Richard wrote to me recommending a Danish kids song site…
Hi
On this web page Rimogremser.dk there are several Danish kids songs with midi files.
Thanks for a good a good web-site ;)
Best regards
Richard
Thanks for the recommendation Richard. The site is nice! It has cool line drawings to go with most of the songs and tunes – though no English translations.
I picked one of the songs on the site that’s in the public domain (possibly 100 years+ old) and tried my hand at translating it. Below you’ll find the lyrics in Danish, the illustration from the site, a link to the midi and my translation…
Når vi sejler op og ned
Når vi sejler op og ned,
ser vi fisken svømme.
Ære, være, du er min.
Lise, Lise, hvor vi elsker dig.Når vi sejler op og ned,
ser vi fisken svømme.
Ære, være, du er min
Michael, Michael, hvor vi hader dig.Midi of Når vi sejler op og ned
Rough English Translation:
When we sail up and down,
We see the fish swim.
Glory, be, you are mine,
Lisa, Lisa, we love you.When we sail up and down,
We see the fish swim.
Glory, be, you are mine,
Michael, Michael, we hate you.
I welcome improvements to my translation!
I searched around some more and found another nice Danish site called Dansk Folkemindesamling (the link here is for the kids song section of the site). This one had a different version of the same song (also in Danish only). This one also had a Quicktime recording of children singing it. It’s where I learned that the song goes back to at least 1900. It’s a circle game. One goes “swimming” under the “circles” raised arms. At the end of each verse one joins the circle. One joins them to walk around so that together they form a chain which gets longer and longer.
Here’s the second version of the song…
1 Når vi sejler op og ned
så ser vi fisken svømme
ære være vi er her
for Mia, Mia hvem elsker du?2 Når vi sejler op og ned
så ser vi fisken svømme
ære være vi er her
for Per, Per hvem elsker du?3 Når vi sejler op og ned
så ser vi fisken svømme
ære være vi er her
for Ebbe, Ebbe hvem elsker du?
This version is friendlier. Here’s the English translation I came up with:
1 When we sail up and down,
We see the fish swim.
We are honored to be here
For Mia, Mia, who loves you?2 When we sail up and down,
We see the fish swim.
We are honored to be here
For Per, Per, Who loves you?3 When we sail up and down,
We see the fish swim.
We are honored to be here
For Ebbe, Ebbe, Who loves you?
Once again, I welcome improvements to my translation!
Mama Lisa’s World also has some Danish kids songs with English, French and Spanish translations and midis. We always welcome more songs if anyone would like to contribute any and also if anyone would like to sing any for us… Feel free to comment below or email me!
Mama Lisa
This article was posted on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 8:04 pm and is filed under Children's Songs, Circle Games, Countries & Cultures, Danish, Danish Children's Songs, Denmark, Games Around the World, Language Sites, Languages, Mama Lisa, Midis, Recommendations, Recordings of Songs, Sites about Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
18 Responses to “Danish Kids Songs Sites plus a Danish Children’s Song”
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February 20th, 2009 at 5:56 am
“du er min” means “you are mine”
February 20th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Thanks Monique – I was thinking that would sound better – am glad to have the confirmation that it’s correct! -Lisa
March 8th, 2009 at 2:50 am
I was wondering if anyone could help me find this one song that i remember from first grade, all i really remember it was something about a church and a lady and her lover husband or whatever, was out at sea. Sorry i really can’t help anymore but i remember some of the song i just cant put the words to it, let alone in Danish, it was a danish song.
I grew up in too many places and somehow i am the only one out of my parents and sister that ever spoke Danish, and they are of no help.
July 16th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
My husband, who was Danish, used to sing this song to the kids when they were little and I would love to find a recording of this in Danish…I know we would all love it. None of us speak the language, but our memories of Daddy singing it to them were so special. Any help finding this would be greatly appreciated as he has passed on and we will never have the chance to hear it again. Thanks, Jane
LILLE KROLLETOP LITTLE CURLY HEAD
DEN LILLE OLE THAT LITTLE “OLE”
MED PARAPLYEN WITH THE UMBRELLA
HAM KENDER ALLE HE IS KNOWN
SMAA BORN I BYEN TO EVERY LITTLE CHILD
HVER LILLE PIGE EVERY LITTLE GIRL
HVER LILLE DRENG EVERY LITTLE BOY
SOM SOVER SODT WHO SLEEPS SWEETLY
I SIN LILLE SENG IN THEIR LITTLE BED
DAGEN ER FORBI LILLE KROLLETOP THE DAY HAS ENDED LITTLE CURLY HEAD
GLEM DIN BAMSE HVIS DU KAN FORGET YOUR TEDDY BEAR IF YOU CAN
LUK NU OJET I LILLE KROLLETOP CLOSE YOUR EYES LITTLE CURLY HEAD
OG SKYND DIG IN I DROMMELAND AND HURRY INTO DREAMLAND
OH OH HOR NU HER OH, OH, LISTEN NOW
LEGER DU IGEN ARE YOU PLAYING AGAIN?
STOP NU LILLE VEN STOP NOW LITTLE FRIEND
DAGEN ER FORBI LILLE KROLLETOP THE DAY IS ENDED LITTLE CURLY HEAD
SOV SAA BLIR DU STOR OG STAERK SLEEP SO YOU CAN BE BIG AND STRONG
LUK NU OJET I LILLE KROLLETOP CLOSE YOUR EYES LITTLE CURLY HEAD
OG SKYND DIG IN I DROMMELAND AND HURRY INTO DREAMLAND
November 19th, 2009 at 6:18 am
Hi, does anyone know the lyrics and translation to the danish rhyme about toy soilders? My grandmother used to sing it and I would love to learn it for my kids.
Thanks
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:36 am
My mormor passed away eight years ago…she used to sing me a song before I fell asleep at her house about a little boy *kind of like the sand man* who would open up his umbrella and give sweet dreams to all the children…I don’t think she made it up I remember her saying it was a traditional song or something like that…but I wanted to know if anyone else knew what I was talking about…her family is all in Danmark and I have sadly lost touch with them =(…Anyone know what I am talking about…I would really appreciate it…=D
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:11 am
Is it Den Lille Ole med Paraplyen…
http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=303&c=47
December 3rd, 2009 at 6:18 pm
This is how my husband recalled it and his translation before he passed away in 2003. I cannot remember the tune at all, for some reason. Sorry
DEN LILLE OLE (THAT LITTLE “OLE”)
MED PARAPLYEN (WITH THE UMBRELLA)
HAM KENDER ALLE (HE IS KNOWN)
SMAA BORN I BYEN (TO EVERY LITTLE CHILD)
HVER LILLE PIGE (EVERY LITTLE GIRL)
HVER LILLE DRENG (EVERY LITTLE BOY)
SOM SOVER SODT (WHO SLEEPS SWEETLY)
I SIN LILLE SENG (IN THEIR LITTLE BED)
Jane
December 3rd, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Check the link I gave and scroll down to the longer version near the bottom of the page – I think that might be the one you’re looking for…
http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=303&c=47
October 22nd, 2010 at 1:30 pm
In reply to Jana: Langt oppe bag Norges kyster, der bor en enkemand, enkemand
Langt oppe bag Norges kyster, der bor en enkemand, enkemand.
Han havde en eneste datter, Juliana var hendes navn, hendes navn..
You can google that and get the full lyrics.
In reply to Martin: could it be: Tingelinge later tin soldater, bly matroser bum bum bum
SE til hojre, se til venstre, hele regimentet drejer om?
January 4th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
My Grandfather use to sing me a song in Danish using my fingers. All I remember is the little finger was “little baby peterman”?
February 15th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
I am looking for the same song that Janet Nielsen is looking for..anyone have it?
May 6th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
What she recalls is as follows, Tummel Top/licke pot/lange mann/gule bran/lille Peder Spielemann.
Dos anyone know if this correct? We need it for Granddaughter Nikolena!
May 6th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
First bit of my message has disappeared. My sister, now nearly 90, learned this from our Grandma, Nikolena.
March 18th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
Martin: Song about the toy soldiers
http://www.ugle.dk/tingelingelater.html
Tinge-linge-later, tinsoldater,
blymatroser, bum-bum-bum.
Se til højre, se til venstre,
hele regimentet vender om.
Tinge-linge-later, tin soldiers
Lead sailors, bum-bum-bum
Look right, look left
The whole regiment turns around
Nu er klokken blevet mange
nu må vi se at komme hjem,
Ellers bli’r vor moder bange,
hele regimentet om igen.
Now it is getting late
Now we must get home
Or else our mother will be scared
The whole regiment turn again
Tinge-linge-later = shall depict small drum sound
Bum-bum-bum = shall depict big drum sound
March 18th, 2014 at 3:24 pm
Allan Pedersen – about the fingers
Tommeltot
Slikkepot
Langemand
Guldebrand
Lille Peter spillemand
Tommeltot = thumb
Slikkepot = pointer finger which is used to lich the pot after baking or such
Langemand = the long man – just the longest finger
Guldebrand = gold fire = shining gold = finger for wedding ring
Lille Peter Spillemand = Little Peter Fiddler (the one with no serious job)
September 27th, 2014 at 9:37 pm
I’m looking for a danish song about a little man with a crocked or big nose who liked to drink alcohol, smoke and kiss the girls cuz that tastes good.
September 27th, 2014 at 9:38 pm
I’m trying to find a Danish song about a little man who liked to drink and smoke and kiss the girls “because that tastes good.”