Baad'n laat - Bissam bissam baad'ne
"The lullaby I've always heard is 'Bissam bissam baad'ne - Baad'n laat'. It was first collected around the 1800's, so the archaic spelling and some of words are relatively 'unknown' to present day Norwegians. I don't know many people who know how to sift the husks off the grains of the wheat corn anymore, at least not by hand, or how to play the 'horn'! The song is written in dialect, and is a 'real' lullaby; you can really feel the pulse of the rocking cradle. As most of Norwegian folk music, the theme is connected to the known activities around the home and daily life." -Siri Randem
Baad'n laat - Bissam bissam baad'ne
Rocking, Rocking The Child
Lullaby
Lullaby
(Norwegian)
(English)
Bissam, bissam baad'ne,
gryta hængø i jod'ne;
koka full tå rjumegraut
åt dæ vesle baad'ne.
Far han sittø og harpa kødn
more, ho blæsø saa vakkert hødn,
syste, ho sittø aa spinnø gull,
bror, han gaar i skogen;
jaga allø villø dyr;
æ han kvit saa kjøyr'n hit,
æ han graa, saa lat'n gaa,
æ han brun i boge,
saa laat'n gaa i skoge.
Rocking, rocking the child (1)
The pot is hanging on the iron (2)
Cooking, full of porridge made of sour cream for the little child,
Father, he's sitting and cleaning the husks off the corn (3)
Mother, she's playing the horn so beautifully,
Sister, she's sitting, spinning gold.
Brother, he's walking in the forest,
Hunts all the wild animals
If he's white, drive him here (4)
If he's grey, let him get away (5)
If he's brown around the chest (6)
Then let him roam the woods.
Notes
(1) Lullaby, lullaby child
(2) On the stove, over the open fire
(3) Wheat
(4) Sheep, goat, reindeer
(5) Wolf
(6) The bear
*****
Siri wrote, "A bit archaic in my version, but often popularised in newer song books."
Here's the Song in Modern Norwegian:
Byssan, byssan barnet
Byssan, byssan barnet
Gryta henger i jernet (over grua, ildstedet)
Koker full av rømmegrøt til det vesle barnet
Far, han sitter og harper korn (renser korn)
Mor, hun blåser så vakkert horn
Søster, hun sitter og spinner gull
Bror, han går i skogen
jager alle ville dyr
er han hvit, så kjør han hit (sau, eller geit og reinsdyr)
er han grå, så la han gå (ulven)
er han brun i bogen (bjørnen)
så la han gå i skogen.
Many thanks to Siri Randem of Barnesanger for sharing this song, for the English translation and the recording!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Illustration: Walter Satterlee
Tusen takk!
