Jólasveinar
Bjork Lyrics
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meá° gylltan staf á hendi
móá°ir á¾eirra sópar gólf
og flengir á¾á¡ meá° vendi
upp á¡ stól stendur mán kanna
náu nóttum fyrir jól
upp á¡ stól stendur mán kanna
náu nóttum fyrir jól
á¾á¡ kem ég til manna
In Björk's song Jólasveinar, which means "Christmas Lads" in English, the lyrics describe the arrival of these mythical figures at someone's home. The "Christmas Lads" are said to be mischievous Icelandic elves who visit children's homes each night during the 13 days leading up to Christmas, leaving a small gift or trinket for well-behaved children or a potato for misbehaving ones. In the first verse, the lads are walking around on the floor with a golden staff in hand, while their mother sweeps the floor and shakes out any dirt that they may have left behind.
In the second verse, the lads are standing on a chair, trying to get a glimpse of what is going on outside during the long, dark Icelandic winter nights. They are watching for signs of Christmas and eagerly anticipating the festivities that will soon arrive. The lyrics also suggest that the singer of the song is waiting for the Christmas Lads to visit her home, eagerly anticipating their arrival and the magical feeling they bring.
Overall, the song captures the whimsical and mysterious nature of the "Christmas Lads" in Icelandic folklore, and the longing and goodwill that this holiday season often brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Jólasveinar gang'um gólf
Let us walk on the floor Jonasveinar
meá° gylltan staf á hendi
with a shiny staff in our hand
móá°ir á¾eirra sópar gólf
Their mother sweeps the floor
og flengir á¾á¡ meá° vendi
and thrashes there with a stick
upp á¡ stól stendur mán kanna
On a chair stands a teapot
náu nóttum fyrir jól
There are only a few nights before Christmas
á¾á¡ kem ég til manna
I come there to people
upp á¡ stól stendur mán kanna
On a chair stands a teapot
náu nóttum fyrir jól
There are only a few nights before Christmas
á¾á¡ kem ég til manna
I come there to people
Contributed by Ava J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.