Can Anyone Help with a Norwegian Rhyme with the Line, “Kan du gleme gammel Norge”?
David Russett wrote:
I’m trying to find the words to a Norwegian rhyme or song. The only part I know goes something like:
Kan du gleme gammel Norge?
O vey! Ya, ya, gleme kan!Or it may be:
Kan du huske gammel Norge?
Ove! Ya, Ya, huske kan!Does anyone know the rest of this little rhyme? Some of the old Norwegians when I was a kid knew this and would recite it. I know there is much more to it that those two lines.
If anyone can help David with the Norwegian words and/or an English translation to this song, please let us know in the comments below.
Thanks!
Mama Lisa
October 27th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
There are versions of it on youtube. I suspect your spelling was incorrect with one word, which makes it hard to search..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaB-ueZpX_Q
October 27th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Thanks for your help Valerie!
Does that mean the spelling should be “Kan Du Glemme Gamle Norge”?
It seems to translate to “Can you forget old Norway” or “How can you forget old Norway”?
I found these lyrics…
Kan Du Glemme Gamle Norge?
Kan du glemme gamle Norge?
Aldri jeg det glemme kan,
som med stolte kippeborge
er og blir mitt fødeland
Kan du glemme dette landet
som dig først tok i sin favn?
Mon du fi nne vil et annet
med så stolt og herlig navn?
Kan du glemme Norges skover
med sin furu, birk og gran?
Kan du glemme sjøens vover,
ald du da forglemme kan.
Rough English translation I did (I welcome criticism/help!)…
Can you forget old Norway?
That I can never forget,
As the proud citizen(?)
It is and remains my country of birth.
Can you forget this country
that first took you in its arms?
Can you ever find another
With a proud and glorious name?
Can you forget about Norway’s fjords
With its pine, Birk(?) and spruce?
Can you forget lake vover(?),
(?) then you can forget.
I welcome help with the translation!
This is an American Norwegian immigrant song.