Gåte (Norwegian for riddle or mystery) is a Norwegian folk rock band that f… Read Full Bio ↴Gåte (Norwegian for riddle or mystery) is a Norwegian folk rock band that formed in Trondheim in 1999. They play Norwegian folk and folk inspired music, blended with heavy rock and electronica, sometimes called progressive folk-rock.

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

Rike Rodenigår
Gåte Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Å, det var rike Rodenigår,
han rir åt skogen aleine,
så høyrde han den ørni gol,
ho rister å sjek sine venger.

- Der gjele ei ørn i Beiarlunden so lenge

"Høyrer du rike Rodenigår,

kvi rir du i skogjen aleine?
Kor er din hauk og kor er din hund,
kor er dine raske hovdrengjir?"

- Der gjele ei ørn i Beiarlunden so lenge

"Dei tvo dei er på villande hei,
dei aktar dei dyri skjote;
dei andre tvo er på breian fjord,
dei aktar den bylja brjote."

- Der gjele ei ørn i Beiarlunden so lenge

"Høyrer du rike Rodenigår,
kva hev du laga til koste?
Dagane ein og båe tvei
vil eg deg heime gjeste."

- Der gjele ei ørn i Beiarlunden so lenge

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Gåte's song Rike Rodenigår tell the story of a wealthy man named Rodenigår who is riding alone in the forest when he hears the call of an eagle shaking its wings. The eagle asks why Rodenigår is riding alone and where his hawk and dog are. Rodenigår responds that his hawk and dog are on the moors and the four other riders are on the bays, and they are all attending to their respective duties. The eagle then offers to visit Rodenigår for two days.

The lyrics of this song are full of symbolism and imagery. The eagle, for example, is often seen as a representative of freedom and power. Additionally, Rodenigår's horses and his relationship with them can be interpreted as a symbol of his social status and his connection to the land. The lyrics also hint at the theme of isolation and the idea that even the most powerful and wealthy people can be alone and vulnerable.

Line by Line Meaning

Å, det var rike Rodenigår,
Once there was wealthy Rodenigår,

han rir åt skogen aleine,
He rides alone through the forest,

så høyrde han den ørni gol,
He heard the eagle scream,

ho rister å sjek sine venger.
She shakes her wings.

"Høyrer du rike Rodenigår,
"Do you hear me, wealthy Rodenigår,

kvi rir du i skogjen aleine?
Why do you ride alone in the forest?

Kor er din hauk og kor er din hund,
Where are your hawk and your hound,

kor er dine raske hovdrengjir?"
Where are your fast-paced servants?"

- Der gjele ei ørn i Beiarlunden so lenge
The eagle screeched in Beiarlunden for a while

"Dei tvo dei er på villande hei,
"The two of them are on a wild hunt,

dei aktar dei dyri skjote;
They are looking after the swift animals;