1) Gjal… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists on Last.fm listed as Gjallarhorn;
1) Gjallarhorn is a Finnish band that performs world music with roots in the folk music of Finland and Sweden. The band's music echoes the ancient folk music tradition of Scandinavia with medieval ballads, minuets, prayers in runo-metric chanting and ancient Icelandic rímur epics in a modern way. The group is named after the Gjallarhorn of Norse mythology.
Gjallarhorn was formed in 1994 on the west coast of Finland, in the Swedish speaking area, by Jenny Wilhelms, Christopher Öhman (viola, mandola) and Jacob Frankenhaeuser (didgeridoo). The band started as a trio but became a quartet with percussion in 1996. The band has been a quartet ever since.
The music of the band remains Swedish in character. Most of their repertoire is the acoustic folk music of these Swedish-speaking Finns, from the unique minuets and ballads that have only survived in Ostrobothnia, to the old traditional waltzes. The didgeridoo and sub-contrabass recorder offer an underlying drone, a technique shared by some other Nordic bands such as Garmarna. Also notable is their use of the hardanger fiddle and Jenny Wilhelms' kulning, a high-pitched, wordless vocal technique based on traditional Scandinavian cattle-herding calls.
2) Gjallarhorn is an Italian epic/Viking metal band, whose lyrical themes mainly deal with those of Ragnarok. They have only released one album, Nordheim (2005). Their style is somewhat reminiscent of Hammerheart-era Bathory, with slow epic songs performed with clean vocals. Three members of Gjallarhorn also play in the epic-metal band Doomsword.
3) Gjallarhorn is a black-metal band from Kherson, Ukraine.
Lyrical themes: Paganism, History
Members:
Onswar Vocals, Keyboards (2004-present), Drums (2008-2014, 2016-present)
Nameless Bass (2006-2009), Guitars, Vocals (backing) (2009-present), Vocals (2009-2014)
Doomor Guitars (2006-present), Vocals (backing) (2011-present)
Grimwar Bass (2014-present)
Staffan
Gjallarhorn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
- Håll fast fålan min
Uti himlen tjänte han
- Hjälp oss nu och sang ti Staffan
Där tjänte han så länge
- Håll fast fålan min
Tills han blev en ängel
Innan hanen galit har
- Håll fast fålan min
Staffan uti stallet var
- Hjälp oss nu och sang ti Staffan
[Interlude]
Innan solen månd' uppgå
- Håll dig väl, fålan min
Han vattna' sina fålar små
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder opp alla ljusa stjärnor
Innan solen månd' uppgå
- Håll dig väl, fålan min
Betsel och gulsadel på, betsel och gulsadel på
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder opp alla ljusa stjärnor
Två hästar voro vita
- Håll dig väl, fålan min
Det vart ar andra lika, vart ar andra lika
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder opp alla ljusa stjärnor
Två de voro röda
- Håll dig väl, fålan min
De tjänte väl sin föda
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder opp alla ljusa stjärnor
Den femte han var appelgrå
- Håll dig väl, fålan min
Den rider själva Staffan på, rider själva Staffan på
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder opp alla ljusa stjärnor
Staffan rider till källan,
- Håll dig väl, fålan min
Han öser vatten med skällan, öser vatten med skällan
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder opp alla ljusa stjärnor
[Vocalisation]
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder opp alla ljusa stjärnor
Staffan var en helig man
- Håll fast fålan min
Uti himlen tjänte han
- Hjälp oss nu och sang ti Staffan
The lyrics to Gjallarhorn's song Staffan tell the story of a man named Staffan who was a holy man that served in heaven. The song describes his heavenly service, how he became an angel and depicts him riding a horse to a well to fetch water. The song also talks about the color of the horses that Staffan rode, including two white horses, two red horses, and a gray apple horse that he rode himself.
The lyrics are written in a repetitive style, as each section is repeated twice. The song is filled with imagery depicting Staffan as a revered figure, and the listener is urged to hold tight to their own horse while listening to the tale of Staffan's holy endeavors. The song also has a foreboding tone, as it mentions the crowing of the rooster and refers to Staffan's time in the stable before the sunrise.
The lyrics to Staffan are strongly influenced by Swedish folk music traditions, and the song is often played during the Christmas season in Sweden. The song is a celebration of the life of Saint Stephen, a martyr in the Christian faith who was stoned to death for his beliefs. However, the lyrics have been altered over time to make the song more secular, and modern-day versions of the song tend to focus more on the mythical figure of Staffan than on Saint Stephen.
Line by Line Meaning
Staffan var en helig man
Staffan was a revered man
- Håll fast fålan min
- Hold on tight, my horse
Uti himlen tjänte han
He served in heaven
- Hjälp oss nu och sang ti Staffan
- Help us now and sing to Staffan
Där tjänte han så länge
He served there for so long
- Håll fast fålan min
- Hold on tight, my horse
Tills han blev en ängel
Until he became an angel
- Hjälp oss nu och sang ti Staffan
- Help us now and sing to Staffan
Innan hanen galit har
Before the rooster crows
- Håll fast fålan min
- Hold on tight, my horse
Staffan uti stallet var
Staffan was in the stable
- Hjälp oss nu och sang ti Staffan
- Help us now and sing to Staffan
Innan solen månd' uppgå
Before the Monday sun rises
- Håll dig väl, fålan min
- Take good care, my horse
Han vattna' sina fålar små
He watered his small horses
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder upp alla ljusa stjärnor
- Refreshing, it works well; lighting up all bright stars
Betsel och gulsadel på, betsel och gulsadel på
Saddle and yellow saddle on, saddle and yellow saddle on
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder upp alla ljusa stjärnor
- Refreshing, it works well; lighting up all bright stars
Två hästar voro vita
Two horses were white
- Håll dig väl, fålan min
- Take good care, my horse
Det vart ar andra lika, vart ar andra lika
The others were the same, the others were the same
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder upp alla ljusa stjärnor
- Refreshing, it works well; lighting up all bright stars
Två de voro röda
Two were red
- Håll dig väl, fålan min
- Take good care, my horse
De tjänte väl sin föda
They served their food well
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder upp alla ljusa stjärnor
- Refreshing, it works well; lighting up all bright stars
Den femte han var appelgrå
The fifth one was apple-gray
- Håll dig väl, fålan min
- Take good care, my horse
Den rider själva Staffan på, rider själva Staffan på
Staffan himself rides on it, rides on it
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder upp alla ljusa stjärnor
- Refreshing, it works well; lighting up all bright stars
Staffan rider till källan,
Staffan rides to the spring
- Håll dig väl, fålan min
- Take good care, my horse
Han öser vatten med skällan, öser vatten med skällan
He scoops water with a ladle, scoops water with a ladle
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder upp alla ljusa stjärnor
- Refreshing, it works well; lighting up all bright stars
Vocalisation
- Frisker opp, gäller nog; tänder upp alla ljusa stjärnor
- Refreshing, it works well; lighting up all bright stars
Staffan var en helig man
Staffan was a revered man
- Håll fast fålan min
- Hold on tight, my horse
Uti himlen tjänte han
He served in heaven
- Hjälp oss nu och sang ti Staffan
- Help us now and sing to Staffan
Contributed by Christian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lubinkous
I do not understand a single word but emotions generated by listening to this music can not be described! I love all kinds of music and nordic music has had special place in my discography since college years back in Slovakia. Strange thing I discovered this only few years back and I keep returning to this regularly. Awesome uploads at this channel!
@christopherburd9495
A pity it was their last album. I am a huge fan of this group.
@LucasReis-ov7iw
Holy Odin!! I was searching all day long for this kind of music.
So good!
@Tom_Quixote
This kind of music is more towards Freya, I feel.
@szymonmichlewicz-sowa7992
I like it so much. kokkovirsi especially :) greetings from Poland :-)
@MarysiaKosowski
I think the first album, Ranarop, was the best one, followed closely by Sjofn. But all four albums are amazing and very rewarding for repeat listens. :)
@michaelcrusader9612
Fantastish -historical-nord-folk-music!Play,sing..Sincere vision on history!!! Nords..Danke Schon!!!
@josipmimica
wow 👌👌 great album and fantastic musicians
@spacecadet8843
Imho this sort of music is best when it's not experimental. The more simpler music with its repetition suffices. It's more effective at conveying a mood, and just seems natural for folk. Having said that, this album does have some GREAT moments.
@glenadlin
Most awesome Nordic sounds.