Ballade
Aftenlandet Lyrics
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og styrde til lands ved Alden ei disig månenatt.
Dei svarte gjel og tindar låg blå i måneljos,
der song den vakre kvinna, den falske Sigaros.
Der song den falske kvinna og spela på tussegreip,
Og klunka med tjukke fingrar på tvinna bastereip:
Du unge Sumarlide, kom inn, kom inn til meg,
all heimsens gull og rikdom, det vil eg gjeva deg
det glitrar i dyre steinar og lyser av perlemor.
Her er ikkje haust og vetter, her er ikkje natt og dag,
og stilt i ljose draumar går sus av båreslag.
Men Sumarlide, kongen, han vende seg kald ifrå,
då såg han den andre kvinna i måneljoset stå.
Til linne harpetonar ho song i stjerneskin,
det var den fagre kvinna, den ljose Ermelin:
Du unge Sumarlide, kom inn, kom inn til meg,
min varme, rike kjærleik, den vil eg gjeva deg.
Eg skal deg varlegt draga inntil min mjuke famn,
og kviskra i stille næter ditt underfulle namn.
Og Sumarlide, kongen, det var som han somna av,
det drog han med makt mot havet, det store, kalde hav.
Der søv den unge kongen frå våpenleik og strid,
no song eg minnesongen um konung Sumarlid.
The lyrics of the song "Ballade" by Aftenlandet depict the story of King Sumarlid av Fjaler who returns home from a Viking journey and lands on a foggy moonlit night at Alden. As he looks around, he sees black cliffs and peaks in the moonlight, and a beautiful woman named Sigaros starts singing and playing a tune on her harp. She invites the king to come with her to a magical place where there is an abundance of gold and riches. She sings of a silver forest where precious gemstones glitter and pearls shine. However, the king turns away from her and sees another woman named Ermelin, who also sings and calls out to him, inviting him to come to her warm embrace and promising him true love. The king is drawn towards the sea and falls asleep, while the women continue to sing and play their harps. The song ends with the singer lamenting about King Sumarlid, who is now sleeping peacefully, away from the war and the battles.
Overall, the song "Ballade" uses poetic language and metaphors to convey the ideas of temptation, love, and the fleeting nature of life. The singer suggests that King Sumarlid's fate is inevitable and that he has found peace in his sleep. The two women in the song represent the dichotomy of desire and true love, and ultimately, the king chooses the latter.
Line by Line Meaning
Kong Sumarlid av Fjaler kom heim frå viking att,
After going on a Viking expedition, King Sumarlid of Fjaler returned home.
og styrde til lands ved Alden ei disig månenatt.
He sailed along the coast on a foggy moonlit night near Alden mountain.
Dei svarte gjel og tindar låg blå i måneljos,
The dark cliffs and peaks were blue in the moonlight.
der song den vakre kvinna, den falske Sigaros.
A beautiful woman named Sigaros sang there, but she was deceitful.
Der song den falske kvinna og spela på tussegreip,
The false woman played a fairy harp as she sang.
Og klunka med tjukke fingrar på tvinna bastereip:
She also rattled a twisted rope with her thick fingers.
Du unge Sumarlide, kom inn, kom inn til meg,
Sigaros called for King Sumarlid, inviting him to come closer to her.
all heimsens gull og rikdom, det vil eg gjeva deg
She promised to give him all the wealth and treasures of the world.
Langt inn i bergi blåe, der sylverskogen gror,
She described a place deep in the blue mountains where a forest of silver grew.
det glitrar i dyre steinar og lyser av perlemor.
The place sparkled with precious gemstones and glowed with pearls.
Her er ikkje haust og vetter, her er ikkje natt og dag,
In this place, there was no autumn or winter, and there was no differentiation between night and day.
og stilt i ljose draumar går sus av båreslag.
Instead, it was a peaceful dreamlike state where the only sound was the rustling of a breeze.
Men Sumarlide, kongen, han vende seg kald ifrå,
King Sumarlid turned away, feeling cold towards her.
då såg han den andre kvinna i måneljoset stå.
He then saw another woman standing in the moonlight.
Til linne harpetonar ho song i stjerneskin,
The woman sang sweetly, while playing a linen-stringed harp in starlight.
det var den fagre kvinna, den ljose Ermelin:
Her name was Ermelin, and she was the fair and bright woman.
Du unge Sumarlide, kom inn, kom inn til meg,
Ermelin also invited King Sumarlid to come closer to her.
min varme, rike kjærleik, den vil eg gjeva deg.
She promised to give him her warm and rich love.
Eg skal deg varlegt draga inntil min mjuke famn,
She vowed to hold him tenderly in her soft embrace.
og kviskra i stille næter ditt underfulle namn.
In quiet nights, she promised to whisper his wonderful name.
Og Sumarlide, kongen, det var som han somna av,
King Sumarlid became lost in thought as if he was falling asleep.
det drog han med makt mot havet, det store, kalde hav.
He was irresistibly drawn towards the great, cold sea.
Der søv den unge kongen frå våpenleik og strid,
The young king slept away from the battles and wars.
no song eg minnesongen um konung Sumarlid.
That's how the ballad of King Sumarlid was composed and sung by Aftenlandet.
Contributed by Aiden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.