Lyrics
*Poems by North Norwegian author Arvid Hanssen
Translated into English by Roy-Frode LøvlandAll lyrics on 'Rocks & Straws' and 'Revelation For Personal Use' are Norwegian poems by Arvid Hanssen (1932-1998), translated into English by Roy-Frode Løvland.
Roy-Frode wishes to thank Jon Hare and Arne Ivar Hanssen
Anneli has, with kind permission, changed a few words and phrases here and there, all in the best faith and for art´s sake.
Revelation For Personal Use
Blue Evening
Look how calm the waves are falling
And it darkens as I row.
All is blue ‘round oars and tholepins
In this fjord when light is low .
The cormorant finds the skerry,
It is he and it is I.
We are old and we are weary,
But he’s rowing by my side.
Evening asks and evening answers,
Will not give me peace of mind.
Is it long until we anchor,
That is for the Lord to find.
Steady steps from where I landed
On a rock I call my own.
Good to hear the forecast chanted
And walk gladly to my home.
SUN-wave*
*Sun-Wave is originally titled 'Prayer to the Sun-Wave'
Oh, beautiful sun-wave,
Sing summer, sing so,
Sing happiness to me,
Sing all sorrow fro.
Sing so.
Oh, beautiful sun-wave,
Sing summer, sing so,
Sing my lover to me,
My eyes on her bestow.
Sing so.
Oh, beautiful sun-wave,
Sing summer, sing so,
Sing soon she will come
And never to go.
Sing so.
Oh, beautiful sun-wave,
Sing summer, sing so,
Sing happiness to me,
Sing all sorrow fro.
Sing so.
Days
They come to you
All as one.
Before you know it
They’re in the house.
Some run the stairs
Like happy children.
Shoes’ thunder rolls,
And deafens your ears,
But you’re glad.
Others bear heavy burdens
To your table.
Sit down as if at home.
Sit until you can’t see
Other than darkness.
Nothing but a new
And different day
Can help you,
And you beg for it
To come soon!
On a Road
We walked on a road beside red precipices.
A wicked light fell upon us.
It was not day; wasn’t night,
But maybe morning.
We were a whole world walking.
We told ourselves that all was a dream.
Every signpost turned from us
In the wicked light.
It was not day; wasn’t night,
But maybe the final morning.
raindrops*
*Raindrops is originally titled 'In A Wood Wet With Rain'
Drops hanging on a twig
One by one.
Some are silver
Calling for your eyes.
Some are nothing –
Other than wet.
You don’t think they are –
Until they fall.
Snow
Heavenly children
Tumble to the ground.
Lay their soft bodies
Side by side,
Not to play for long,
But long enough
To make it cold
For one another.
Waiting time
This unknown,
What is it?
This unknown that I only see glimpses of,
What is it?
This inconceivable myriad around me,
What is it?
This that passes the universe inside of me,
What is it?
One day it must come closer.
The waiting time chokes all my words.
Revelation for personal use
- And I shall enter
Another room,
And a new light
Shall come over me,
And my joy shall grow
Into high trees,
And my heart blossom
Like vineyards,
And lovely songs shall fill
Every inch of my soul,
And no bitter memory
Shall I own,
And unrest and anxiety
Shall be no more,
And no night, and no darkness,
And nothing else
Of what burdens me here,
‘Cause I shall go
To the new room
With all I have of faith
In what is good –
Together with you.
Rocks & Straws
Alone
Alone no man should wander
when moon shines down
And makes altar silver
on mountains crown
One should not endure the burden
to seize and own
an ocean of stars all alone
That oar wasn ́t meant for rowing
that only gives
A landing ashore
where no one lives
One should not endure the burden
to seize and own
an ocean of stars all alone
Circulating Light
*(Men Ser Du Løkta)
Darkness comes early, comes early to the hills
Soon she is here
Covering mountains and loosening winds
Filling her sphere
In dark, shallow water a beacon shines
Circulating her light
Guiding the ships, safely over the waters
Leading them through the night
Evening comes early, comes early to our town
Working men stay
Bending their necks over oars as they frown
Little girls pray
In dark...
Night comes early, comes early to our home
Rests in a nook
Sits at the bedside, no want to roam
Closing her book
In dark...
Come Summer’s Wind
*(Kom Sommarvijnn)
From pale days a prayer is lifted
Where cold winds of winter blow;
Let live all the seeds about to grow
Come summer’s wind!
A boat is pulled down to the water
On even the coldest night
A hope that grows higher than morning light
Come summer’s wind!
The night closed our doors for shelter
But winter will still remain
Let songs yet be sung where the hoarfrost reigns
Come summer’s wind!
Green Leaves In The Snow
*(Grønne Lauv I Snyen)
I have a minor field
A field where I can sow
But long is our winter
And springtime comes so slow
It’s now the midst of summer
And I sow while birches grow
With green leaves in the snow
The sea is dark grey
And northern winds blow
And my next door neighbour, Thomas
Comes wandering, you know
To tell me there’s no use
To sow while birches grow
With green leaves in the snow
I am just like my neighbour
As little as I sow
As little as I’m hoping
For better times to show
Give I was like the birches
Who even dare to grow
With green leaves in the snow
Fishermen ́s Blues
It's early morning
Northern winds are bleak
Latest news from fishing
Fishing's weak
But no matter any forecast
There's no time for complaints
Seawater's in my veins
Early morning
Dark around my shoes
Walking down the seaside
Fisherman's blues
Getting in the boat
Belated by the ice
Got to use the shovel
Don't think twice
Yeah, I know I'm getting older
Need a foothold when I row
Not to end where seaweeds grow
Early morning
Dark around my shoes
Get the engine started
Fisherman's blues
Backwards out the cove
I hear the engine rap
I set the coarse as ever
Never need a map
I've been fishing these waters
Since I was 13 or so
Always know just where to go
Early morning
Dark around my shoes
Light a cigarette
Fisherman's blues
Ocean’s Organ
*(kapa haka)
An organ is playing in the ocean.
Mighty and strong.
About the days you had and those that are gone.
In the ocean.
An organ is playing in the ocean.
Plays loud and wide.
About hopes being lit and hopes that have died.
In the ocean.
An organ is playing in the ocean.
With thunderous tone.
Playing a verse that you know is your own.
in the ocean.
Te waka
Hei runga hei raro hi ha, hi ha
Toia mai te waka
Ki te urunga te waka
Ki te moenga te waka
Ki ti takotoranga i takoto ai te waka
Hi
Rain
Why should you complain in the rain?
You should think like this
Every seed has its bliss
In the rain
Rain, oh rain; summer’s on its way
Why should you complain in the rain?
It’s in the rain you can see
That a rainbow can be
In the rain
Rain, oh rain; summer’s on its way
Why should you complain in the rain?
Raindrops moulded your soul.
Shine like silver and gold
In the rain
Rain, oh rain; summer’s on its way
Rocks and Straws
*(Stein og Strå)
A rock is a rock. Is hard and cold.
Is rock to know and rock to hold.
Straws are straws you throw about.
Are straws, you say, not being worth a doubt.
Rocks are rocks. Straws are straws.
But rocks and straws are for a cause.
Seagull’s Melody
Creation has made it like this since beginning
Where harsh winds precluded the birds from singing
The only song we could hear by the sea
Was a seagull’s melody
The nightingale came as a guest in July
Never to lift her voice to the sky
Leaving the ice covered branch on the tree
And a seagull’s melody
Creation has made it like this from the start
That those who could sing from a tender heart
Left us behind with a winters decree
And a seagull’s melody
Waiting For A Boat
Evening comes alone,
rowing towards land.
Finds its way to port
without boat or man.
Evening is an offering
granted free or owed.
No one knows while waiting,
waiting for a boat.
Evening comes alone,
By my door, prevails.
Silently filling my home.
Wearing its bleak veil.
Evening is an offering
granted free or owed.
No one knows while waiting,
waiting for a boat.
Little Tree
*(To a small tree in the winter woods)
Little tree, little tree
do you stand in the woods awaiting?
Asking with your cold and naked twig
if there will be much more waiting?
Little tree, little tree,
do you stand in the woods awaiting?
Remembering sunshine and summer’s heat.
Do you stand in the woods awaiting?
Little tree, little tree,
do you stand in the woods awaiting?
The frost covers branches and stones, can you see
how many are standing awaiting?