CD 2

Nicolina (née Vang) came from Kálvhúsið in Glyvrar and married Hanus Højgaard of Rituvík. Nicolina's parents were Andreas Vang from Kaldbak and Tomina úr Hanusarstova from Skála. Nicolina's daughter Henny Davidsen from Toftir explains that Nicolina probably had the skjaldur that she used to sing from her mother.

A special characteristic of Nicolina's songs is that one clearly hears that the interval between the second and third tone in the scale is sometimes major, sometimes minor and sometimes somewhere in-between. The scale is basically the first five notes of the aeolian scale. The melody usually ascends from the tonic to the mediant, to the subdominant and then to the dominant. As the melody descends it moves from the dominant to the subdominant and then either a tone or semitone downwards. Only towards the end of the skjaldur, i.e. the penultimate tone, is the supertonic sung. That the tonic-mediant interval is sometimes minor and sometimes major is not unknown in our folksong tradition (recordings of Anna í Havursgarði, Maria Eide Petersen and Johanna Maria Skylv Hansen are also good examples of this type of melody), but on recordings of Nicolina, one hears it especially clearly.

1. Lull, lull, the baby (0:30)

Recorded by Ólavur Hátún at Rituvík in 1962.

Lull, lull, the baby,

the pot is hanging in iron.

The mother threshes corn,

the father blows the horn,

the sister sews the gold on the baby.

Won't the baby be quiet,

Take a stem,

Touch the wall.

So the baby shall be quiet.

2. Up in an oak grove (1:38)

Up in an oak grove

there is a jug.

Four nights before Christmas

all the maids are dancing.

Little sister is dancing there

like a little handmaid.

After her goes brother

he wants her so.

He wants to tug and touch her

he wants to kiss and caress her.

Noise in the castle

bridesmen are riding.

Those ride the best

that have had the most.

They have had little sister

for their wife.

They lead her to the noisy peak

and buy her a golden ring.

Silk for her stocking garter,

she shall untie it herself,

she shall tie it herself.

Now she has got

covered her bosom.

Large brooch

the brooch was made of red gold.

That was what Meya told me.

He had an infection in his eye

of which he did die.

3. The cat lies dead at the door (0.45)

The cat lies dead at the door,

Cannot eat bread and butter.

it carries love,

cannot eat for sorrow.

Stand up and dance

with the tail and the rear,

with the bottom and the behind.

Spades and clubs, did you catch sight

of Stertureyv?

Sterta went to the mill to grind

with grey rump and white tail.

Hoping something good,

The girls hang the pot up,

the boys eat with the spoon.

4. Row out to crab shell (0:48)

Row out to crab shell.

Why is the old hag squatting here?

Lost her hook and sinker

we did not get a fish bone to bite.

Now it is time to row

to grandmother and grandfather

father and mother,

sister and brother.

All our good friends

sit at home.

Wipe of snuff up in their nose

Blubber in their pipe,

So the Koyarman hops.

5. Row out to Balta (0:25)

Row out to Balta,

catch the salty fish.

What shall the farmer get

for supper tonight?

Haddock head I call it,

coalfish heads in a mug

cat’s tail and ray’s side.

That’s what the farmer

shall have for his supper tonight,

when he is coming back.

6. Don’t cry, don’t cry, little baby (0:19)

Don’t cry, don’t cry little baby

Tomorrow comes your father Finn.

Either with sun or moon

Or with the eyes of Saint Lawrence

tied on a blue string.

7. Down comes the puffin from the cliff (0:34)

Down comes the puffin from the cliff

walking quickly..

Who is governing the country?

Assailants and Norwegians.

Little ones and pipits,

Lend me your ship.

My ship is small,

My legs are short,

to step on the boat

which is hanging.

Oars play in the tholepin.

8. Grandfather owns a little boat (0:17)

Grandfather owns a little boat,

a pretty boat,

a keel boat

to row south to Tórshavn

to get a piece of an oar.

Lying at Torvgarðstangi,

south of Lúni.

9. Crow stands on a stone (0:18)

Crow stands on a stone

Picking at a pot.

One was a potsherd,

second was a cast-off,

third was at thieves assembly.

Then little brother shall

turn about in the ring.

Henny Nikala Davidsen (b. 1925) from Toftir:

Henny (née Højgaard) was born and raised in Rituvík and is the daughter of Nicolina Højgaard.

10. I was sitting at the slope of Gøta (0:41)

Recorded by Kári Sverrisson at Toftir, 28 June 1998.

I was sitting at the slope of Gøta,

caring for my sheep.

Then a small man came forth

looked like Mortan from Heygum.

He took his rod

hit me in my head.

I back against him

with both my hands

full of pebbles.

Then he went moaning and whining

west of the tangi*

The ask the bishop for money.

The first gave him an ox

the second gave him a cow,

the third gave him hay,

so they should not die.

*tangi lit. ‘tongue of land’

11. I was coming in the evening (0:37)

I was coming in the evening

My wife was sitting and whipping

milk to curdle,

I asked her to give me

milk to drink.

“I should not give to you

until you have cried for me

with both your eyes,

dry tears

wet cheeks.”

“Evil spoiler!”

answered Høkil the lamb thief;

my mouth would like to

get a fresh piece of mutton

on Easter Morning.”

12. Rukkulakki* went down the stream (0:14)

‘Rukkulakki’ went down the stream:

“Why do you not wash me

as the other little blood sausage pieces?”

When he came to the church slope:

“Hop, hop, hop!”

said the ‘rukkulakki’ then.

* Rukkulakki lit. ‘third stomach in ruminants’

13. Nightmare, nightmare, less (0:13)

Nightmare, nightmare, less

Are you in here?

Out you shall go

carry both manure and seaweed

and everything, that is in here.

14. Dance, dance, my doll (0:10)

Dance, dance, my doll,

Shift of silk and ermine,

Spotted shoes and pearls upon,

Then she dances like a doll.

15. First dances the baker (1:07)

Recorded by Kári Sverrisson in Toftir, 28 February 1999.

In his book Folkesangen paa Færøerne (København: Høst & Søn, 1908) (pp 65 - 68) Hjalmar Thuren discusses various Faroese Lenten/Lententide practices. Thuren refers to several written descriptions, including those of V.U. Hammershaimb (“Antikvarisk Tidsskrift 1848-51”), J.C. Svabo (Efterretn. V. S. 1174) and J.H. Schrøter (in a letter to P.R. Müller, dated 21st Sept. 1821). He tells about a creature, a grýla named Langaføsta, who went from farm to farm begging for meat, singing the verse “Oman kemur grýla av gørðum” (lit. Down from the farms comes the grýla) Another curious custom is described as follows: A row of people, bearing a “strange and deforming” costume, come in during the party and dance around, while the spectators describe the strange figures with the following song: “Fyri dansar Fívil og hann tútar,/so hann tútar í bak,/ so tað bakið niður gekk;/ so tann revur í reklum,/so tann ormur í kröklum;/ aftast dansar drumburin av teim öllum.”

Perhaps the much longer rhyme that Henny sings here was originally used in this kind of play. Henny's rhyme includes the above mentioned verse cited by Thuren.

First dances the baker,

then the baker’s boy

then the little byrst* out

then the diamond ring

then the rispy rasp,

then the chisby chasp

put the blockhead out!

They dance with hivde

and havde and kavde.

Komfirpain, komfirbum,

the most drunken mischiefmakers

cockchafer, crossmen.

In front dances the fool out to howl

Then howl back

Then the foxy worm

Then the demanding fox,

Last dances the ‘trumpil’*

After them all.

The one, who will not do this

He shall carry the stave skin

stave skin get upon my chicken

chicken of mine

even if he is a housepig

Take him in his ass,

kiss his feet,

Then he is yours.

* the meaning of ‘byrst’ is obscure. Perhaps someting to do with tending a fire.

* The meaning of ‘trumpil’ is obscure.

Jóhan Adolf Petersen (b. 1920) from Norðdepil:

16. I was walking to the gate (0:25)

Recorded by Birgitta Hylin in Klaksvík, 21 February 1971.

I was walking to the gate

Lost my socks and shoes,

There was not growing much about me

Then I went to Strendur

To find my rich relatives.

They did not know me better

then I had coalfish with liver kneaded in flour

and it was burned.

Kirstin Henriksen (b. 1927) from Strendur:

17. The crow said to the crab (0:20)

Recorded by Birgitta Hylin in Tórshavn, 20 January 1972.

The crow said to the crab:

“Creep out from under the stone

I shall wash you in my gold water

I shall comb you with my goldcomb”

“Crow, crow”, then she said

threw the crab into a stream,

pecked him up

and leapt away.

18. Mary is sitting on the sand (0:39)

Mary is sitting on the sand

with a mass book in her hand.

Two angels of God came there

ask her, why she is sitting there watching

I watch for Jesus.

Jesus is in the mountains

Bless you God, the holy Spirit

Mark and Philip

Mary Magdalene

sat on a stone.

One out, other in

give us good moments

good moments and long

To go to heaven

with happiness and joy

among all the angels of God.

19. Bless the child (0:10)

Bless the child,

given me to look after.

Father is away in the forest,

Mother is not at home.

20. Maria, Maria, marolla (0:26)

Maria, Maria, marolla,

Had so many buns.

I asked her to give me one,

I got a stone.

I gave the farmer the stone,

the farmer gave me hay.

The hay I gave to the cow,

the cow gave me milk.

I gave the baker the milk,

the baker gave me a cake.

I gave the cake to mother,

mother gave me a cat,

which had kittens.

21. One, two, three, fikka, fakka, fee (0:09)

One, two, three, fikka, fakka, fee.

Father was a tidy head,

Bought me a red, white waistcoat,

Larr, larr, five.

Not hidden yet.

Louisa Jensen (1898-1980) from Strendur:

Louisa was Kirstin's mother.

22. Ona, dona, drikkudreys (0:06)

Recorded by Birgitta Hylin in Tórshavn, 20. January 1972.

Ona, dona, drikkudreys,

Costs four, five and six

Silver, ryl, kosperal

King, queen, diamond ace.

23. Ing, ping, pobarsting (0:12)

Ing, ping, pobarsting.

Elja, melja, luka, suka,

satta, siva, hiva, diva,

daabakreds.

Annikka mannikka,

queen’s girl,

skitta number bible foss,

bimm, bamm, brott once.

Ess, pess, af.

Tinna Tótudóttir (b. 1991) and Ruth Leitistein Højgaard (b. 1991) from Saltangará:

24. Ogga, gogga, rubberclock/Ten horses were standing in a box (0:16)

Recorded by Kári Sverrisson in Saltangará, 21 October 1999

I heard my daughter and her friend chanting this counting rhyme at home, and then we made this recording. When asked who had taught them the rhyme, the two little girls answered as one, “Nobody. We just heard a girl count like this. And she has certainly heard some other girl.”

Ogga, gogga, rubberclock.

Erling perling,

piff paff puff.

Ten horses were standing in a box.

One got out

It broke a pane.

Hans Dalsgaard (1899-1970) from Skálavík:

25. Tella* mine, tella mine (0:49)

Recorded by Jóannes Dalsgaard in Tórshavn, 12. October 1970.

Tella mine, tella mine

twelve and slaves at the assembly,

slaves and wellfare,

travel between countries.

Sleepness night is tonight,

the night is called Friday night.

I shall show the horse a lot,

As he has been standing

three nights.

The horse is a little creature

marked on both ears.

If I had been so educated

as the bishop Torkil.

Sings he well,

in his church,

sings in hór*

sings in choir,

sings rustanbolda.*

* the meaning of ‘tella’ ‘hór’ and ‘rustanbolda’ is obscure. "Tella mine...slaves" perhaps means "Count my...slaves".

26. I was sitting north of the chasm (0:45)

I was sitting north of the chasm

loosened a limpet.

My wife was sitting on the steep rock

she was able to see.

I called: “Tór’s wife”

Tór’s wife called “Cod”.

The cod called “Lóna”,

Lóna called “Peter’s girl”

Peter’s girl called me.

I called “Bumma”,

Heard how they threw the ‘lunnar’*

My wife asked me to go.

I said: “My friend,

what is the use of going?

They have already come

far south of the tangi”*

* lunnar – timbers on which boats run when being launched or hauled up from water.

* tangi – long narrow spit of land

27. I was sitting at the slope of Gøta (1:26)

I was sitting at the slope of Gøta

caring for my sheep.

Then a small boy came forth

Looked like Mortan in his eye.

He took his rod

hit me in my head.

I back against him

With both my hands

full of pebbles.

Then he went away from there

moaning and whining

east of the land,

to ask for a bishop in the tangi*. (see above)

The bishop gave him an ox,

Horn to blow.

The second gave him a ship,

Which hardly ever died.

I was coming in the evening

As my wife was sitting and whipping

I asked her to give me

Milk to drink.

“I should not give to you

until you have cried for me

both your eyes,

dry tears!”

answered Høkil the lamb thief;

My mouth would like to

taste a fresh piece of mutton rump

first Easter Morning.”

28. The gossipmonger cow (0:18)

The gossipmonger cow

walks among the houses

to beg some lice.

Draws them on a string

and hangs it on a nail.

Then she rises Easter Morning

to chew it.

29. Rambi og Sára wife (0:30)

Rambi og Sára wife

of Tróndur, the farmer

They were fighting for some soup for Christmas

Because it was so badly cooked and weak.

Rambi holds his thigh:

“This you are throwing me

are you not ashamed of youself?

You are going all over the farm

To gossip and critisize.

You should better comb your fair head!”

30. Seethe, seethe, my pot (0:08)

Seethe, seethe, my pot

You know my need,

My stomach is hungry

And seethe, seethe my pot.

31. Up in an oak grove (0:58)

Up in an oak grove

there is a jug.

Four nights before Christmas

all the maids were dancing.

Little Anna is dancing there

like a little handmaid.

After her comes John,

he would like to

tug and touch her,

kiss and caress her.

Then he goes to the noisy assembly

to buy her a golden ring.

Silk for her stocking garter,

She shall untie it herself,

she shall tie it herself.

Now she has got

covered her bosom

Large brooch

the brooch was made of red gold.

That was causing Óli Peter’s son to die.

32. And it was Óli, Peter’s son (0:27)

And it was Óli Peter’s son

He should go out to catch birds,

Then he had an infection in his eye.

I wish that Óli Peter’s son

Should sit on a skerry

Every morning,

Ravens tear his bottom and bone,

They never carry the bones home.

Tarlakk and butterlakk

sing golden plover.

It shall be good tomorrow.

33. I was sitting in hási* (0:22)

I was sitting in hási,

All doors locked.

Then came an old hag riding

down through the deep valley.

The horse thuds,

the saddle creaks.

Five for a mile

in front ride eight.

*hási see 43 CD 1

34. The hunchback sits og cries (0:16)

The hunchback sits and cries,

shaking his rags.

Then came an old hag with her stick,

hit the hunchback out to sea.

“Dear me!” said the hunchback;

“Now I am in the deep!”

35. Short vest bait (0:23)

Short, vest bait,

North of Hóri’s trail,

west of the street.

I sat on my hirpin, tirpin, teia,

talked to my kurin, lurin, leia.

Then I saw such a little child

playing far away on the moor.

36. The crow sits on the well (0:53)

The crow sits on the well

holding a leaf in its mouth.

The eagle sits on a twig

Shaking her beak.

Lend me wings to fly.

Where shall I fly?

Home to the halls to live

There are boys sitting

making golden strings,

there are lads sitting

making gold spears.

There are maids sitting

and sew golden jumpers,

there are nuns sitting

making gold ducks,

gilded needles

and no thread.

Grow, grow, timber tree

Both well and long

Thus tell small boys.

Lena Simonsen (Lena í Garðinum) (1894-1982) from Elduvík:

37. Skekil on skin (0:15)

Recorded by Birgitta Hylin in Tórshavn, 24 December 1971.

Jólaskekil was the name given to one who had behaved badly and therefore had been spanked just before Christmas. Lena explains that everyone tried to behave especially well just before Christmas in order not to be “Jólaskekil”. According to Lena the verse used to be longer than the one we hear here.

Skekil on skin, let me in.

Skekil in hide, let me out.

Sigmund Jacobsen (Sigmundur í Búð) (1906-1983) from Nólsoy:

38. Boys shaped the armour (0:29)

Recorded by Birgitta Hylin in Nólsoy, 20 April 1977.

Sigmundur told that he heard these verses from Anna í Nýggjustovu who came to Nólsoy from Kollafjørður. Anna died in 1934.

Boys shaped the armour

made a rounded shape.

The wave broke (rand á skjøl ?)

There came wind and sudden wind,

the wind blew weather in the sail

in dragon’s hall.

Boys sail the wind and waves

as the leaf (?) throws on the lime.

It’s raining from the land for midnight.

Truly I shall grieve my sin,

let me put up with my lot,

sail for the wind.

The meaning of this ‘skjaldur’ is extremely obscure. Thus this translation is much of a guessing.

Sigmund Danielsen (Sigmundur í Lon) (1905-1988) from Nólsoy:

39. Up in a grove to jalla* (0:16)

Recorded by Birgitta Hylin in Nólsoy, 11 January 1970.

Up in a grove to jalla*,

Goldfeeted eagle,

The one who loves a spinster (lit. ‘an old girl’)

He will not get any children

Up in a grove to jalla.*

* ‘jalla’ – the meaning is obscure

40. Lull, Lull, rocking (0:14)

Lull, lull, rocking,

The mother is called Billa

The father is a good man

Sometimes he behaves badly.

41. Bold, bold, rune (0:29)

Bold, bold, rune,

One lad túna* .

Goes a pig in our yard,

he eats barley and what he can get,

sugar here, sugar there

sugar in his spout.

Up the valley and down the valley

Shall the poor back pay

Twelve blows we shall blow

Then we shall go home.

*túna – obscure

42. Come out lussi (0:11)

Recorded by Birgitta Hylin in Nólsoy, 8 September 1973.

This verse was used when fishing, either on the shore or on a boat. Sigmundur tells that “when they had limpets as bait, they used to first pour boiling water over the limpets, because then the shell loosened and the limpets died. A black round thing up towards the shell was supposedly the stomach and it tasted sweet. They swallowed that down. Otherwise they sat and chewed the limpet a little bit before putting it on the hook, and they sat with the next limpet in their mouths while they fished. Then they sat and chanted:

Come out lussi*

out of the seaweed

straighten the hook,

stretch the line,

bend the rod!

*lussi – obscure

43. Hangs up slipur, slupur, slapur (0:12)

About these two next verses Sigmundur explains: “This slipur, slupur, slapur - it is the stomach (ed. note: the source of rennet), “kveikamagin”, of a calf; the stomach of a calf which has not yet been weaned, maybe two or three days old.”

Hangs up slipur, slupur, slapur,

Down sits shaggy cheek and gapes

The shaggy cheek thinks to himself:

“It was better that the slipur, slupur, slapur

was in me".

44. Dralvi is the best of milk (0:18)

Sigmundur continues: “You took the kveikamagin and into it you put some of the first milk you milked from a cow when she had just calved. You used it to get the milk to thicken and coagulate, and that is called dralvi. They hung the stomach up on a nail. Into this you poured two, maybe three, liters of milk and then it coagulated and it tasted so good. This was the verse about it:”

Dralvi is the best of milk,

spin, rurr, rurr,

that said to brother to silent child,

spin, rurr, rurr,

you eat it, as you can

dralvi satisfies many a man,

spin, rurr, rurr.

Sometimes the dralvi was so tough that you had to chew it, so it squeaked between your teeth. Sometimes you had to slice it.”

45. Mild Maria (bull verse) (0:20)

This verse was recited to protect yourself when you were walking by a bull.

Mild Maria, let me have courage (?),

to tie a bull.

Bone of ‘tóra’, put in moss,

the bull shall not harm you,

while Jesus is with you.

46. One, two, three, fikka, fakka, fee (0:11)

Recorded by Mortan Nolsøe and Helgi Jacobsen in Nólsoy, 15 October 1980.

These next two recordings are of counting-rhymes, that were used in a hide-and-seek game that people on Nólsoy called “Tvídrapons”.

One, two, three, fikka, fakka, fee.

Heðin, way,

Buy red and white for a waistcoat

Clay, clay, not hidden yet.

47. One and two, got me, got me sheep (0:11)

One and two, got meg, got me sheep,

serfiona, piknapona,

assjasjó, piknapó.

48. Látipípa, látipípa (lit. "soundpipe") (0:12)

In the autumn during the threshing the children used to make látipípur, little pipes, explains Sigmund, and this verse was sung for the pipe if it didn't make a sound. If it didn't work even after the verse was sung, the pipe was thrown away.

Soundpipe, soundpipe

if you will not sound,

then you'll be thrown

into the burning fire,

dark as coal,

fine as flour.

Jákup Berg (1905-1997) from Hov:

49. Látipípa, látipípa (0:08)
Recorded by Birgitta Hylin in Vágur, 22 January 1970.

As in the previous verse, this verse was sung when you had cut a pipe and it wouldn't make a sound. If it didn't work after you had sung the verse, you threw the pipe away, as you had threatened in the verse.

Soundpipe, soundpipe

Will you not pipe,

then you shall cry

in the hot fire.

50. Bless the child, (0:21)

Bless the child,

given me to look after.

Father is away in the forest,

Mother is not at home.

Bless the child.

Bless the child,

Let it get good help

Every tongue, that will speak,

Pray for its wellbeing.

Bless the child.

Unnamed woman from Skælingur:

51. Jøkil is sitting on a hill (0:48)

Recorded by Jacob Aagotnes in Tórshavn, 1964.

Jøkil is sitting on a hill

With wringeer and swing.

I have lost the black-spotted ‘Kolla’

I heard the bell ring.

He came bellowing

Drovna, Ringja,

Íla, Ála, Eskja, Kála,

Flekka, Fræna,

Geita, Grana.

Liggur Langlina

and Langabuppa,

Hildans tjernan

Hidden for me.

All our cows have come

Step over wide streams.

Down comes Hápin

and skrápur (Manx shearwater).

Groaning comes the Brynja

Last of them all.

The names mentioned in this ‘skjaldur’ are cow’s names.

Marianna Jacobsen (Marianna í Kongsstovu) (1905-1997) from Nólsoy:

52. Baa, baa, said my ewe (0:11)

Recorded by Ólavur Hátún in Nólsoy, 1961.

This skjaldur from Nólsoy is very much like part of the cumulative song “Eg kendi mær ein ríkmannn”, sung by Axel Tórgarð (no. 44 on disc 1).

"Baa, baa", said my ewe.

"Oink, oink", said my pig.

"Hiss, hiss", said my goose.

"Cock-a-doodle-doo", said the rooster.

"Cluck", said the hen.

53. Dance, dance, majokka (0:13)

Dance, dance, majokka.

Mother shall give you a petticoat

And then a yellow frock.

Then we shall dance so long

‘till we have had blue shoelaces

and yellow around your head

54. I went to the slope of Gøta (0:36)

I went to the slope of Gøta

caring for my sheep.

Then a small boy came forth

looked like Mortan from the mountains.

He took his rod

hit me in my head.

I back against him

with both my hands

full of pebbles.

Then I went away from there

west of the land

To ask for a bishop in the tongue of land.

The bishop gave him the ox,

taught him to hop and be noisy,

human bones in my stomach.

William Kornus Jóannesarson (1910-1995) from Funningur:

55. Hops and makes noise (0:37)

Recorded by Brynolv Lamhauge at Funningur, February 1995.

Hops and makes noise

Human bones in my stomach.

“What did your men do yesterday?”

“They went out to catch seals.”

“And what did they get there?”

“Thirty seals.”

“What did they give in my share?”

“The rectum and the gall bladder.”

“Was that well done?”

“I and my men

thought so.”

56. Heyapaleya (0:28)

Heyapaleya,

krusimenta, timia,

arga katta bátsmannveyg,

rotin kreyg,

pass, passed.

China passed.

The jug is in the cupboard

has so white feet.

Meat and milk and wheat porridge,

that is food, that is good to eat.

Sámal Petur Hansen (1928-1988) from Funningsfjørður:

57. Sit behind me (0:18)

Recorded by Mortan Nolsøe in Tórshavn, 2 September 1983.

Sit behind me,

do not let the giant bite you.

Do not get wet.

All the crows went

up to the stonehouse.

There was more food there,

but here is none.

58. The cow and the sheep (0:13)

The cow and the sheep

they are both

each its kind.

They snore badly.

Many a straw of hay

they waste.

The farmers do not like that.

59. Once aboard a ship (0:23)

Once aboard a ship

Belus’ boy was almost killed,

Because he had stolen from the hole,

the big Dutch bread.

Then Belus’ boy was in trouble.

When the priest got to hear it,

he had him put in the dark room.

Little boy, go to bed,

wrap yourself in the nest.

Unnamed singer:

60. Here goes the heathen hind (0:31)

Recorded by Hakon Grüner-Nielsen, 1927/28.

The first part of the singing game “Reisa hjørt” (Arise stag) (see Folkesangen paa Færøerne by Hjalmar Thuren, pp. 56-57, Høst & Søn, 1908). Especially popular among young people, the game starts with the young men dancing in a ring, as the young girls watch. Everyone present sings this verse three times:

Her goes the heathen hind

Such go several,

The fair hind we have got,

We have no stag,

Arise stag, follow me,

fair maid I give to you.

She is so slim about her waist

as the anvil in the smith

It sounds well,

so they carrolled,

so their fingers

that knitted this jersey.

You go wide in the ring

Take one yourself whoever you want,

As mother lead to walk.

Before the verse ends for the third time, the ring breaks, and each man chooses himself a girl and sits down with her in his lap. One girl, who is participating in the game, walks around to each couple, candle in hand, and says this verse:

Sit down, white maiden

with the young noble man!

Lend me a candle to light with,

how the girl’s shoe is.

Well, well, will you me,

You shall enjoy her well.

Whom, whom, noble child,

Kiss the girl, when you wish!

Tonight you shall kiss her,

Tomorrow you shall lose her!

Kiss her tonight, if you want to

Tomorrow you shall already lose her.

Then we go home! I do not want to go home!

Mother gives her daughter a well-born son!

When the verse is said or sung, the young man may kiss his girl. Marin Malena Eliasen (1852-1927) from Klaksvík was Hjalmar Thuren's informant for this second verse, of which we have found no recording.

Maria Danielsen (1859-1930) from Velbastað:

61. Arise stag (singing game) (0:19)

Recorded by Hakon Grüner-Nielsen at Velbastaður in 1927.

Arise deer, follow me,

Fair maid I give to you.

She is so slim about her waist

as the anvil in the smith.

You go into the ring

take one for you

whereever you want,

mother let them go.

62. Down from the dykes comes the Grýla (0:21)

Down from the dykes comes the Grýla

with forty tails.

Sack on its back, short sword in its hand.

to cut out the stomach of children,

who cry for breast in Lent.

Jóan Petur Sandoy (Jóan Petur í Skemmuni) (1882-1976) from Sandur:

63. When I came there down in the meadow (0:29)

Recorded by Viggo Dalsgaard in Sandur, 17 February 1974.

The first verse of this rhyme, which Jóan Petur said was usually sung to the tune of “Sven Vonved” (a medieval ballad in the Danish tongue, used in the Faroese chain dance), is the same as the fifth and last verse of the song “Eg fór mær niðan á gil” (no. 16 on disc 1), sung with the same melody by Kristina Bolstad from Sandvík. Jóan Petur thought that eggjasteinur, usually taken to mean simply “sharp stone”, might be the same as sigursteinur. (ed. note: A sigursteinur (lit. “victory stone”) is a stone that, when worn or carrried, gives the bearer victory and good luck.) If you wanted to get hold of a sigursteinur , you had to take eggs from a raven while it was gone from the nest, boil the eggs and put them back in the nest before the raven noticed anything. When the raven had given up hatching the eggs, you had to go and get the sigursteinur, and then the trick was to get it away from the raven. Jóan Petur thought that the starling in this little song carries off one of these good luck stones.

When I came down there in the meadow

I saw a pipit, he carried two trees.

They were both wide and long,

He laid each tree on a wing.

But then at last I saw a starling,

He was leaving with a ‘sharp stone’.

Then he left with it.

I did not see him again.

Súsanna Katrina Samuelsen (Súsanna í Skumpitoft) (1904-1995) from Húsavík:

64. Hákun sings in the wood (0:08)

Recorded by Jacob Aagotnes in Tórshavn, 1964.

Hákun sings in the wood,

He hears, where the cock crows.

So merrily he dances, Hákun for the crow.

Jens Ludvík Johannesen (1918-1999) from Dalur:

65. Down comes the puffin (0:36)

Recorded by Mortan Nolsøe and Helgi Jacobsen recorded at Dalur, 11 February 1983.

Down comes the puffin from the cliff

Walking quickly, stretches his neck.

Who is governing the country?

Pipits and little ones

Assailants and Norwegians.

Lend me your ship.

My ship is small,

My legs are short,

To step on the boat.

The snake runs.

Oars play in the tholepin.

Elisabeth Jacobsen (Elsuba í Króki) (1885-1967) from Nólsoy:

66. The fire began to blaze (0:11)

Recorded by Ólavur Hátún in Nólsoy, 1961.

The fire began to blaze

Gorsa began to kneed,

Brita went for water

Sigga rakes the ashes,

And the old one plays with the children.

67. Leg, leg clumsy (0:25)

Leg, leg, clumsy

Knee, knee, wobbly

The puffin’s thigh,

the male lamb’s stomach,

the steep chest,

the straight chin,

the mouth knows where there is food to be had,

the nose bended,

the eye oblong,

the bad ear, which will not hear.

68. Dance, dance, jokka (0:16)

Dance, dance, jokka.

Grandmother shall give you a petticoat

and then a yellow frock.

Then she dances so long

‘till we have had green wings,

and yellow head.

69. Dance, dance, bouncing (0:21)

Dance, dance, bouncing,

the cat is a sweep

the dog is an artful one,

then the dance goes in and out.

Lovely girls and boys, dance well and long!

Dance for the little sisters,

and better for the boys.

70. Mary is sitting on the sand (0:41)

Mary is sitting on the sand

with a mass book in her hand.

Two angels of God came there

Ask her, why she is sitting there watching

I am watching for Jesus.

Jesus is in the mountains

Lifts up his right hand,

Bless you God, the holy Spirit!

Mary Magdalene

Sat on a stone.

The one and the other

God give us good moments

Good moments and long

God give us to go to heaven

Happiness and joy

in all the angels of God.

Bjarni Mohr (1912-1988) from Hoyvík:

71. I owned a cap (Cap’s ballad) (5:00)

Recorded by Birgitta Hylin in Tórshavn, 2 May 1969.

I owned a cap

it was full.

Ten women and a hundred

drew it out of water.

Ten women and a hundred

drew it out of water.

It did not have any other flaw,

then that the edges were too big.

There came all the weaverwomen

each with her loom.

There came all the mountainmen

each with their stave.

There came all the shepherds,

each with his lamb.

There came all the women who full,

each with her comb.

There came all the spinners,

each with his wheel.

There came all the knitting women,

each with her knitting needle.

There came all the men who cultivate,

each with his spade.

There came all the needlewomen,

each with her candlestick.

There came all the seamstress’

each with her needle.

There came all the drunkards,

each with his bowl.

There came all the blacksmiths

each with his iron.

There came all the women who had a suckling child,

each with her child.

There came all the boat builders,

each with his tongs.

There came all the birdcatchers,

each with his net.

There came all the carpenters

each with his knife.

There came all the haymaking women,

each with her hay rake.

There came all fishermen,

each with his fishing line.

There came all the churning women,

each with her butter.

There came all the winnowing women

each with her through.

There came all the bird-cliffs climbers,

each with his line.

There came all the mowers

each with his scythe.

There came all these people

in order to see my cap.

The King offered me half his kingdom,

a cow every year.

I would not let my cap,

because I was a fool then.

The King offered me half his kingdom,

two white horses.

I would not let my cap,

I thought it was too little.

The King offered me his daughter,

the fair maiden.

Someone else offered me his ship,

which was sailing for Scania.

Gone is my cap now

quite a lot was offered for it.

I got two knives,

which are blunt.

Gone is my cap now,

noone must know.

Got for it two knives,

neither cuts anything.

Gone is my cap now,

many things were offered for it.

Got in my empty stomach

a ladle of soup.