Svensk Låt: Fågelns Visa / Esther Pearson / 1921

Esther Pearson, a Swedish (-American?) soprano recorded four songs for Columbia Records in April 1921. 'Fågelns Visa' (Bird's Song), while noted as a 'folk song' on the record label, was actually written in Swedish by the Finnish poet Zachris Topelius. Also a journalist and rector of the University of Helsinki, Topelius (1818 - 1898) was considered one of the most important cultural figures of 19th century Finland.

Fågelns Visa, Columbia E 7168 (87299-2).

[lyrics in Swedish]
Där sjöng en fågel på lindekvist,
på lindekvist, på lindekvist:
En liten fågel är jag förvisst,
som nog kan spela och sjunga.
Men borta dröjer mitt hjärtas vän,
men borta dröjer mitt hjärtas vän,
i lund och mark är han fjärran än
och flyger långt bort i skogen.

Guds vackra ängel med ögon blå,
med ögon blå, med ögon blå
han satt i molnet och hörde på
och sjöng så stilla i kvällen:
Du lilla fågel på lindekvist,
du lilla fågel på lindekvist.
Gud giv din älskling åt dig visst
som du kan spela och sjunga.

Och fågeln sjunger ännu i dag
ännu i dag, ännu i dag,
Om vännen kommit vet intet jag,
Och intet ängelen heller.
Och fågeln sjunger ännu i dag
Om vännen kommit vet intet jag,
Och intet ängelen heller.

[lyrics in English]
There a bird sang on linden twig,
on linden twig, on linden twig:
I'm sure a little bird,
who can probably play and sing.
But gone, my dear friend stays,
but gone, my dear friend stays,
in grove and land he is still far away
and flies far away in the forest.

God's beautiful angel with blue eyes,
with eyes blue, with eyes blue
he sat in the cloud and listened
and sang so quietly in the evening:
You little bird on linden twig,
you little bird on linden twig.
God give your sweetheart to you for sure
which you can play and sing.

And the bird still sings today
even today, still today,
If the friend has come I do not know,
And nor does the angel.
And the bird still sings today
If the friend has come I do not know,
And nor does the angel.

[laurencefinston]

The puppeteer, Burr Tillstrom, was of Swedish American descent. It took me awhile to find out the name of the song, the composer, the author of the poem and the sheet music.

I was very pleased to find this old recording, particularly since I love 78s and used to enjoy listening to the ones my parents had. Sadly, those records are long gone.