While some songs are original, many come from traditional Norwegian folk songs. Some songs are based on the poems of the Norwegian poet Astrid Krogh Halse. These include "Følgje" ("Companion") and "Stengd Dør ("Closed Door"). The music consists of guitaring, violins, synthesized keyboarding, drumming, and the distinctive voice of Gunnhild Sundli.
On September 6th, 2005, the band announced that they would "take a break" to pursue other stuff, mostly because of Gunnhild's desire to do something else. This came as a surprise to many, as the band has been a success both in Norway and abroad, especially in Germany. However, they released a new album in 2006, Liva, a live recording from Rockefeller, Oslo.
Gåte returned for a one-time performance during the culture festival UKA in Trondheim, on October 24, 2009. After the success with this concert, they announced they would tour festivals in Norway in the summer of 2010. The band reunited another time in 2017 and in 2024 they participated in Melodi Grand Prix, winning the competition with the song Ulveham and thus being given the right to represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
Wikipedia page
Gjendines bånsull
Gåte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
stundom gråter og stundom ler.
(Sove nå, sove nå, i jesu navn,
Jesus bevare barnet.)
Mamma tar meg på sitt fang,
danser med meg att og fram.
Danse så, med de små,
In Gåte's folk song "Gjendines bånsull," the first verse describes the familiar scene of a mother putting her child to sleep in the cradle. The child expresses a range of emotions - crying, laughing - as if to convey the joys and difficulties of childhood. The mother then sings a prayer to ask Jesus to care for the child, a common tradition in many religious households.
The second verse is more playful and depicts the mother holding her child on her lap and dancing with them. The repetition of the phrase "danse så" suggests a hypnotic, soothing effect, as if the child is lulled into a peaceful sleep. The mother seems to be using music and movement as a form of comfort and affection, a way to connect with her child before they drift off to sleep.
Line by Line Meaning
Barnet legges i vuggen ned,
The baby is placed in the cradle,
stundom gråter og stundom ler.
Sometimes the baby cries and sometimes it laughs,
(Sove nå, sove nå, i jesu navn,
(Sleep now, sleep now, in Jesus' name,
Jesus bevare barnet.)
May Jesus protect the child.)
Mamma tar meg på sitt fang,
Mom takes me on her lap,
danser med meg att og fram.
Dances with me back and forth,
Danse så, med de små,
Dance like this with the little ones,
danse så, så skal barnet sove.
Dance like this, and the baby will fall asleep.
Contributed by Jayden W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.