This video channel will be utilized for private instructional videos and videos related to the Swedish Emigration to America era.
The default video is REALLY neat. It is a song (Vi sålde våra hemman) in Swedish which is about the personal feelings and hardships of leaving the homeland. Here below are the complete Swedish lyrics followed by the English translation. Enjoy.
(Note submitted by John Norton: The song "Vi sålde våra hemman" was written about a large group from Bjurtjärn-Karlskoga that emigrated first to Moline, Illinois, then headed north to found a wonderful little town known as Stockholm, Wisconsin.)
Vi Sålde Våra Hemman
Vi Sålde Våra Hemman och gav oss sedan ut,
Som fägelen bortflyger, när sommaren tar slut.
Han kommer en gång åter när våren skrider fram,
Men vi få aldrig skåda vårt kära fosterland.
Som fägelen bortflyger, när sommaren tar slut.
Han kommer en gång åter när våren skrider fram,
Men vi få aldrig skåda vårt kära fosterland.
We sold our homesteads and started on our way
just like the birds will fly when autumn is here to stay.
One day they will return, come spring again that's when.
But we will never see our native country again.
just like the birds will fly when autumn is here to stay.
One day they will return, come spring again that's when.
But we will never see our native country again.
Och när vi kommo till den Liverpoolska hamn
Begynte ångerns tårar så stritt att bryta fram.
Det blev en hjärtans sveda I bröstet på var och en.
Man talar blott om Sverige och om sitt förra hem.
At first we travelled through the English countryside
on tracks and on wagons as quickly as birds would fly.
It was a lovely sight to see the land at last
but all the glorious sights kept flashing by too fast.
on tracks and on wagons as quickly as birds would fly.
It was a lovely sight to see the land at last
but all the glorious sights kept flashing by too fast.
And later when we came to Liverpuddlian bay
the tears of regret finally started to have their say.
The hearts then started burning in each and everyone
we only talked of Sweden that used to be our home.
the tears of regret finally started to have their say.
The hearts then started burning in each and everyone
we only talked of Sweden that used to be our home.
Vi packades tillsammans uti ett osunt kvav.
Det var för osss att skåda liksom en öppen grav.
Och födan som vi fraktat ifrån vår svenska jord
Den blev oss nu förbjuden att taga med ombord.
We all were packed together in one unhealthy cave
it was as if we'd stepped into an open grave.
The food that we had brought from blessed Swedish land
was suddenly forbidden and taken from our hand.
it was as if we'd stepped into an open grave.
The food that we had brought from blessed Swedish land
was suddenly forbidden and taken from our hand.
Och när vi hade seglat en vecka eller två,
Ett mörker däcket höljde och bredde sig därpå.
Ej se varann vi kunde, knappt andas eller gå.
Det var en gruvlig plåga för stora och för små.
And when we had been sailing for just a week or two
a horrid kind of darkness was clouding our view.
We couldn't see each other and hardly breathe or walk
it was a gruesome anguish for all people aboard.
a horrid kind of darkness was clouding our view.
We couldn't see each other and hardly breathe or walk
it was a gruesome anguish for all people aboard.
Nu blir en ömklig hunger, med sorg och grät och gny.
En jämmer som sig tränger till himlens höga sky.
Och döden gruvligt härjar bland mänskorna ombord.
Man ser de döda kastas I havets vilda flod.
The air was filled with hunger and drenched in wretched cries,
the howling and the noises would pierce right through the skies
and death became the ruler that forces us to our knees.
The dead were buried in the horrid fathom of the seas.
the howling and the noises would pierce right through the skies
and death became the ruler that forces us to our knees.
The dead were buried in the horrid fathom of the seas.
An excellent start to a great blog!
ReplyDeleteKaren
Texas