Ravnen
Sorten Muld Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ravnen flyver om aftenen
om dagen han ikke må
Den skal have den onde lykke
den gode ikke kan få
- Men ravnen flyver om aftenen -

"Hør mig hør mig du vilde valravn
kom flyv herned til mig
Hviden sølv vil jeg dig give
om du vil hjælpe mig

Min stedmoder har forvist min kære
til fjernt og fremmed land
Røden guld vil jeg dig give
før mig til ham om du kan"

"Sølv og guld og ædelstene
vil jeg ikke af dig have
Men den første søn I føder
skal I skænke mig som gave"

Irmelin lagde sin hvide hånd
alt på den ravnefod
og før end nætter tre var gået
frem for kæresten hun stod

Det var i den lyse sommer
de lå i brudeseng
og før end måneder ni var gået
fødte Irmelin en dreng

Ravnen flyver om aftenen
den flyver til Irmelin
"Husk I bærer den onde lykke




husk at drengen han er min"
- Men ravnen flyver om aftenen -

Overall Meaning

The song Ravnen by Sorten Muld is a folk song that tells the story of a raven who only flies in the evening and is believed to bring bad luck. The singer of the song calls out to the raven, offering it silver and gold if it will help her. She explains that her stepmother has banished her lover to a distant land, and she wants the raven to take her to him. The raven agrees to help her under the condition that the first child she bears will be given to him as a gift.


The singer agrees to the raven's request and places her hand on the raven's foot. Within three nights, she is reunited with her lover, and before nine months pass, she gives birth to a son. However, the raven returns to remind her that the child belongs to him and that he brings bad luck. The song ultimately ends with the raven continuing to fly in the evening, serving as a reminder of the bargain made with the singer.


Overall, the story told in Ravnen is a classic tale of a deal made with the devil or a supernatural being. The song's lyrics also highlight the belief in the symbolism of birds, particularly ravens, as they are often associated with death and misfortune.


Line by Line Meaning

Ravnen flyver om aftenen
The raven flies in the evening


Om dagen han ikke må
He is not allowed to during the day


Den skal have den onde lykke
It shall have the bad luck


Den gode ikke kan få
That which the good cannot have


Men ravnen flyver om aftenen
But the raven flies in the evening


Hør mig hør mig du vilde valravn
Hear me! Hear me! You wild raven


kom flyv herned til mig
Come fly down to me


Hviden sølv vil jeg dig give
I will give you white silver


om du vil hjælpe mig
If you will help me


Min stedmoder har forvist min kære
My stepmother has banished my beloved


til fjernt og fremmed land
To a distant and foreign land


Røden guld vil jeg dig give
I will give you red gold


før mig til ham om du kan
Bring me to him if you can


Sølv og guld og ædelstene
Silver and gold and precious stones


vil jeg ikke af dig have
I do not want those from you


Men den første søn I føder
But the first son you bear


skal I skænke mig som gave
Shall be given to me as a gift


Irmelin lagde sin hvide hånd
Irmelin placed her white hand


alt på den ravnefod
Completely on the raven's foot


og før end nætter tre var gået
And before three nights had passed


frem for kæresten hun stod
She stood before her boyfriend


Det var i den lyse sommer
It was in the bright summer


de lå i brudeseng
They lay in the bridal bed


og før end måneder ni var gået
And before nine months had passed


fødte Irmelin en dreng
Irmelin gave birth to a boy


Husk I bærer den onde lykke
Remember you carry the bad luck


husk at drengen han er min
Remember, the boy is mine




Contributed by Aaliyah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found