Swedish lyrics & translation requested
Jul 20, 2002 at 2:04 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 8

jpelg

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greetings to my Swedish fellow hi-fier's,

I am hoping that someone can provide the lyrics to a Swedish carol called "Sankt Staffan Han Rider", as well as possibly an English translation.

I was introduced to this beautiful song a few years ago in a recording done by "Boys of the Laugh". Do other commercial recordings exist?

TIA.

-j
 
Jul 20, 2002 at 2:28 PM Post #2 of 8
Bork je bork je bork je bork. Pud de chicken id da pot.

:wink:
 
Jul 20, 2002 at 4:01 PM Post #3 of 8
Hi - this is actually my first post here after lurking for a few weeks.

I would love to help you out, do you have a link to the lyrics?
Because even though I am Swedish I have never heard of this
song...
smily_headphones1.gif
 
Jul 20, 2002 at 4:40 PM Post #4 of 8
...my GF sang this in choir when she was young(er).
We were not able to find the text online and there seems to be many different versions of this song depending on where in Sweden you live... Also, there are several different songs about Staffan, so finding the right one might be difficult.
I don't know how serious you are about finding the exact translation for the recording you have?

The most common song about Staffan is:
"Staffan var en stalledräng"
This one is sung by everyone around christmas and especially
at Lucia celebraton at 13 december.

We found the text for one called "Staffan och Herodes" and that
one has the same first verse as the one she sang in choir, but she does not recognise the rest.
 
Jul 20, 2002 at 4:46 PM Post #5 of 8
According to the liner notes on the "Boys in the Laugh" CD, the song is from pre-Reformation times, and was taught to one of the band members by his Swedish wife. The notes do say that it is not a well-known song.

The one verse that is actually sung on this cd (out of twenty or so more, apparently) begins to describe the story of St. Stephen who was King Herod's stableman. It is a Christmas carol in which the Christ birth is foretold to St. Stephen. The first (and only sung verse on this cd) is translated in the liner notes but without the sung Swedish lyrics:

"Saint Stephen was riding his horses to water
Watch with us Christmas night!
When he saw a star in the eastern land
Watch with us all mankind!
The star shone above the town of Bethlehem
Watch with us Christmas night!
But brightest above the house where the child lay
Watch with us all mankind!"

A Swedish translation even of that much would help.

The other song you mention, "Staffan var en stalledräng" is on the cd "VINTERLJUS", which also has "Sankt Staffan Han Rider". I do not actually have that cd, but I assume that they are different songs. St. Stephen must be quite a popular bloke!

 
Jul 20, 2002 at 7:27 PM Post #6 of 8
As the lyrics you provided is all included in "Staffan och Herodes" I will
translate that one. Keep in mind that my translation is pretty much word
for word so it might be a bit strange - especially given that the Swedish
lyrics are of a very old poetic style... here goes...

(The "watch with us" part is repeated after each verse line)

Staffan och Herodes
*Staffan and Herodes

Sankt Staffan han rider sina hästar till vann.
*Saint Staffan rides his horses to water.
Vaka med oss julenatt.
*Watch with us Christmas night.
Då såg han en stjärna i Österns rika land.
*Then he saw a star in the Eastern's rich land.
Vaka med oss, för oss alla!
*Watch with us, for us all!

Sankt Staffan till Herodes måste ge detta bud:
*Saint Staffan to Herodes must give this message:
"I natt är en konung född och han är bättre än du!"
*"Tonight a king is born and he is better than you!"

Herodes han slår sina handskar i bord,
*Herodes he hits his gloves in table,
sen reser han sig från sin kongeliga stol.
*then he rises from his royal chair.

De stungo ut, Staffan, hans ögon blå,
*They stuck out, Staffan, his eyes blue,
som dagen så klar såg han natten ändå.
*as day so clear saw he the night still/anyway.

Den stjärnan hon lyste över Betlehems stad.
*The star she shone over Betlehem's city.
Men mest över huset där barnet det var.
*But mostly over the house where the baby was.

Hope this helps!
 
Jul 20, 2002 at 8:07 PM Post #7 of 8
Astro -

That is it. You are so awesome! Thank you so much
biggrin.gif


BTW, an official welcome to Head-Fi. As the saying goes: "Sorry about your wallet!"

cheers.

-j
 
Jul 20, 2002 at 10:08 PM Post #8 of 8
You're welcome - thought it was a cool thing to help out with seeing I'm Swedish...

And yes - I've heard that saying.
My SR-80s from a few years ago was a first step into "serious" headphones after listening to crap phones my whole life.
After finding this forum I have some ER-4P on the way and am going to get me a Corda Headamp and maybe an ART DI/O for my computer.
 

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