I love folk tales and folk music from various cultures. Here's a good tune based on a Swedish folk tale.
Herr Mannelig
It's a story of a mountain troll that wants to marry a human so she can become human. She falls in love and proposes to Herr Mannelig but he rejects her because she's a pagan. I believe it's over 500 years old.
The tune is performed by In Extremo; a metal band famous for it's use of medieval instruments.
Here's the text (Old Swedish?):
In Extremo - Herr Mannelig
Bittida en morgon innan solen upprann
Innan foglarna böjade sjunga
Bergatroliet friade till ***er ungersven
Hon hade en falskeliger tunga
Herr Mannelig herr Mannelig trolofven i mig
Fö det jag bjuder sã gerna
I kunnen väl svara endast ja eller nej
Om i viljen eller ej:
Eder vill jag gifva de gãngare tolf
Som gã uti rosendelunde
Aldrig har det varit nãgon sadel uppã dem
Ej heller betsel uti munnen
Eder vill jag gifva de qvarnarna tolf
Som stã mellan Tillö och Ternö
Stenarna de äro af rödaste gull
Och hjulen silfverbe****na (Seems ubi censored s-l-a-g)
Eder vill jag gifva fögyllande svärd
Som klingar utaf femton guldringar
Och strida huru I strida vill
Stridplatsen skolen i väl vinna
Eder vill gifva en skjorta sã ny
den bästa I lysten att slita
Inte är hon sömnad av nãl eller trã
Men virkat av silket det hvita
Sãdana gãfvor toge jag väl emot
Om du vore en kristelig qvinna
Men nu sã är du det värsta bergatroll
Af Neckens och djävulens stämma
Bergatrollet ut pã dören sprang
Hon rister och jämrar sig svãra
Hade jag fãtt den ***er ungersven
Sã hade jag mistat min plãga
:Herr Mannelig herr Mannelig trolofven i mig
Fö det jag bjuder sã gerna
I kunnen väl svara endast ja eller nej
Om i viljen eller nej:
English Translation
Once in the early morning before sun rise
Before the dawn chorus sounded
The mountain troll woman proposed to a knight
She spoke with a forked tongue
Knight Mannelig, Knight Mannelig
Please marry me
For I can give you everything
Your answer can only be "yes" or "no"
If you want it that way
I will give you twelve fine mares
Which are grazing in the shady grove
They have never felt a saddle
Never a bridle
I will give you twelve mills
Situated between Tillö and Ternö
The mill stones have the finest red gleam
And the wheels are made of silver
I will give you a golden sword
Which sounds with 15 gold rings
And in battles fights as you wish
On the battle field you will be victorious
I will give you a shirt, so new
The most beautiful that you have every seen
Not sewn with needle and thread
Crocheted from the finest white silk
Gifts such as these I would love to accept
If you were a Christian woman
But you are an evil mountain troll woman
From the species of the water trolls and the devil
The mountain troll ran out through the door
She walled and wept loudly
If I had got the handsome man
I would be freed from my pain
Knight Mannelig, Knight Mannelig
Please marry me
For I can give you everything
Your answer can only be "yes" or "no"
If you want it that way
END
Fritz
Is it possible to start a thread with the hopes of learning more about Swedish culture and folklore without the focus being 100% shifted to some of the most beautiful women in the world?
Not complaining, I'd just like to see a 10% focus on the original topic.
Those girls do look very "sweetish" though, don't they?
Fritz
I felt this one needed to be quoted.Originally posted by Aimail101:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Pirschjaeger:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HotelBushranger:
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</div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Those boobs need to be quoted again </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
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