Jólakötturinn
Björk Lyrics
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sá köttur var gríðarstór
fólk vissi ekki hvaðan hann kom
eða hvert hann fór.
Hann glennti upp glyrnurnar sínar
glóandi báðar tvær
það var ekki heiglum hent
Kamparnir beittir sem broddar
upp úr bakinu kryppa há
og klærnar á loðinni löpp
var ljótt að sjá.
Því var það að konurnar kepptust
við kamba og vefstól og rokk
og prjónuðu litfagran lepp
eða lítinn sokk
því kötturinn mátti ekki koma
og krækja í börnin smá
þau urðu að fá sína flík
þeim fullorðnu hjá
og er kveikt var á jólakvöldið
og kötturinn gægðist inn
stóðu börnin bísperrt og rjóð
með böggulinn sinn.
Hann veifaði stélinu sterka
hann stökk og hann klóraði og blés
og var ýmist upp í dal
eða út um nes.
Hann sveimaði soltinn og grimmur
í sárköldum jólasnæ
og vakti í hjörtunum hroll
á hverjum bæ
ef mjálmað var aumlega úti
var ólukkan samstundis vís
allir vissu að hann veiddi menn
en vildi ekki mýst.
Hann lagðist á fátæka fólkið
sem fékk enga nýja spjör
fyrir jólin, og baslaði og bjó
við bágust kjör.
Frá því tók hann ætíð í einu
allan þess jólamat
og át það svo oftast nær sjálft
ef hann gat.´
Og sum höfðu fengið svuntu
og sum höfðu fengið skó
eða eitthvað sem þótti þarft
en það var nóg.
Því kisa mátti engan eta
sem einhverja flíkina hlaut
hún hvæsti því heldur ljót
og hljóp á braut
hvort enn er hún til veit ég ekki
en aum yrði hennar för
ef allir eignuðust næst
einhverja spjör.
Þið hafið nú kannske í huga
að hjálpa ef þörf verður á
máske að enn finnist einhver börn
sem ekkert fá
máske að leitin að þeim sem líða
af ljósskorti heims um ból
gefi ykkur góðan dag
og gleðileg jól.
The Icelandic Christmas cat, or Jólakötturinn, is a notorious figure in Icelandic folklore. In Björk's song, "Jólakötturinn," she tells the story of the cat, who was so large that people didn't know where he came from or where he went. The cat's eyes glowed, and his thick fur was covered in thorns that made him look fierce. The audio describes how the women in town would hold competitions for who could weave, knit or sew the most clothes, hats, and socks for their families to ensure they weren't the ones to be eaten by the cat.
On Christmas Eve, when the cat came, the children would be nervous, and if anyone hadn't received new clothes, they'd be particularly frightened, as the Jólakötturinn wouldn't hesitate to pounce on anyone in old clothes. The Cat would jump up high and scratch those who got in his way. The song describes how the cat prowled through the snowfields and caught anyone who didn't have new clothes to wear. He stole their holiday dinner and ate it himself—a damning fate for those living in poverty as they could not afford to buy new clothes for their families.
Björk's song warns people to take the story seriously, even though it might seem like a fairytale, because there are Icelandic families living in dire poverty who can't afford to buy new clothes. So the community wholeheartedly believes in the legend and realizes that if they don't make clothes, they might be the ones who go without a holiday dinner.
Line by Line Meaning
Þið kannist við jólaköttinn
You are familiar with Yule Cat
sá köttur var gríðarstór
That cat was enormous
fólk vissi ekki hvaðan hann kom
People didn't know where he came from
eða hvert hann fór.
Or where he went
Hann glennti upp glyrnurnar sínar
He opened his eyes wide
glóandi báðar tvær
Both glowing
það var ekki heiglum hent
It was not suitable for weak souls
að horfa í þær.
To look into them
Kamparnir beittir sem broddar
His claws were sharp as spikes
upp úr bakinu kryppa há
Hiding high in his back
og klærnar á loðinni löpp
And his fur clothing was an eyesore
var ljótt að sjá.
Ugly to see
Því var það að konurnar kepptust
That's why women competed
við kamba og vefstól og rokk
With combs and looms and spinning wheels
og prjónuðu litfagran lepp
And knitted beautiful stockings
eða lítinn sokk
Or small socks
því kötturinn mátti ekki koma
Because the cat couldn't come
og krækja í börnin smá
And grab the small children
þau urðu að fá sína flík
They had to get their piece of clothing
þeim fullorðnu hjá
From the adult they were with
og er kveikt var á jólakvöldið
And when the Yule Eve fire was lit
og kötturinn gægðist inn
And the cat walked in
stóðu börnin bísperrt og rjóð
The children stood frozen and red
með böggulinn sinn.
With their candle lanterns
Hann veifaði stélinu sterka
He waved his strong tail
hann stökk og hann klóraði og blés
He jumped and clawed and blew
og var ýmist upp í dal
And was either up in the valley
eða út um nes.
Or out on the headland
Hann sveimaði soltinn og grimmur
He wandered angry and brutal
í sárköldum jólasnæ
In the bitter cold Christmas snow
og vakti í hjörtunum hroll
And caused shivers in people's hearts
á hverjum bæ
In every town
ef mjálmað var aumlega úti
If someone meowed outside pitifully
var ólukkan samstundis vís
Then bad luck was sure to come
allir vissu að hann veiddi menn
Everyone knew he hunted men
en vildi ekki mýst.
But didn't want to be bored
Hann lagðist á fátæka fólkið
He went after poor people
sem fékk enga nýja spjör
Who got no new clothes
fyrir jólin, og baslaði og bjó
For Christmas, and pawed and hunted
við bágust kjör.
In the poorest living conditions
Frá því tók hann ætíð í einu
From then on he always took
allan þess jólamat
All the Christmas food
og át það svo oftast nær sjálft
And ate it mostly by himself
ef hann gat.
If he could
Og sum höfðu fengið svuntu
And some got a tool
og sum höfðu fengið skó
And some got a shoe
eða eitthvað sem þótti þarft
Or something that was considered necessary
en það var nóg.
But that was enough.
Því kisa mátti engan eta
No one was allowed to eat the cat
sem einhverja flíkina hlaut
Who got any piece of clothing
hún hvæsti því heldur ljót
She hissed, rather ugly
og hljóp á braut
And ran away
hvort enn er hún til veit ég ekki
Whether she still exists, I don't know
en aum yrði hennar för
But her departure would be pitiable
ef allir eignuðust næst
If everyone got possession of clothing
einhverja spjör.
Of some sort.
Þið hafið nú kannske í huga
You might have in mind now
að hjálpa ef þörf verður á
To help if there is a need
máske að enn finnist einhver börn
Maybe there are still some children
sem ekkert fá
Who get nothing
máske að leitin að þeim sem líða
Maybe the search for those who suffer
af ljósskorti heims um ból
From the darkness of the world around them
gefi ykkur góðan dag
Gives you a good day
og gleðileg jól.
And Merry Christmas.
Contributed by Julian D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@timagez8765
You know the christmas cat
- that cat is very large
We dont know where he came from
Nor where he has gone
He opened his eyes widely
Glowing both of them
It was not for cowards
To look into them
His hair sharp as needles
His back was high and bulgy
And claws on his hairy paw
Were not a pretty sight
Therefore the women competed
To rock and sow and spin
And knitted colorful clothes
Or one little sock
For the cat could not come
And get the little children
They had to get new clothes
From the grownups
When christmas eve was lighted
And the cat looked inside
The children stood straight and red-cheeked
With their presents
He waved his strong tail
He jumped, scratched and blew
And was either in the valley
Or out on the headland
He walked about, hungry and mean
In hurtfully cold christmas snow
And kindled the hearts with fear
In every town
If outside one heard a weak "meaow"
Then unluck was sure to happen
All knew he hunted men
And didnt want mice
He followed the poorer people
Who didnt get any new clothing
Near christmas - and tried and lived
In poorest conditions
From them he took at the same time
All their christmas food
And ate them also themselves
If he could
Therefore the women competed
To rock and sow and spin
And knitted colorful clothes
Or one little sock
Some had gotten an apron
And some had got a new shoe
Or anything that was needful
But that was enough
For pussy should not eat no-one
Who got some new piece of clothes
She hissed with her ugly voice
And ran away
If she still exists I dont know
But for nothing would be his trip
If everybody would get next christmas
Some new rag
You may want to keep it in mind
To help if there is need
For somewhere there might be children
Who get nothing at all
Mayhaps that looking for those who suffer
From lack of plentiful lights
Will give you a happy season
And merry christmas
@mkworkman
The Yule Lads Poem: Poet Jóhannes úr Kötlum wrote a poem about the Yule Lads in 1932, this poem is still very popular and recited in many homes ans schools in December.
Stekkjastaur - Sheep-Cote Clod
The first of them was Sheep-Cote Clod.
He came stiff as wood,
to prey upon the farmer's sheep
as far as he could.
He wished to suck the ewes,
but it was no accident
he couldn't; he had stiff knees
- not to convenient.
Giljagaur - Gully Gawk
The second was Gully Gawk,
gray his head and mien.
He snuck into the cow barn
from his craggy ravine.
Hiding in the stalls,
he would steal the milk, while
the milkmaid gave the cowherd
a meaningful smile.
Stúfur - Stubby
Stubby was the third called,
a stunted little man,
who watched for every chance
to whisk off a pan.
And scurrying away with it,
he scraped off the bits
that stuck to the bottom
and brims - his favorites.
Þvörusleikir - Spoon-Licker
The fourth was Spoon Licker;
like spindle he was thin.
He felt himself in clover
when the cook wasn't in.
Then stepping up, he grappled
the stirring spoon with glee,
holding it with both hands
for it was slippery.
Pottaskefill - Pot-Scraper
Pot Scraper, the fifth one,
was a funny sort of chap.
When kids were given scrapings,
he'd come to the door and tap.
And they would rush to see
if there really was a guest.
Then he hurried to the pot
and had a scraping fest.
Askasleikir - Bowl-Licker
Bowl Licker, the sixth one,
was shockingly ill bred.
From underneath the bedsteads
he stuck his ugly head.
And when the bowls were left
to be licked by dog or cat,
he snatched them for himself
- he was sure good at that!
Hurðaskellir - Door-Slammer
The seventh was Door Slammer,
a sorry, vulgar chap:
When people in the twilight
would take a little nap,
he was happy as a lark
with the havoc he could wreak,
slamming doors and hearing
the hinges on them squeak.
Skyrgámur - Skyr-Gobbler
Skyr Gobbler, the eighth,
was an awful stupid bloke.
He lambasted the skyr tub
till the lid on it broke.
Then he stood there gobbling
- his greed was well known -
until, about to burst,
he would bleat, howl and groan.
Bjúgnakrækir - Sausage-Swiper
The ninth was Sausage Swiper,
a shifty pilferer.
He climbed up to the rafters
and raided food from there.
Sitting on a crossbeam
in soot and in smoke,
he fed himself on sausage
fit for gentlefolk.
Gluggagægir - Window-Peeper
The tenth was Window Peeper,
a weird little twit,
who stepped up to the window
and stole a peek through it.
And whatever was inside
to which his eye was drawn,
he most likely attempted
to take later on.
Gáttaþefur - Doorway Sniffer
Eleventh was Door Sniffer,
a doltish lad and gross.
He never got a cold, yet had
a huge, sensitive nose.
He caught the scent of lace bread
while leagues away still
and ran toward it weightless
as wind over dale and hill.
Ketkrókur - Meat-Hook
Meat Hook, the twelfth one,
his talent would display
as soon as he arrived
on Saint Thorlak's Day.
He snagged himself a morsel
of meet of any sort,
although his hook at times was
a tiny bit short.
Kertasníkir - Candle Beggar
The thirteenth was Candle Beggar
- ‘twas cold, I believe,
if he was not the last
of the lot on Christmas Eve.
He trailed after the little ones
who, like happy sprites,
ran about the farm with
their fine tallow lights.
Translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson
@samgfds1755
I heard this song when I was a preteen and somebody briefly told me the legend it's about. I have always been into folklore and myths and I fell in love with this song, the language sounded like something out of a fairytale to me. I'm taking Icelandic classes because of It hahaha
@MrErikchaugen
This was recorded in 1987 in iceland !!!
@mariewalker9457
This is great! I am addicted to Björk's music and am so happy that I still keep finding new songs. I especially appreciate her Icelandic songs. The language is so beautiful.
@katladimmey7467
I love this song SOOOOOO MUCH :D. I'm also Icelandic so I understand the lyrics. The Christmas cat is out for a hunt >:), like it so much.
@outtrunnin1114
Katla Dimmey Hey, ditto but Im not Icelandic. If you dont mind, what does the songs story explain? Thank you
@katladimmey7467
Outt RuNNin this is about the christmas cat in Iceland. Jólaköttur = Christmas cat. and that cat hunts the poor kids that don't get new clothes. but if they get new clothes as a Christmas gift, the cat will go away and leave the kids alone.
@outtrunnin1114
Katla Dimmey A seasons relic tale. Thanks again
@katladimmey7467
Outt RuNNin np :).
@lenasnland4472
Ég líka og ef ðú er í roblox èg heiti eeivee1 í roblox
@ealing456
I just read up about the Yule Cat myth. Nice to hear Björk putting the poem to song.