Translations of Swedish lyrics on Among Beggars And Thieves

[Ancient Minstrel]

Hi everyone!

I haven't visited these forums for a long time now, but if anyone remembers I translated the Swedish lyrics on some Northwind songs, and now I felt that it would be fun to do it again.

So, here it goes:

Vargaskall: Wolf-bark

Through the deep forests of goblins,
over the peaceful solitude of bogs,
the flame of fear burns forth.
Through moon-illuminated dells,
over the back of the mountain to an unknown destination
a hunted wolf now hurries forth.

The stick* now moves in the shires**
now there will be wolf-bark.
Grasp spear and be courageous
in a beat*** to the fall of the wolf.

Hour of dawn, filled with hate,
encircle and exterminate.
The horror of the people shall no more roam
through meadow, through bog and forest
in land of Men.

Into the darkness safety keeps
its shy children of lonesome breed
from the shrill alarm of the hunt.
Wide territory is now slowly declining
by the hands of Men in wilderland
the black arm of destiny sweeps.

Fight bravely, fight diligently,
feel the embers of fire in your wilderness-blood.
Show the beat the courage of wolves!

Hour of twilight, heavy with blood.
Encircled and exterminated.
The horror of wolves shall forever roam
through meadow, through bog and forest
in the land of Wolves.

* "Stick" is my choice of translation of "kavle", which was a means of communication among the peasants in medieval Sweden. A carved stick with a message was sent around among the farms when all men needed to be alerted, for example did the peasants of Småland in the 16th century do this when they would decide that they would join Nils Dacke's uprising against the king Gustav I.
** I have chosen "shires" for socknar. "Socknar" is in reality the smallest administrative area in the church organization of medieval and post-medieval Sweden. The people within a "socken" cooperated concerning many things and went to the same church each Sunday.
*** ´By "beat" (which is the real word for it in English) I mean the people chasing out wild animals so that hunters can take care of them.   
 

[Ancient Minstrel]

Viddernas Man: Man of the Expanses

Distant church sounds muffled
out over wide plains
where a lonesome wanderer walks.
Neither well-to-do nor farmhand.
Freedom is his brother.
The embrace of the forest is his safest bed.

Under heavy and grey-clouded sky
the beggar wanders forth restlessly.
Wander on, you man of the expanses
towards new adventures.

Weather forces, worn skin
shows the trial of life
and a heart of purest gold.
For his gifts, given by the forest,
he gets food and new pants,
before the road calls again.

[Ancient Minstrel]

Skula, Skorpa, Skalk: Waste-food, Rusk, Rind

A man has worked on lord Lager's farm
for summer and winter, year by year.
Tell me: who now provides for you?

For labour and hardship under grey sky
he merely receives his bread as payment.
Tell me: who now provides for you?

So the message swiftly comes:
"Our lord takes your daughter!"
Tell me: who now provides for you?

And the thrall through the doorway stepped,
he left the plough by the field.
Tell me: who now provides for you?

"Lord Lager, now hear my words,
you have made my daughter your whore,
Tell me: who now listens to you?"

And Lager said in anger:
"You are not careful with your thrall-blood.
Tell me: who now listens to you?"

Neither ale nor wine intended for you,
nor right to own, but waste-food, rusk, rind.
Neither ale nor wine intended for you,
nor right to own, but waste-food, rusk, rind.

The thrall did not react,
before his throat was cut.
Tell me: who would care for you?

"This is enough payment for today
and the daughter I take when I wish to.
Tell me: who would care for you?"

"Come let me show you my right
to comfort you in any way.
Tell me: who now provides for you?"

"Oh thanks!" he said, with tender voice
and thrust the knife in his chest.
"Tell me: who now mourns* for you?"

The Swedish word "sörja", which I have mostly translated as "to provide" can also mean "to mourn", so there is an interesting ambiguity, especially in the last line, where the thrall almost certainly means to ask who the hell would grieve the horrible lord. Stefan has managed to create a very interesting play with words here.

[Ancient Minstrel]

"Vi Sålde Våra Hemman" is the traditional Swedish song with traditional lyrics which has been translated (competently) in the Falconer song "We Sold Our Homesteads".

[Avricha]

Thank you so much for your work! The last Skula, Skorpa, Skalk's lyrics are really interesting indeed.

[cynic73]

Hi there, Ancient Minstrel!

Great job with the translations!!! I´m also swedish, but not as good at english as you, but as far as I can tell your translations are really accurate 

The only thing I´m not sure about is your choice to translate vargaskall as wolf bark. I think I would have called it Wolf Hunt. I think that the word "skall" in the song is more related to that in "skallgång", that it´s the people making loud noises and not the wolves barking. Today we would call it "klappjakt". Or I might be totally wrong  :D

Anyway, great job!

[Prab]

Awesome job Ancient Minstrel!!

Wow, so "Vargaskall" is actually a pro-Wolves songs, if I'm not mistaken. Man hunts them down, but they fight on and prevail for the moment, right?
Great lyrics indeed!

Parts of the topic and the view of the subject is kind of similar to a song I myself wrote for my band. At least I interpreted it that way
It's about man trying to dominate over beast but is after all forced to bow before the superiority of nature. Oh and it hints to a little supernatural twist too. It's called "Domination On Their Mind".

[Sol]

 Hi,
thanx a lot 8)
especially for the specific details.

[Ancient Minstrel]

Thanks for the positive reactions!

Yes, Vargaskall is indeed a pro-Wolves song, and if I am not mistaken also a little argument from Stefan in the debate in Sweden concerning the Wolves' right to exist, in a medieval disguise.

Concerning Vargaskall's translation: you are probably right, cynic73. I am not that familiar with hunting, so the only meaning of "skall" that I knew was the noun formed by the verb "att skälla". But if your theory is correct, that suits the rest of the chorus better theme-wise.   

[cynic73]

Well, Ancient Minstrel, only God (i.e. Stefan) knows how it´s supposed to be interpreted 

Men som sagt, otroligt bra gjort av dig!

[Ancient Minstrel]

Tack! 

[MasterOfTheFalcon]

Once Again the Best translations I can find :D you do really good work

[Disconouny]

Hej,

Thanks for the translations as well. Do you guys think they might redo the songs in English just for fun? I mean, it could be great I guess.

I'm new n'way here, hello to everyone from Canada!

[cynic73]

Welcome to the forum, Disconouny!

[tirlith]

Yeah, welcome. Hope you´ll enjoy it here.