#suomisound

Yö -- Swan Song

Author: Jussi Hakulinen 1984. Rumor has it that he wrote it to his mother when still a teenager!

This song commands great respect within the Finnish music community. E.g., the well-known singer Suvi Teräsniska, who recorded an album of Yö songs, did not dare touch the Swan Song, calling it ``sacred''.

Finally, it may be noted that in 2005 during concert Hakulinen suffered an epileptic fit. One wonders if his condition is positively related to his creative genius, as suspected for some other artists.

``Tuo tuska laulun tämän kirjoittaa''

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Again you see the children in the yard under your window playing their games and again you stay at your place at the window stay at the window You fly back through the years those memories overwhelm you day by day they're looking for a Swan Song singer again looking for a singer again Those moments from birth to death projected on your eyelids make some believe in God maybe some in Satan, or in whatever but, however, not in this world we live in You once also found it that love worth half a century you found it easy being happy being happy What do you do now with your instincts? when the birds have flown from their nest just photos yellowed with the years remain that you leaf through again and yet again You may not crave my pity it will not ease the pain it is that pain which writes this song that pain will catch up with anyone that pain will catch Your veil of sorrow, you see five years ago it would still breathe back then the Swan Song made you weep made you weep

you'd like to be the way you were then, when you were wearing a white veil it fell already underfoot of time just like you [Flute solo, Eeva Kontu] I would like to try so that I then remain afloat when I see the river flooding its banks see the river flooding

Listen to: The Sunbeam and the Troll by Barbara Helsingius

The Sunbeam and the Troll

Day was leaving, night time waited when a sunbeam hesitated, wanted briefly to remain. Darkness soon the world embraces and the beam in golden laces was about to fly away again. When suddenly she saw a little troll there all alone, his tail and arms were wrapped around a stone for not until the sun has set and day has gone to rest can trolls climb from their mountain nest. For a while their searching eyes met and the troll felt most confused yet something in his heart was new. Said: “Too bright your light is burning but I feel the strangest yearning – never have I seen someone like you! Your beauty makes me blind but I don’t mind and I don’t care, it’s good to live with darkness everywhere! Come follow me and I will take you to my mountain door and stay with you forevermore!” Said the sunbeam “Night brings worry, dearest troll, I have to hurry or else I will fade away. I must be where daylight takes me, if I linger darkness makes me die at once and now I dare not stay!” And so the pretty sunbeam left where sea touches the sky, but long the little troll will wonder why: how could it be that some of us are children of the light when others only love the night?

Source ... a scouting event in Denmark, 2008

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There's a Swedish version -- ``Solgnuttan och Trollet'', somewhat humoristic -- by Cornelis Vreeswijk, and any number of cover versions, even one by Vesa-Matti Loiri himself.

...and a beautiful, sensitive English interpretation -- ``The Sunbeam and the Troll'' -- by Barbara Helsingius! Next post, recommended.

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Dagen går mot solnedgången En stund hos dagen fången Solen stannar till och far Mörkret faller visserligen Men där nere på trollstigen Har en gnutta solsken stannat kvar Och gnuttan ber om ursäkt när den snubblar vi ett troll Trollet säger: Spelar ingen roll Troll vill nog ha ljus men det skall vara som ett lån Som varken gör något till eller från Trollet sneglar under luggen Låtsas inte om ett dugg men Står där ändå, fumlar litegrann Gnuttan spelar ut reflexer Någonting i hjärtat växer När de råkar nudda vid varann Du är en vacker gnutta du, ska vi åt samma håll Säg har du lust att följa med ett troll? Du bländar mig, förvisso men jag tycker om ditt ljus Och ber dig stiga på i mitt hus Gnuttan studsar fram och åter Hoppas att du mig förlåter När jag tackar nej därtill Du förstår jag vill det nog Men snart blir allting mörkt i skogen Och då far min låga vill Och mörkret föll och gnuttan dog så att man inget såg Men trollet såg sig undrande omkring Och muttrade: En gnutta sol de ska jag ha i håg en gnutta sol, det gör väl ingenting