIver
Composer: Jean Luc Lenoir
Painter: Arthur Rackham

"This song is from Marjory Kennedy - Fraser’s “Songs of the Hebrides”. These are three
verses from a traditional song which would have had many more verses. The remainder of the
verses probably lie in an archive somewhere but we can only guess what the story might be.
Reading Marjory Kennedy – Fraser’s footnotes tend to suggest that the mermaid fell in love
with a mortal man and had child by him. She cannot be united with her lover, all that remains
of their love is her daughter. This is her lullaby.

Part of the notes are as follows:
The Swan is “the daughter of the twelve moons” (Nighean an da luan deug) the Seals are “the
children of the King of Lochlann [Norway] under spells” (Clann Righ Lochlainn fo gheasa)
and the Mallard is under the Virgin’s protection; hence all three are “sacred”, and not even
the reivers would meddle with the “tenderling” left under such protection."

Lyrics:
Ho! mo nigh’n dubh
He! mo nigh’n dubh
Mo nighean dubh
‘S tu mo chuachag.

Ho! mo nigh’n dubh
He! mo nigh’n dubh
Mo nighean dubh
‘S tu mo chuachag.

Caidil a luaidh
Fo chobhair nan stuadh
Air bodha na suain
'S do bhruadar 's a' cheòban

Caidil a luaidh
Fo chobhair nan stuadh
Air bodha na suain
'S do bhruadar 's a' cheòban

Ho! mo nigh’n dubh
He! mo nigh’n dubh
Mo nighean dubh
‘S tu mo chuachag.

Ho! mo nigh’n dubh
He! mo nigh’n dubh
Mo nighean dubh
‘S tu mo chuachag.

Caidil a ghraidh
O caidil mu thràth
Is t'athair air bhàigh
Is fadal mo phòig air

Caidil a ghraidh
O caidil mu thràth
Is t'athair air bhàigh
Is fadal mo phòig air

Ho! mo nigh’n dubh
He! mo nigh’n dubh
Mo nighean dubh
‘S tu mo chuachag.

Ho! mo nigh’n dubh
He! mo nigh’n dubh
Mo nighean dubh
‘S tu mo chuachag.

Eala rid' thaobh
Is roin os do chionn
Lacha Mhoire 's a' chaol
'S cha'n fhaobar bhrònag

Eala rid' thaobh
Is roin os do chionn
Lacha Mhoire 's a' chaol
'S cha'n fhaobar bhrònag

--- Translation ---:

Ho! My dark haired girl
He! My dark haired girl
My dark haired girl
You are my little chalice of my love

Ho! My dark haired girl
He! My dark haired girl
My dark haired girl
You are my little chalice of my love

Sleep my darling
Under the foam of the waves
On the reef of sleep
Your dream is of the sea spray

Sleep my darling
Under the foam of the waves
On the reef of sleep
Your dream is of the sea spray

Ho! My dark haired girl
He! My dark haired girl
My dark haired girl
You are my little chalice of my love

Ho! My dark haired girl
He! My dark haired girl
My dark haired girl
You are my little chalice of my love

Sleep beloved
O sleep now
Your father is loved
My kisses long for him

Sleep beloved
O sleep now
Your father is loved
My kisses long for him

Ho! My dark haired girl
He! My dark haired girl
My dark haired girl
You are my little chalice of my love

Ho! My dark haired girl
He! My dark haired girl
My dark haired girl
You are my little chalice of my love

A swan by your side
And seals above you
Mallards in the straits
My sorrowful one cannot be stolen

A swan by your side
And seals above you
Mallards in the straits
My sorrowful one cannot be stolen

Kongero - Bältet (Swedish folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-07-16 | Artist: Kongero

Nordman - Herr Olof och Havsfrun / Sir Olof and the mermaid

Vikingskog 2021-07-02 | Swedish folk song
Artist: Nordman
Painter: Arthur Rackham
"In most variants, a mermaid comes to a young knight and while he is asleep she asks him to come to her home in the river (or sea). The next day he goes out riding, falls into the river, and so arrives at the mermaid's side. In most variants he receives a drink which makes him forget his family and fiancée and stay with the mermaid.

In some Norwegian versions, instead of a mermaid the supernatural woman is an elf in a mountain. In some Swedish versions, the drink is poisonous and the knight dies. In others he escapes by playing his harp."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ungersven_och_havsfrun

Lyrics:
Herr Olof han sadlar sin gångare grå
Han rider den till havsfruns gård
Herr Olof han red och guldsadeln flöt
Han sjunker til havsfruns gård
Men när som han kommer på havsfruns gård
där ute för honom havsfrun står.

Välkommen, välkommen herr Olof till mig
I femton år har jag väntat på dig
Var är du födder och var är du buren
Var haver du dina hovkläder skuren

På Konungens gård är jag födder och buren
Där haver jag mina hovkläder skuren
Där har jag fader och där har jag mor
Och där har jag syster och bror

Jo där har jag åker och där har jag äng
Och där står uppbäddad min brudesäng
Där har jag också min fästemö
Med henne vill leva och dö

Men kom riddar Olof och följ med mej in
Och drick ur min kanna det klaraste vin
Var är du födder och var är du buren
Var haver du dina hovkläder skuren

Jo här är jag födder och här är jag buren
Och här haver jag mina hovkläder skuren
Här har jag fader och här har jag mor
Här har jag syster och bror

Men var har du åker och var har du äng
Och var står uppbäddad din brudesäng
Var haver du din fästemö
Med henne vill leva och dö

Jo här har jag åker och här har jag äng
Och här står uppbäddad min brudesäng
Här har jag också min fästemö
Med dej vill jag leva och dö

----------

English:
Sir Olof has saddled his good grey mare,
And off he has ridden to the mermaid's lair.
His saddle of gold, floated high on the waves
And down sank Sir Olof to the mermaid's embrace.

"O welcome, Sir Olof, and welcome to me!
Full fifteen years I have waited for thee.
"Where were you born, and where you raised,
And where were your courtly garments made?"

"Twas in the king's castle I was born and raised,
And it's there that my courtly garments were made.
"There lives my father, and there lives my mother,
And there live my sister and brother."

"There are my fields and there are my lands,
And there is the place where my bridal bed stands.
"There is the place where my true love does lie,
With whom I have sworn to live and to die."

"Come in now, Sir Olof, sit down by me here,
And drink from my goblet of wine so clear.
"Now where were you born, and where were you raised,
And where were your courtly garments made?

"Here I was born, and here I was raised,
And here is where my courtly garments were made.
"Here lives my father, and here lives my mother,
And here are my sister and brother."

"But where are your fields and where are your lands,
And where in the world does your bridal bed stand?
"Where in the world does your true love lie,
With whom you will live and die?"

"Here are my fields and here are my lands.
Here is the place where my bridal bed stands.
"Here is the place where my true love does lie,
With you I will live and with you I will die."

Slaka Balladforum - Herr Mannelig (Swedish folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-06-26 | Artist: Slaka Balladforum
Herr Mannelig (also known as Bergatrollets frieri "The Courting of the Mountain Troll") is a Swedish folk ballad that tells the story of a female mountain troll (bergatroll) who proposes marriage to a young human man. The troll is trying to convince "Sir Mannelig" (Herr Mannelig) to marry her. She offers him many great gifts but he refuses her.

Guten og Huldra (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-06-17 | Artists: Eivind Bjørke, Magnhild Aaker Gundersen
Painter: Theodor Kittelsen
The song is about a boy meeting a hulder and features the dialogue they have en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulder
One of my favorite folk songs.

Lyrics:
Ko hejter du jenta i saueflokken,
Som bles i horn og bind på sokken?

Namnet mit sym som and på eit vatn;
Ro over, du gut under bukskinnshatten!

Ko hejter då far din og hejmen du ejgr?
Eg har inkje set deg på kyrkjuvegr.

Far min er druknad, og garden hev brunnet,
Og vegen til kyrkja eg alder har funnet.

Og er du ei huldr, so lyt du meg spara;
Men er du ei jente, so skund deg å svara.

Eg drøymde, du kom hit; - hej, skund deg og tak meg;
Nej, inkje der yver; - eg står like bak deg.

Here's a (albeit rough) literal translation to english:

Boy:
What is your name, you girl among that flock of sheep,
you who blew the horn and is sewing a sock?

Hulder:
My name swim, like a duck on a water;
Row over, you boy in the buckskin-hat!

Boy:
What then is the name of your father and the home you own?
I have not seen you on the road to church.

Hulder:
My father has drowned, and the farm has burned.
And the road to church i have never found.

Boy:
If you are a Huldr, please spare me;
But if you are a girl, hurry and answer me.

Hulder:
I dreamt you came here; - hey, hurry and take me;
No, not over there; - im standing right behind you.

Inger Marie Lien Rust - Å nei, der høyre`e kyre mi (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-06-08 | Artist: Inger Marie Lien Rust
Painter: Anders Askevold

Inger Marie Lien Rust - Høgt uppi rusten (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-05-30 | Artist: Inger Marie Lien Rust
Painter: Joachim Frich

Inger Marie Lien Rust - Kubbestollåtten (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-05-26 | Artist: Inger Marie Lien Rust
Painter: Hans Gude

Inger Marie Lien Rust - Gygre sat på Storestein (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-03-28 | Artist: Inger Marie Lien Rust
The title means 'The gýgr sat upon Storestein'. Storestein = a large stone.
A gýgr/gygre is a female jotun or giantess in Scandinavian folklore and mythology and often mentioned in Norwegian folk songs and stories.

This song is telling of a giantess sitting on this particular stone and calling home her goats by name.
The goats in the picture is of a old, unique (and endangered) Norwegian goat race called Kystgeit (coast-goat).

Kjeringji med sleiven (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-03-26 | Artists: Bodil Haug, Liv Tanche-Larsen, Torill Kvalvågnes, Gunnlaug Lien Myhr, Inger Marie Lien Rust
The instrument heard is a langeleik, a norwegian string instrument.

Liv Tanche-Larsen - Stundo e no kjerringji go (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-03-07 | Artist: Liv Tanche-Larsen
Painter: Emma Normann
The song title means 'Sometimes my wife is good', the lyrics is a man singing about his wife, that she sometimes gives him too little food, that she cant sew cloths etc.

Ranarim - Fager som en ros (Swedish folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-03-06 | Arist: Ranarim
Painting: Adolph Tidemand (Norwegian national romantic painter), the painting depicts a young Norwegian lady preparing for her wedding.

Arve Moen Bergset - Velkomne med æra (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-03-02 | Artist: Arve Moen Bergset
Painter: Adolph Tidemand (A norwegian national-romantic painter)
This short song is a very local folk song that was used only among three neighboring farms at a place called Tveitt. The short song was sung as a welcome-song when the people from the two other farms joined up with the third to celebrate some specific event together, like Yule.

The title translated to english is 'Welcome with honour' and the lyrics goes like:

With honour we welcome thee
Here shall we sit
Sit in god's peace
Us neigbours three

The Grimsby Lads (British folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-02-15 | Artists: Eddie, Finbar Furey

Eli Storbekken - Ha du sjett norra gamal kjærring (Norwgeian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-02-09 | Artist: Eli Storbekken
Painter: Hans Dahl

Sven-Bertil Taube - Kan du sätta en potät (Swedish folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-02-08 | Artist: Sven-Bertil Taube
Swedish folk song about planting potatoes

Bergeners - Anne Madam (Norwegian shanty)

Vikingskog 2021-02-08 | Artist: Bergeners
Painter: John William Edy
The shanty is about a woman named Anne, from Bergen (Norway). The painting is also of Bergen, in 1800.

Mandal-sjanti (Norwegian shanty)

Vikingskog 2021-02-07 | Artist: Det Norske Sjømannskor
This is a Norwegian variant of the english 'Santianna' shanty which also exist in several other languages. As you can see in the lyrics it has some words in english in the refrain, this is the case with some of these shanties found in Scandinavia, Germany, Holland etc. as some of the most popular shanties were adopted from British sailors and made into a Norwegian, Dutch, Swedish or German version, often keeping the refrain or parts of it in its originally language while changing the rest.

Strilasjanti (Norwegian shanty)

Vikingskog 2021-02-06 | Artist: Storm Weather Shanty Choir
The illustration is a picture by John William Edy and depicts a place in south Norway in 1800.

Christine Guldbrandsen - Udsikter Fra Ulriken (Norwegian folk song)

Vikingskog 2021-02-05 | Artist: Christine Guldbrandsen

Trio Grande - Pumpa pumpa vatten(Swedish seafarer song)

Vikingskog 2021-02-05 | Artist: Trio Grande
The song is about pumping out water from the ship