While doing an incredible job for NRK traveling around and reporting, he also raised money for a Norwegian coastal rescue service (redningsselskapet). He also started recording tunes he learned on his journeys around the country and the world. This resulted in many recordings . Erik Bye was voted to be the 3'd most important Norwegian citizen of all time in 2005. He died in 2004.
He will always be known for the humour and radiation of positive energy.
Tømmerkoievise
Erik Bye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
med snø og sno fra nord.
Men langt i sør fins varme land
med palmesus og sol.
Der skulle vi ha vøri Karl.
Vi skulle reist i fjor.
Der skulle vi ha vøri Karl.
Vi skulle reist i fjor.
Du har vel hørt om syden Karl
der kokospalma står
så lang og slank at toppen opp
i sjølve himmel´n når.
Der skulle vi ha vøri Karl
med tigersvansen vår.
Der skulle vi ha vøri Karl
med tigersvansen vår.
Der vekser brød på trea Karl.
Ja, tru meg om du kan.
Å alle drekker palmevin
av store fem-potts spann.
Der skulle vi ha vøri Karl.
Da hadde det gått ann.
Der skulle vi ha vøri Karl.
Da hadde det gått ann.
Der fins det fine jenter Karl.
Dem danser rundt i ring
med blomst i hår
og strå om lend
å ellers ingen ting.
Der skulle vi ha vøri Karl
hos Lola og Lu Ping.
Der skulle vi ha vøri Karl
hos Lola og Lu Ping.
Du sitter stur og stille Karl.
Du jonter på en skrå.
Det er så langt til sydens vår
å palmekysten blå.
Dit skar vi aldri komma Karl
Det kan du lite på.
Dit skar vi aldri komma Karl
Det kan du lite på.
The song Tømmerkoievise by Erik Bye is about the desire to escape the harsh winter environment in Northern Norway to warmer places in the South. The singer, Karl, longs to travel to the exotic lands of palm trees, coconuts, and palm wine where people dance in the sun with flowers in their hair. He dreams of a life very different from the one he has, which is cold and difficult.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Der skulle vi ha vøri Karl" (We should have been there, Karl), emphasizing the singer's regret that they did not make the trip to the southern lands the previous year. The final verse of the song, however, reveals Karl's resigned acceptance that they will never make it to the sunny South.
The song speaks to the universal human desire to escape difficult circumstances and longing for something better. It also highlights the theme of regret for missed opportunities and how time waits for no one.
Line by Line Meaning
Her er det kaldt og kustli´ Karl
It is cold and rough here, Karl
med snø og sno fra nord.
With snow and blizzards from the north.
Men langt i sør fins varme land
But far in the south, there are warm lands
med palmesus og sol.
With palm trees and sun.
Der skulle vi ha vøri Karl.
We should have been there, Karl.
Vi skulle reist i fjor.
We should have gone last year.
Du har vel hørt om syden Karl
You have surely heard of the south, Karl,
der kokospalma står
where coconut palm trees stand,
så lang og slank at toppen opp
so tall and slender that the top reaches
i sjølve himmel´n når.
up to the sky.
Der skulle vi ha vøri Karl
We should have been there, Karl
med tigersvansen vår.
with our tiger tails.
Der vekser brød på trea Karl.
Bread grows on trees there, Karl.
Ja, tru meg om du kan.
Yes, believe me if you can.
Å alle drekker palmevin
And everyone drinks palm wine
av store fem-potts spann.
from large five-gallon jugs.
Der skulle vi ha vøri Karl.
We should have been there, Karl.
Da hadde det gått ann.
Then it would have been possible.
Der fins det fine jenter Karl.
There are beautiful girls there, Karl.
Dem danser rundt i ring
They dance in circles
med blomst i hår
with flowers in their hair
og strå om lend
and straw around their waist
å ellers ingen ting.
and nothing else.
Der skulle vi ha vøri Karl
We should have been there, Karl.
hos Lola og Lu Ping.
With Lola and Lu Ping.
Du sitter stur og stille Karl.
You sit stiff and quiet, Karl.
Du jonter på en skrå.
You sit tilted to one side.
Det er så langt til sydens vår
It is so far to the southern spring
å palmekysten blå.
and the blue palm coast.
Dit skar vi aldri komma Karl
We will never get there, Karl.
Det kan du lite på.
You can count on that.
Contributed by Sarah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.