Early one
morning before the
sun did rise
And the birds sang their sweet song
The mountain troll proposed to the fair squire
She had a false deceitful tongue
Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig won't you marry me
For all that I'll gladly give you
You may answer only yes or no
Will you do so or no
To you I will give the twelve great steeds
That graze in a shady grove
Never has a saddle been mounted on their backs
Nor had a bit in their mouths
Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig won't you marry me
For all that I'll gladly give you
You may answer only yes or no
Will you do so or no
To you I will give the twelve fine mills
That stand between Tillo and Terno
The mill stones are made of the reddest brass
And the wheels are silver-laden
Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig won't you marry me
For all that I'll gladly give you
You may answer only yes or no
Will you do so or no
To you I will give the gilded sword
That jingles from fifteen gold rings
And strike with it in battle as you will
On the battlefield you will conquer
Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig won't you marry me
For all that I'll gladly give you
You may answer only yes or no
Will you do so or no
To you I will give a brand new shirt
The lustrous best for to wear
It is not sewn with needle or thread
But crocheted of the whitest silk
Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig won't you marry me
For all that I'll gladly give you
You may answer only yes or no
Will you do so or no
Gifts such as these I would gladly receive
If you were a Christian woman
But I know you are the worst mountain troll
From the spawn of Necken and the devil
Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig won't you marry me
For all that I'll gladly give you
You may answer only yes or no
Will you do so or no
The mountain troll ran out the door
She wailed and she shrieked so loudly
"Had I gotten that handsome squire
From my torment I would be free now"
Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig won't you marry me
For all that I'll gladly give you
You may answer only yes or no
Will you do so or no
Friends
and kin
Friends and
kinsfolk met to
deliberate
To whom would they marry off their kinswoman this year
Rosy youth
They deliberated
To whom would they marry off their kinswoman this year
We want you to wed the son of a king
Who has more gold than poor Roland has land
Rosy youth
Wed the son of a king
Who has more gold than poor Roland has land
On Saturday and Sunday the word it was spread
Monday and Tuesday will show what she gets
Rosy youth
Word was spread
Monday and Tuesday will show what she gets
On Wednesday and Thursday the wine was made
Friday and Saturday the wedding was cheered
Rosy youth
Wine was made
Friday and Saturday the wedding was cheered
They drank for days, they drank for two,
But the bride wouldn't to the chamber go
Rosy youth
They drank for two
But the bride wouldn't to the chamber go
They drank for days, they drank for three
But the bridal bed she refused for to see
Rosy youth
They drank for three
But the bridal bed she refused for to see
Then entered in a poor ship's hand
Wore a blue blouse both tattered and torn
Rosy youth
Poor ship's hand
Wore a blue blouse both tattered and torn
He stood at the table and he spoke
I see only masts and the places where they go
Rosy youth
And he spoke
I see only masts and the places where they go
And the maiden went up to the high loft
And ran down the path to the broad sea shore
Rosy youth
Went to the high loft
And ran down the path to the broad sea shore
She ran on the rocks, she ran on tiptoe
But took great care to mind the blue waves below
Rosy youth
Ran on tiptoe
But took great care to mind the blue waves below
And she was invited on board the ship
And there they bade her drink both mead and wine
Rosy youth
On board ship
And there they bade her drink both mead and wine
I see I see on your white fingers small
The wedding band has not been there for long
Rosy youth
White fingers small
The wedding band has not been there for long
I see I see on your golden hair
That before yesterday the wreath was not there
Rosy youth
Golden hair
That before yesterday the wreath was not there
I see I see on your lily white breasts
That small children they have not consoled
Rosy youth
Lily white breasts
That small children they have not consoled
And now the maiden lays at poor Roland's side
She feels neither sorrow nor anguish
Rosy youth
At poor Roland's side
My husband
Do you know
the man who danced
with me
Yellow leather pants he wore
But my husband he wore green
Do you know the man who danced with me
Yellow leather pants he wore
But my husband he wore green
Do you know the man who followed me home
Black leather boots he wore
But my husband he wore brown
Do you know the man who followed me home
Black leather boots he wore
But my husband he wore brown
Do you know the child in my lap
Maja on the mountain, that is her name
But my husbands girl is Stina
Do you know the child in my lap
Maja on the mountain, that is her name
But my husbands girl is Stina
Do you know the one who brought me such joy
Now he is old, now he is gray
But my husband lives on.
Do you know the one who brought me such joy
Now he is old, now he is gray
But my husband lives on.
The werewolf
The maiden
she would to the
cottage go
Linden trees quiver in the grove
So she took the path through the forest blue
She was carrying the fruit of love
And when she reached the forest blue
Linden trees quiver in the grove
There she met with a gray wolf
She was carrying the fruit of love
O dear wolf please don't bite me
To you I will give my silver gown
The silver gown won't suit me at all
Your young life and your blood must go
O dear wolf please don't bite me
Linden trees quiver in the grove
I will give you my silver shoes
She was carrying the fruit of love
Silver shoes won't suit me at all
Linden trees quiver in the grove
Your young life and your blood must go
She was carrying the fruit of love
O dear wolf please don't bite me
I will give you my golden crown
A golden crown won't suit me at all
Your young life and your blood must go
The maiden she climbed up high in an oak
Linden trees quiver in the grove
The wolf he paced the ground and howled
She was carrying the fruit of love
The wolf dug up the oak by the roots
Linden trees quiver in the grove
The maiden gave a heart-rending cry
She was carrying the fruit of love
The young page saddled his gray steed
Linden trees quiver in the grove
He rode slightly faster than a bird could fly
She was carrying the fruit of love
And when he came to the wooded place
Linden trees quiver in the grove
He found nothing more than a bloody arm
She was carrying the fruit of love
God comfort, God improve me, young page
Linden trees quiver in the grove
My maiden is gone, my horse is dead
She was carrying the fruit of love
Hilla Lilla
Hilla Lilla
sits in her
bedchamber
No one knows my sorrow but God
Many a tear falls down her cheek
Who could share my pain, he lives no more: he is gone
An urgent message to the Queen arrived
Proud Hilla Lilla sews frenzied her seams
No one knows my sorrow but God
The Queen wears her cloak of blue
To pay proud Hilla Lilla a visit to
Who could share my pain, he lives no more: he is gone
Gracious Queen please sit down here
That I may tell to you my sorrows my dear
No one knows my sorrow but God
My father he kept me oh so pure
No one knows my sorrow but God
Served by a knight both hand and foot
Who could share my pain, he lives no more: he is gone
And it was the Duke of Hillebrand
No one knows my sorrow but God
With him I would flee to the foreign lands
Who could share my pain, he lives no more: he is gone
And when we reached a shady grove
No one knows my sorrow but God
There the Duke he lay himself down
Who could share my pain, he lives no more: he is gone
He lay for a time inside of me
No one knows my sorrow but God
And then he slept so calm and sweet
Who could share my pain, he lives no more: he is gone
Hillebrand Hillebrand sleep not now
I hear my father and my brothers seven
Hardly had I said these words
When seven wounds struck my Hillebrand down
One brother seized my golden locks
And bound me onto his saddle horn
And when we came to the first gate
My mother forlorn stood awaiting me
My brother he wished to strangle me
But my mother she chose to sell me away
Who could share my pain, he lives no more: he is gone
She sold me for a brand new bell
No one knows my sorrow but God
It hangs in the village of Marie Church
Who could share my pain, he lives no more: he is gone
When my mother heard the chime of that bell
No one knows my sorrow but God
Her heart it shattered into pieces small
Who could share my pain, he lives no more: he is gone
Proud Hilla Lilla finished her tale like that
No one knows my sorrow but God
At the Queen's feet she fell down dead
Who could share my pain, he lives no more: he is gone
Today as before
Today as
before with a bottle
at my hip
As sure as we walk we'll take us a sip
Njaalkeme/Hunger
There are so
many caterpillers
Hunger, greater now than ever
The trees hold their breath, die and fall
Man is like a blinded wolf
Hunger is all I feel
Hunger everywhere.
Sir Holger
Lady Tala she
dreamed a dream
one night
Wake up for the time it is right
That the rich Sir Holger would lose his heart
That rich Sir Holger
I dreamed I dreamed of our grey steed
He carried you to the court where you died
My dear Lady Tala say not so
May your dreams awaken after the eighth year
They bashed at the door with poles and spears
If Sir Holger is in there he must come out
Sir Holger he spoke with his two squires
"Saddle my steed with the saddle of gold"
When they arrived at Copenhagen
There stood King Kristian on the white shore
You Sir Holger are welcome to me
Sir Holger Sir Holger it will cost you your life
King Kristian chopped the head right off
So that blood ran down over his feet
When Lady Tala saw her master's corpse
She went numb under the white sheet
Sir Holger was laid to rest at twelve
At the stroke of eleven he rose up again
He knocked at the door with fingers so thin
Lady Tala slide back the bolts, let me in
With no one have I arranged to meet
And I will let no one in after the night's fall
My dear Lady Tala give the farmer his cow
'Cause in Hell it is so difficult to live
Lady Tala return Romman and Skromman
'Cause in Hell it's hard to burn for your friend
Even if I'd go to Hell as a swan
I would truly not live as a pauper
Go to Hell with your squires
Wake up for the time it is right
And I will follow with my maidens
The rich Sir Holger
The Fiddlers of God
Where are
those men who
wandered upon the roads
With gentle eyes so saddened by crime and shame
Small brothers in the dark forests with wolves and snow
Where are those men who march onward towards death
They grimaced only for snowdrifts, and cold and arrows
Small brothers in dark forests, wandering mile upon mile
From people's homes and farms where wickedness lies
Who hears their silver bells in the cloudy night?
Where have the brothers and the musicians gone
In the valley they have told me they're still alive
