Songs

Vond Dag, 'Hurtful Day'

by Edvard Grieg From Haugtussa (1895) Op. 67

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Text & Translation

Vond Dag, 'Hurtful Day'
Norwegian source: Arne Garborg

Ho reknar Dag og Stund og seine Kveld
til Sundag kjem: han hev so trufast lova,
at um det regnde småstein yver Fjell,
so skal dei finnast der i »Gjætarstova«.
Men Sundag kjem og gjeng med Regn og Rusk;
ho eismal sit og græt attunder Busk.

Som Fuglen, sårad under varme Veng,
så Blode tippar, lik den heite Tåre,
ho dreg seg sjuk og skjelvande i Seng,
og vrid seg Notti lang i Gråten såre.
Det slit i Hjarta og det brenn på Kinn.
No må ho døy; ho miste Guten sin.

Hurtful Day
English translation © William Jewson, © BIS Records AB, adapted by Claire Booth

She reckons up the days and hours and evenings
Till Sunday comes. He’d promised
that even if it rained pebbles on the mountain
They would still meet in ‘Gjætarstova.’
But Sunday comes and goes with rain and storm;
She sits alone and weeps beneath a bush.

Like a bird, wounded beneath its warm wing,
Blood drips, like hot tears.
She creeps to bed, shivering and ill,
And tosses all night, weeping bitter tears.
Her heart is broken and her cheeks are burning.
Now she must die; she’s lost her man.

Vond Dag, 'Hurtful Day'
Norwegian source: Arne Garborg

Hurtful Day
English source: William Jewson, © BIS Records AB, adapted by Claire Booth

Ho reknar Dag og Stund og seine Kveld
She reckons up the days and hours and evenings
til Sundag kjem: han hev so trufast lova,
Till Sunday comes. He’d promised
at um det regnde småstein yver Fjell,
that even if it rained pebbles on the mountain
so skal dei finnast der i »Gjætarstova«.
They would still meet in ‘Gjætarstova.’
Men Sundag kjem og gjeng med Regn og Rusk;
But Sunday comes and goes with rain and storm;
ho eismal sit og græt attunder Busk.
She sits alone and weeps beneath a bush.

Som Fuglen, sårad under varme Veng,
Like a bird, wounded beneath its warm wing,
så Blode tippar, lik den heite Tåre,
Blood drips, like hot tears.
ho dreg seg sjuk og skjelvande i Seng,
She creeps to bed, shivering and ill,
og vrid seg Notti lang i Gråten såre.
And tosses all night, weeping bitter tears.
Det slit i Hjarta og det brenn på Kinn.
Her heart is broken and her cheeks are burning.
No må ho døy; ho miste Guten sin.
Now she must die; she’s lost her man.

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