English translation of Oi muistatko vielä sen virren

by Oskar Merikanto (1868 - 1924), "Oi muistatko vielä sen virren" [ voice and piano ], confirmed with sheet music researched and rewritten by Riittaliisa Hakulinen and Juha Hakulinen

Note: this is a translation of one multi-text setting.

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Oi, muistatko vielä sen virren, 
jota lapsena laulettiin,
Kun yö liki ikkunan liikkui 
se virsi se viihdytti niin!
Se antoi rintahan rauhaa. 
Se uskoa unehen loi.
Jos muistat vielä sen virren, 
nyt laula, laula se oi!

Text Authorship:

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Note: Juho Railio wrote a continuation of this poem.


Research team for this page: Alexandra Glynn , Aleksi Matikainen 
Oi, muistatko vielä sen virren, 
jota äitini lauleli,
Kun pienoista helmahan unten 
hän hellästi tuuditteli.
Se rauhan enkelit taivaan luo 
lapsosen vuotehen toi.
Oi, muistanhan vielä sen virren, 
mut' laulaa, laulaa en voi.

Oi, muistatko vielä sen virren, 
vaikka sointu sen himmeni,
Kun eksyin syntien teille, 
se vienosti väreili.
Se katkoi kahlehet valheen, 
se rintahan taistelon toi.
Niin, muistanhan vielä sen virren, 
vaan laulaa, laulaa en voi.

Oi vielä mä kerran sen virren, 
sun kanssasi laulelen,
kun siivin puhtahin tullen 
saan luoksesi taivaaseen.
Saan uuden kirkkahan hengen, 
min Luojani lahjaksi soi.
Ja silloin, silloin sen virren 
taas laulan, laulan mä, oi.

Text Authorship:

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Note: this was written as a continuation of Eino Leino's single-stanza poem Oi, muistatko vielä sen virren.


Research team for this page: Alexandra Glynn , Aleksi Matikainen
Author(s): Eino Leino (1878 - 1926), Juho Railio (d. 1926)
The hymn that you heard in your childhood,
through the years, has it left your heart?
As lanterns went dim in the windows
the song of the children would start.
The tidings soothed me and turned me
to thoughts of my Father above.
Remember the music, remember,
O sing it, sing of his love.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Finnish (Suomi) to English copyright © 2021 by Alexandra Glynn, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


The hymn that I heard in my childhood,
that my mother would sing to me,
it called on the angels to lull me
and drift like a dream on the sea.
The music tenderly touched me
and solaced me soft, like a dove.
I know it, but ne'er can I sing it.
O sing it, sing of his love.

The hymn that I heard in my childhood,
now the memory is faint and dim.
It taught me with patience and mercy
and warned of the dangers of sin.
As lies from darkness enticed me
it spoke of my Father above.
I know it, but ne'er can I sing it.
O sing it, sing of his love.

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Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Finnish (Suomi) to English copyright © 2023 by Alexandra Glynn, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


Translation © by Alexandra Glynn