Gjallarhorn - I Riden Så (Ye Ride So Carefully)

from their 1997 album, Ranarop

[fatfuckhatesyou]

For the people wondering what language this is, it's Swedish but from a couple hundred years ago. Unless you live as high up as I do ( a couple km outside Kurravaara ) then alot of people still talk like this. I'm one of them.

[hallhiireke]

A Silibrand körde uppå höga loftessvala O Silibrand hurried to the top of the mound
Allt under den linden så gröna all under the linden so green
Där fick han se sin dotter i lunden fara then he saw his daughter wander in the grove
I riden så varliga genom lunden med henne Ride gently through the grove with her

A välest mej, välest mej, vad jag nu ser O woe is me, woe is me, what do I behold
Allt under den linden så gröna all beneath the linden so green
Jag ser min dotter hon kommer til mej I see my daughter, she is coming to me
I riden så varliga genom lunden med henne Ride gently through the grove with her

A Silibrand fämnar ut kappan så blå O Silibrand spread out his cape so blue
Allt under den linden så gröna all under the linden so green
Där föder hon två karska svenbarnen på Upon it she gives birth to twin sons
I riden så varliga genom lunden med henne Ride gently through the grove with her

Min fader skall jag giva min gångare grå ” I shall give to my father my grey horse
Allt under den linden så gröna all under the linden so green
Som han skall rida till kyrkan uppa Upon it he shall ride to the church
I riden så varliga genom lunden med henne Ride gently through the sacred grove with her

Min syster skall jag giva mina guld-ringar sju I shall give to my sister my seven gold rings
Allt under den linden så gröna all under the linden so green
Som jag ej haft sen jag stod brud That I have not worn since I was a bride
I riden så varliga genom lunden med henne Ride gently through the grove with her

Min broder skall jag giva mina handskar små I shall give to my brother my tiny gloves
Allt under den linden så gröna all under the linden so green
Som han skall ha likvart han gar that he shall carry everywhere he goes”
I riden så varliga genom lunden med henne ride gently through the grove with her

Den ene sa för dom till Freyjas dop The one son they took to Freyia s baptism
Allt under den linden så gröna all under the linden so green
Den andre så för dom till Vallhalla sal the other son they took to Valhalls court
I riden så varliga genom lunden med henne ride gently through the grove with her.
Performed by Gjallarhorn on this link:

[saoirserosenstock]

This old folk song was performed by Gjallarhorn. Here translated from Swedish. The song is full of old Pagan symbols: the grove was a natural temple to the Pagans. The grey horse is a metaphor for death. There is talk about riding (from the grove) to the Church, and to baptize Freyia. The transition between the old and the new religion was slow and often confusing, and clearly left its mark in folklore and folk tunes for centuries after.

[ZA-mbdi]

Why does Scandinavian music give me such a unique feeling? I can feel it in my bones, especially Wardruna and Heilung

[sassy]

English translation

"O Silibrand hurried to the top of the mound 
all under the linden so green 
then he saw his daughter wander in the grove
Ride gently through the grove with her 
O woe is me, woe is me, what do I behold      
all beneath the linden so green
I see my daughter, she is coming to me
Ride gently through the grove with her 
O Silibrand spread out his cape so blue
all under the linden so green
Upon it she gives birth to twin sons
 Ride gently through the grove with her
I shall give to my father my grey horse
 all under the linden so green
Upon it he shall ride to the church
Ride gently through the sacred grove with her  
I shall give to my sister my seven gold rings
all under the linden so green
That I have not worn since I was a bride
Ride gently through the grove with her 
I shall give to my brother my tiny gloves
all under the linden so green
that he shall carry everywhere he goes
ride gently through the grove with her
The one son they took to Freyia's baptism    
all under the linden so green
the other son they took to Valhalls court
ride gently through the grove with her."

[Achinxoi]

Silibrand climbed up high and saw his daughter hurrying to the grove where he followed her and helped her birth twins, she gave her father her horse "gångare grå" that he rode up to the church so carefully with her. the mother gives her sister 7 rings and her brother a pair of gloves. One child they take to get baptised by Freja because it lived and the other was taken to the halls of Valhalla because it died during the careful horseride with its mother. Sad lullaby about twins.

[bokoe]

This is probably the most beautiful folk song I've ever heard. The instrumentals, the voice, and the meaning behind the lyrics fit together perfectly, it's magical.

[admiralbenbow]

Brit here. My Mother was half Swede. I am proud to say I understand nearly all of this !

[bobbyfa]

In the 50s there was only one person in the world who knew "I Riden Så", an old lady living on an island in the SW of Finland. She had learned it from her grandmother who in turn had learned it from her grandmother who were born in the mid 1700s (Finland was part of Sweden until 1809 which is why it's in Swedish). The lady recorded over 1000 songs, some of which would have been forgotten otherwise, one believed to be dating back to the 13th century.

[jackneals]

Honestly that women's hair is amazing....

[historystudent]

This is one of my favorite songs ever! It’s peaceful, mysterious, and tranquil. I love the North Germanic languages!

[MrParacelsus]

Sunlight just broke in our garden, at the moment of the first note. Long may it stay. Be as eternal as this melody. ❤

[TurboSlav]

I love Scandinavian music, greetings from Poland northern brothers! :D

[linajurgensen]

Long live Scandinavia and the north!🙌🏻

From your germanic brothers in northern Germany!❤️

[vazelospatraso]

I am from Greece and I love the folk music all over the world but this song is fantastic with magic relaxing music...

[frederickboyce]

The fiddling that begins at ca. 3:15 is just fantastic - mesmerizing.

[aerynshowmo]

has anyone else ever heard a song theyve never heard before in their lifetime and yet somehow it sounds as familiar as your own name to your soul?....

[christopheredge]

The lyrics are so crisp and clear. Close your eyes and it will take you on a journey, somewhere you can only visit in a dream.

[guaporubio]

This song takes me to a place heretofore unbeknownst. A place deep in my cerebral past. Perhaps in another life. With my mother singing this song in Swedish to me as a baby in a cradle, An awakening to a distant genetic memory.

[HaukLanglo]

I'm Norwegian, and to me this sound just like Swedish. I realise it's an old form, but it is still similar enough for me to understand most of it and to me it just sounds like slightly weird Swedish. Great music whatever language. Love it