Songs from the musical play `Boy and Girl'

Song Cycle by Emil Thoroddsen (1898 - 1944)

View original-language texts alone: Sönglög úr sjönleiknum Piltur og Stúlka

1. Í fögrum dal
 (Sung text)
Language: Icelandic (Íslenska) 
Í fögrum dal hjá fjalla bláum straumi
ég fríða meyju leit í sætum draumi;
það blöktu lausir lokkar um ljósan meyjar háls;
með blíðubros á munni hún byrjun tók svo máls:
"Sæludal sólar geislar hlúa,
sæludal sælt er í að búa."

Um brattan tind þótt blási köldum anda,
ei byljir storma dalnum fagra granda,
því honum helgar vættir með hlífðar skýla arm,
og hér er hlýtt í hlíðum og heitt við meyjar barm;
hjarta trútt hafa snótir dala,
hjarta trútt, hreint sem lindin svala.

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by Jón Thoroddsen (1819 - 1868)
1. In a lovely vale
Language: English 
In a lovely vale by a blue mountain stream
I saw a pretty maiden in sweetest dream;
her hair curled freely around her bright maiden neck;
with a smile on her lips she began to speak:
"Lovely vale warmed by the sunbeams,
lovely vale, happy they who dwell there."

Although around the steep peaks blow cold winds,
raging storms do not disturb the beautiful valley,
since holy beings keep watch with protective arms,
and here is warmth and shelter by a maiden's bosom;
the maidens of the vale have true hearts,
true hearts, pure as a  thirst-quenching spring.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Icelandic (Íslenska) to English copyright © 2005 by Jim Reilly and Margrét Arnar, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Margrét Arnar.  Contact: cons-is-mn (AT) webtv (DOT) net

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This text was added to the website: 2005-12-08
Line count: 12
Word count: 98

Translation © by Jim Reilly, Margrét Arnar
4. Smalastúlkan
 (Sung text)
Language: Icelandic (Íslenska) 
Yngismey eina sá
ég, þar sem falla blá
gil úr háhlíð;
léttfætt um leiti' og börð,
lautir og fjallaskörð                                                                
smalar og hóar hjörð
hringa lind fríð.

Um herðar líðast ljóst
lokkasafn, meyjar brjóst
sælleg að sjá;
augun til ásta snör 
og mjúk til kossa vör,
höndin svo hvít,
sem gjör hreinum af snjá.

Segðu það brúnablá
brúður, hvað skal sá fá,
féð þitt semm fann?
Allþreyttur er hann hér,
ærnar sem sat með þér;
verðung það virðist mér
vel þú kysstir hann.

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by Jón Thoroddsen (1819 - 1868)
4. The shepherdess
Language: English 
Once I saw a young maid
there where the blue ghylls (ravines)
score the mountain side;
nimble and light of foot
she goes over hill and dale
gathering her scattered flock
so sweet a maid.

Golden hair gently falls
down to her bosom fair
so sweet to see;
love quickens in her eyes
and soft mouth made for kissing,
her hands so white
as if made of new-fallen snow.

Tell me, my blue-eyed maid
what will you give to him
who found your sheep?
He is weary and tired
watching the flock all day;
surely you'll give him
a kiss for his pains.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Icelandic (Íslenska) to English copyright © 2005 by Jim Reilly and Margrét Arnar, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Margrét Arnar.  Contact: cons-is-mn (AT) webtv (DOT) net

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This text was added to the website: 2005-12-08
Line count: 21
Word count: 103

Translation © by Jim Reilly, Margrét Arnar
5. Vöggukvæði
 (Sung text)
Language: Icelandic (Íslenska) 
Litfríð og ljóshærð og létt undir brún,
handsmá og hýreyg og heitir Sigrún.
Vizka með vexti æ vaxi þér hjá,
veraldar vélráð ei vinni þig á!
 
Svíkur hún seggi og svæfir við glaum,
óvörum ýtir í örlaga straum.
Veikur er viljinn og veik eru börn,
alvaldur, alvaldur æ sé þeim vörn.

Sofðu, mín Sigrún, og sofðu nú rótt,
Guð faðir gefi góða þér nótt.

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by Jón Thoroddsen (1819 - 1868)
5. Cradle song
Language: English 
Fair, blond, and smiling,
small hands and shining eyes and named Sigrun.
May you grow to be wise,
may bad things in the world never hurt you!

Destiny betrays and stupefies us with commotion;
those who are not careful can get into trouble.
The will is weak, and so are children,
Almighty, Almighty take care of them.

Slumber, my Sigrun, and sleep now peacefully,
God grant you a good night.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Icelandic (Íslenska) to English copyright © 2005 by Jim Reilly and Margrét Arnar, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Margrét Arnar.  Contact: cons-is-mn (AT) webtv (DOT) net

    If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact:

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2005-12-08
Line count: 10
Word count: 70

Translation © by Jim Reilly, Margrét Arnar
6. Búðarvísa
 (Sung text)
Language: Icelandic (Íslenska) 
Búðarí loftið hún Gunna upp gekk,
gráfíkjur nógar og sætabrauð fékk;
en Sigríður niðri í búðinni beið,
bylti við ströngum og léreftin sneið.

Fagurt er loftið og fullt er það ull,
fáséð mun Kristján sýna þar gull;
og lengi var Gunna í loftsölum há,
litverp í framan hún kemur þeim frá.

Síðan tók Kristján silki ágætt,
(selja þeir þess háttar öðrum á vætt)
og hvíslar að Gunnu: 'Á herðarnar þín
hafðu hann, fallegur stúlkurinn mín!

Missæl er þjóðin, oss dónunum dýr
dropinn oft gjörist og varningur nýr;
en ókeypis stúlkurnar fallegu fá
fyrirtaks klútana Danskinum hjá.

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by Jón Thoroddsen (1819 - 1868)
6. Store song
Language: English 
Gunna went upstairs in the store
where she was given lots of figs and sweet cakes;
but Sigridhur waited downstairs in the store
measuring fabric and cutting cotton cloth.

The upstairs was beautiful and full of fine wool,
and there Kristjan showed her rare gold;
and Gunna stayed upstairs for a long time,
and came down with rosy cheeks.

Then Kristjan took some fine silk
(sold to others at very high prices)
and whispered to Gunna: "Put this on
your shoulders, my beautiful girl!"

People are treated differently; for us regular folk
goods and drinks are very expensive;
but beautiful girls get fine silk scarves
free from the Danish merchants.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Icelandic (Íslenska) to English copyright © 2005 by Jim Reilly and Margrét Arnar, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Margrét Arnar.  Contact: cons-is-mn (AT) webtv (DOT) net

    If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2005-12-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 110

Translation © by Jim Reilly, Margrét Arnar