Ulvsblakk is probably my favorite Ulver song. Yet I'm not Norwegian so I obviously don't know what the lyrics are about. I was wondering if any one could translate the lyrics from this song to English for me.
Ulvsblakk translation?
- Thread starter Blackwinged
- Start date
Erik
New Metal Member
Well, I probably could if someone would only transcribe them to begin with. I posted a topic asking if anyone could transcribe "Østenfor Sol og Vestenfor Maane" a while back with no luck...
I've made an attempt at transcribing the lyrics for Kveldssanger, but as you can see I need some help to fill in the blanks.
Sorry about the Ulvsblakk lyrics; they were the hardest.
I've also translated parts of the lyrics and titles.
Corrections to both translation and transcription are appreciated.
Kveldssanger = Evening songs
=================
=================
Østenfor Sol og vestenfor Måne = East of the Sun and west of the Moon
======================================
Østenfor Sol og vestenfor Måne = East of the Sun and west of the Moon
Dit kommer du sent eller aldri = You'll get there late or never [1]
Til Verdens Ende bærer det = On to the End of the World your headed [2]
(repeated)
Ord = Word
=======
Ikke? ---- love å vandre i mørske[3], = (Something) promise to wander in darkness
som ikke har sett natten = who's not seen the night
Høyfjeldsbilde = High mountains picture[4]
========================
(Instrumental)
Nattleite = Night time
============
(Instrumental)
Kveldssang = Evening song
================
(Instrumental)
Naturmystikk = Nature mystique
==================
(Instrumental)
A Capella (Sielens Sang) = Song of the Soul
=========================
(Instrumental)
Hiertets vee = Woe of the Heart
==================
(Instrumental)
Kledt i Nattens Farger = Clad in the Colours of Night
=============================
Kan du mer enn ditt Fader Vår = Do you know more than the Lords Prayer [5]
Kaster du ikke skygge = Do you not cast a shadow
Ja, da har du lovet bort din sjel = Yes, you have promised your soul away
og vil tilbe --------- = and will worship (something)
-- -- --- ---- -- ----
Som ser (whispered) = Who looks
Som ser på deg = Who looks at you
Halling = Halling dance [6]
===============
(Instrumental)
Utreise = Outwards journey [7]
==================
I blinde går jeg = In the blind I walk
Redd meg, ikke ------? = Save me, don't (something)
La natten føre meg = Let the night lead me
Bestandig ---- = Always (something)
Søfn - ør paa Alfers Lund = Sleep - dizzy on the Hill of Elves [8]
====================================
(Instrumental)
Ulvsblakk = Wolf coloured [9]
=================
Har du synen = Are you psychic [10]
Kan du se at sola --- ---
-------
---------------
Ulvsblakk -- - - - - - -- -
Har du synen = Are you psychic
Kan du se at --- --
-- -- - - - -- - --
-- - - - -- - - -
Ulvsblakk - - - -
Ulvsblakk -- - - - -
Tida -- -- - - - -
- -- - - - - -- -
Stemmen har --- -- Djevelen
Hahahhaha
- -- - - -- - - -
Ulvsblakk er med
[1] Not "late" as in "dead." More in the meaning of "you wont get to "East of the Sun and west of the Moon" in a long time, if you ever get there." The lyrics for this piece is more or less lifted verbatim from an old folk tale.
[2] For "The End of the World" think the outer rim in a flat Earth sense or the end of a road, and not the destruction of the Earth or "the end of the World as we know it."
[3] Old Norwegian spelling of "mørke"
[4] Not a picture as in painting or photograph, but a picture in music. "Høyfjell" is the landscape in the Norwegian mountains above 1000 meters. For pictures look here: http://www.kjentmannsmerket.org/Hogfjellsvarden.htm
[5] This translation probably makes no sense :-(
[6] Traditional Norwegian dance in which a man tries to kick down a hat on a stick held by a woman. He who kicks the highest gets to mate...
[7] Bad translation again. The title means something like "leaving on a journey"
[8] Sorry, another bad translation. The meaning should more or less be correct though
[9] Means the colour of a wolf's fur.
[10] D'ont know if I used the correct word, or even if it is translatable. Someone who is "synen" is able to see the subterrestrial (e.g. trolls) who are often invisible to people.
Sorry about the Ulvsblakk lyrics; they were the hardest.
I've also translated parts of the lyrics and titles.
Corrections to both translation and transcription are appreciated.
Kveldssanger = Evening songs
=================
=================
Østenfor Sol og vestenfor Måne = East of the Sun and west of the Moon
======================================
Østenfor Sol og vestenfor Måne = East of the Sun and west of the Moon
Dit kommer du sent eller aldri = You'll get there late or never [1]
Til Verdens Ende bærer det = On to the End of the World your headed [2]
(repeated)
Ord = Word
=======
Ikke? ---- love å vandre i mørske[3], = (Something) promise to wander in darkness
som ikke har sett natten = who's not seen the night
Høyfjeldsbilde = High mountains picture[4]
========================
(Instrumental)
Nattleite = Night time
============
(Instrumental)
Kveldssang = Evening song
================
(Instrumental)
Naturmystikk = Nature mystique
==================
(Instrumental)
A Capella (Sielens Sang) = Song of the Soul
=========================
(Instrumental)
Hiertets vee = Woe of the Heart
==================
(Instrumental)
Kledt i Nattens Farger = Clad in the Colours of Night
=============================
Kan du mer enn ditt Fader Vår = Do you know more than the Lords Prayer [5]
Kaster du ikke skygge = Do you not cast a shadow
Ja, da har du lovet bort din sjel = Yes, you have promised your soul away
og vil tilbe --------- = and will worship (something)
-- -- --- ---- -- ----
Som ser (whispered) = Who looks
Som ser på deg = Who looks at you
Halling = Halling dance [6]
===============
(Instrumental)
Utreise = Outwards journey [7]
==================
I blinde går jeg = In the blind I walk
Redd meg, ikke ------? = Save me, don't (something)
La natten føre meg = Let the night lead me
Bestandig ---- = Always (something)
Søfn - ør paa Alfers Lund = Sleep - dizzy on the Hill of Elves [8]
====================================
(Instrumental)
Ulvsblakk = Wolf coloured [9]
=================
Har du synen = Are you psychic [10]
Kan du se at sola --- ---
-------
---------------
Ulvsblakk -- - - - - - -- -
Har du synen = Are you psychic
Kan du se at --- --
-- -- - - - -- - --
-- - - - -- - - -
Ulvsblakk - - - -
Ulvsblakk -- - - - -
Tida -- -- - - - -
- -- - - - - -- -
Stemmen har --- -- Djevelen
Hahahhaha
- -- - - -- - - -
Ulvsblakk er med
[1] Not "late" as in "dead." More in the meaning of "you wont get to "East of the Sun and west of the Moon" in a long time, if you ever get there." The lyrics for this piece is more or less lifted verbatim from an old folk tale.
[2] For "The End of the World" think the outer rim in a flat Earth sense or the end of a road, and not the destruction of the Earth or "the end of the World as we know it."
[3] Old Norwegian spelling of "mørke"
[4] Not a picture as in painting or photograph, but a picture in music. "Høyfjell" is the landscape in the Norwegian mountains above 1000 meters. For pictures look here: http://www.kjentmannsmerket.org/Hogfjellsvarden.htm
[5] This translation probably makes no sense :-(
[6] Traditional Norwegian dance in which a man tries to kick down a hat on a stick held by a woman. He who kicks the highest gets to mate...
[7] Bad translation again. The title means something like "leaving on a journey"
[8] Sorry, another bad translation. The meaning should more or less be correct though
[9] Means the colour of a wolf's fur.
[10] D'ont know if I used the correct word, or even if it is translatable. Someone who is "synen" is able to see the subterrestrial (e.g. trolls) who are often invisible to people.
Nice! Much appreciated even though there were some words missing. At least I can sing along now and actually have a clue of what i'm singing
You haven't by any chance tried to figure out the lyrics to the Vargnatt demo too?
You haven't by any chance tried to figure out the lyrics to the Vargnatt demo too?
No, sorry, haven't got Vargnatt my self. From what I've heard of it, transcribing it would probably be quite hard. Too bad they don't print the lyrics to all their music.
Erik
New Metal Member
daisyboy: IMMENSE thanks for the "Östenför sol..." transcription. My band is considering covering that song so the lyrics (which sound correct to me) help a lot.
Erik
New Metal Member
For the record, there are official translations of the song titles, they're as follows:
1. East of the Sunne and West of the Moone
3. The Mountaintops
4. Nighte time
5. Twilight Song
6. Naturall Mystick
7. A Capella (Song of the Souls)
8. The Heart's Woe
9. Cladde in Colours of the Nighte
11. Exodus
12. Drowsiness on Fairie Mound
13. Wolfsgrey
1. East of the Sunne and West of the Moone
3. The Mountaintops
4. Nighte time
5. Twilight Song
6. Naturall Mystick
7. A Capella (Song of the Souls)
8. The Heart's Woe
9. Cladde in Colours of the Nighte
11. Exodus
12. Drowsiness on Fairie Mound
13. Wolfsgrey
I must admit, the official translations are a lot better than mine. If only someone could dig out an official translation/transcription of the lyrics as well, I'd be very happy.
Lyrics are missing from several of their newer releases as well. Shame.
Lyrics are missing from several of their newer releases as well. Shame.
apperently the lyrics where never officially released, who knows why!
by the way, isn't the language used on kveldssanger, bergtatt and nattens madrigal an ancient form of danish? at least in the nattens madrigal title "aatte hymne til ulf i manden" i can confirm this, since "mand" is danish (norwegian "mann")! why did they do the lyrics in danish? i know the to languages are allmost the same in written form and the scandinavian countries have very much in common! still it seems odd not to use norwegian since ulver are from norway!
by the way, isn't the language used on kveldssanger, bergtatt and nattens madrigal an ancient form of danish? at least in the nattens madrigal title "aatte hymne til ulf i manden" i can confirm this, since "mand" is danish (norwegian "mann")! why did they do the lyrics in danish? i know the to languages are allmost the same in written form and the scandinavian countries have very much in common! still it seems odd not to use norwegian since ulver are from norway!
by the way, has anyone figured out the lyrics from "Synen"? they are a lot easier to grasp, even i with my limited understanding of norwegian understand some of it!
Fleischwolf said:
Actually, the lyrics on those three albums are in ancient Norwegian ("ancient" being circa 1850s). Back then, Danish and written Norwegian were very similar, but have later drifted apart (somewhat). The lyrics are closer to modern Danish than modern Norwegian, so you are quite right.
One thing to note (which is not obvious to non-Scandinavians) is that the lyrics (the quotes) for the girl in Bergtatt, are in a more rural Norwegian dialect. These bits are close to what people actually talked like (especially outside the towns), and resembles what is known as "Nynorsk" (New Norwegian) today.
ja nynorsk kjenner eg vel, men eg snakker det ikkje! men bokmål går bra!
thanks for the clarification anyways, very interesting to know this!
however, look what it says on the backside of bergtatt: "
musick composed by Ulver All Text & Lyricks created by Garm and transcribed to archaic Danish by AiwarikiaR Flute and Maiden's voice by Lill Kathrine Stensrud Piano by Mr. Sverd Cover painting by our most honoured Ms. Tanya "Nacht" Stene"
well, i do believe you though, since apparently danish and norwegian where allmost identical back then and you surely know what you're speaking about!
by the way, if someone's interested in the bergtatt and nattens madrigal lyrics and translations, just tell me and i'll post them here!
thanks for the clarification anyways, very interesting to know this!
however, look what it says on the backside of bergtatt: "
musick composed by Ulver All Text & Lyricks created by Garm and transcribed to archaic Danish by AiwarikiaR Flute and Maiden's voice by Lill Kathrine Stensrud Piano by Mr. Sverd Cover painting by our most honoured Ms. Tanya "Nacht" Stene"
well, i do believe you though, since apparently danish and norwegian where allmost identical back then and you surely know what you're speaking about!
by the way, if someone's interested in the bergtatt and nattens madrigal lyrics and translations, just tell me and i'll post them here!
Fleischwolf said:
Ah, that explains it. My cover is in Norwegian, and this is what it says:"
Al Text & Lyrik er lafved aff Garm oc ofversad aff AiwarikiaR
Fløite & Pigestemme ved frk. Lill Kathrine Stensrud
Piano ved hr. Sverd
Omslaget er mahlet aff voor høit ærede Søster Frk. Tanya "Nacht" Stene"
Fleischwolf said:well, i do believe you though, since apparently danish and norwegian where allmost identical back then and you surely know what you're speaking about!
Re-reading my earlier comment I realize I could have been more clear. So to clarify: At the point in time Ulver is aiming for on their earlier albums, spoken Danish and Norwegian was a bit different from each other, but Danish was the preferred language for most Norwegian writers. Especially in Christiania (named after Danish king Christian), which is the old name for Oslo, Ulver's home town. Anyway, that's the reason the lyrics for those older albums are in Danish.
Erik
New Metal Member
Yeah thanks man. It's very interesting to finally after all these years find out the album is all about. I always knew it was a story of sorts but of course since I didn't understand the lyrics I didn't understand the story. Interesting indeed.Erik said:
looking at the lyrics of "nattens madrigal" i realize that the language used is somewhat more archaic than on "bergtatt" and "kveldssanger"! on nattens madrigal the word "and" translates to "oc" while on bergtatt and kveldssanger it translates to "og" (which is the same as in todays danish and norwegian)! so is the language used on "nattens madrigal" even more archaic than on "bergtatt" and "kveldssanger"? apperently it's quite different from the other two albums!
here's the nattens madrigal lyrics translated:
if someone wants the original lyrics from bergtatt and nattens madrigal i'll post them here, but apperently the non-scandinavians don't care for them too much!
1. Wolf & Fear
Amongst men words went
Of the Full Moone's woe.
When a dirge did rise to Her skylit eye
From the lone winter's colde
They fear'd that the wolf was nigh
Awakened its Majestie of olde
Nights did pass when men claim'd the saw
In Her light that he splits
with the shadow he casts
The shadow of a force unknown
Howling at its God in splendoure infernall
This Devil's Herolde, he hunted the land
And many a man disappear'd
Where She shines, he binds; the Wolf of Hell
He kills o'ver the rumbling Abyss
The Curse is certayne
The Beast below bestowed on him a gift
And by Magick he to wolf was bound
No more was he a slave to God
At midnight treading on hollow grave
2. Wolf & The Devil
The images of Wolf once served
The Pride of Witch and Devil -
Witnessed a dark, yet mightie Faith -
With boundaries wide as the world it layd waste
Satan did create
What to their eyne Celestial is -
And so he is
A man in Wolfskin clad
To his hands, e'en the Wind is Servant
And Eternitie - his enigmatick Spirit
Around him a Majestie
like Pan his Crowne of olde
He hungers through Eternitie -
Immersed in a Tragedie dark and colde
Knowne onlie to the Initiated
Through Day and Night he moves
In an eternall, wearie chase
...And this Solitude so greate and sad
Will Vengeance seek for Love long lost
Through Hatred!
3. Wolf & Hatred
O Wanderer in this infernal Night
Believe not his Hate will spare thee
His prey shall be no one
But thee -
Who shall tremble when he is near
In foolish hope for shelter
And thou -
Whose bloode strong wine shall be
Thy Soule, his sacred Trophie
In vein he lets thee shed
Thy bloode in this Sea of Payne
Then shalt thou not haunt thine friends
Revealing: "The Wolf is he!"
Coldlie thy bloode shall flow
As streams through Graves below
God is not here, but death draws near
And secondes are O, so few
In a Nature twofold they shine
Beginning and End combine
Fool, thou art prostrate
By the raging eyne of his
Lifted upwards
Rapt in Moonshine
4. Wolf & Man
The spell did breake and gave release
To hours amongst Mankynde
But then, as now, the strayn
Of living, breathing, yea ev'rie move
A burden approaching payn
Dishearten'd he was
As he wander'd with men
On the surface of life - no change
No change as the Beast within
They fear him, these fooles
A power pure, nature unveil'd
Perception sans delusion
Amongst them he walks unseen
Like a tint if Twilight
The breath of Night
No voice of God did tell
Man what He did hide
Werewolf & Phantom, Daemon & Beast -
Mere names given to what they fear'd
But he -
In his heart: An abyss unfathomable
As teh blacken'd sea
Which loves its deeps
There -
An animal shadow crawling
O'er the wintry soil
All Hope, Joie & Life he slayes
The Moone, rising anew,
Bids him welcome from a waning sky
... And by the sounding
Of his midnight psalme
Feare shall be harvest agayn
From the Pious hearts of men
5. Wolf & The Moon
Possesivelie She upon him shone
Adorned with dimme stars
In this Night of Nights
He hailes Her with a song
This hymne of Passion
Reminding of the Bond
Between him and the Night
As they melt into one
When dawn draws near
And the Sunne ascendes
Like a flame bright & pure
From the bonfires of heretics
Ecstatick, then, his Mind!
Grant him thus Light anew,
Thou, Sunne of Satan
So that he shall reigne
Through infinite
In colde, inconceivable Majestie!
6. Wolf & Passion
On he hunts with sorrow none
For what hath passed is gone
His sole regret the absence
Of desires worthie his teares
Until he saw pitie in her eyne
Where all the light did shine
And soone all joie should die
Her glazed eyne did wander
A mayden pure in grandeur
Left alone & lost
From her eyne he retreats
Clad in mournfulle Mysterie
He takes her heart in his
But dark & dead is her light
Evil took her fire's breath
Her embers were by him devour'd
And inside of him a fire buildes
Of Hate & Love & Hope so sad
The Moone comes forth
Born anew above her Soule -
Stolen here by the dark,
Binding Magick of olde
Frighten'd she nears him,
And speakes:
Thou, messenger of the Devil,
Who brings fear into lovers' hearts,
Thou, elixir to the hatred of men
And air to my Soule, now dying;
Leave me not, O shadow,
Before I give myself away
To these long denied desires,
Thy gift to my dying heart
7. Wolf & Destiny
No more he wore his constume
Red as bloode & wine
For wine & bloode was on his hands
As he stoode by her bed and corpse
When the two of them were found
8. Wolf & The Night
Had Love fetter'd this force of free?
What he leaves dead, he forgets
No memories arise from the grave,
No anger glides through the night of Soules
With humble tears she flatter'd
The Divinitie shes hated and fear'd
Her lamb-like nature
Left him not untouch'd
By Magick she was bound
To the Beast within him
These Soules twain
Enforced one's end
Payne anew from woe of olde
A Tragedie of endless dayes
Insatiable, the thirst
Inconceivable, the lust
Wild & mad he hunts
In anguish black at heart
The winter's colde
Soone fulfill'd
- And his yearning
Towards a winter's night
Wandering alone,
The Wolf
those are some of the greatest lyrics i've ever read, by the way!
i've allways found it odd that the titles are in english even though the lyrics are in scandinavian! so i translated the titles:
1. Ulv oc Fryckt
2. Ulv oc Diefvelen
3. Ulv oc Had
4. Ulv oc Mand
5. Ulv oc Maanen
6. Ulv oc Lidenskab
7. Ulv oc Skaebne
8. Ulv oc Natten
if someone wants the original lyrics from bergtatt and nattens madrigal i'll post them here, but apperently the non-scandinavians don't care for them too much!
1. Wolf & Fear
Amongst men words went
Of the Full Moone's woe.
When a dirge did rise to Her skylit eye
From the lone winter's colde
They fear'd that the wolf was nigh
Awakened its Majestie of olde
Nights did pass when men claim'd the saw
In Her light that he splits
with the shadow he casts
The shadow of a force unknown
Howling at its God in splendoure infernall
This Devil's Herolde, he hunted the land
And many a man disappear'd
Where She shines, he binds; the Wolf of Hell
He kills o'ver the rumbling Abyss
The Curse is certayne
The Beast below bestowed on him a gift
And by Magick he to wolf was bound
No more was he a slave to God
At midnight treading on hollow grave
2. Wolf & The Devil
The images of Wolf once served
The Pride of Witch and Devil -
Witnessed a dark, yet mightie Faith -
With boundaries wide as the world it layd waste
Satan did create
What to their eyne Celestial is -
And so he is
A man in Wolfskin clad
To his hands, e'en the Wind is Servant
And Eternitie - his enigmatick Spirit
Around him a Majestie
like Pan his Crowne of olde
He hungers through Eternitie -
Immersed in a Tragedie dark and colde
Knowne onlie to the Initiated
Through Day and Night he moves
In an eternall, wearie chase
...And this Solitude so greate and sad
Will Vengeance seek for Love long lost
Through Hatred!
3. Wolf & Hatred
O Wanderer in this infernal Night
Believe not his Hate will spare thee
His prey shall be no one
But thee -
Who shall tremble when he is near
In foolish hope for shelter
And thou -
Whose bloode strong wine shall be
Thy Soule, his sacred Trophie
In vein he lets thee shed
Thy bloode in this Sea of Payne
Then shalt thou not haunt thine friends
Revealing: "The Wolf is he!"
Coldlie thy bloode shall flow
As streams through Graves below
God is not here, but death draws near
And secondes are O, so few
In a Nature twofold they shine
Beginning and End combine
Fool, thou art prostrate
By the raging eyne of his
Lifted upwards
Rapt in Moonshine
4. Wolf & Man
The spell did breake and gave release
To hours amongst Mankynde
But then, as now, the strayn
Of living, breathing, yea ev'rie move
A burden approaching payn
Dishearten'd he was
As he wander'd with men
On the surface of life - no change
No change as the Beast within
They fear him, these fooles
A power pure, nature unveil'd
Perception sans delusion
Amongst them he walks unseen
Like a tint if Twilight
The breath of Night
No voice of God did tell
Man what He did hide
Werewolf & Phantom, Daemon & Beast -
Mere names given to what they fear'd
But he -
In his heart: An abyss unfathomable
As teh blacken'd sea
Which loves its deeps
There -
An animal shadow crawling
O'er the wintry soil
All Hope, Joie & Life he slayes
The Moone, rising anew,
Bids him welcome from a waning sky
... And by the sounding
Of his midnight psalme
Feare shall be harvest agayn
From the Pious hearts of men
5. Wolf & The Moon
Possesivelie She upon him shone
Adorned with dimme stars
In this Night of Nights
He hailes Her with a song
This hymne of Passion
Reminding of the Bond
Between him and the Night
As they melt into one
When dawn draws near
And the Sunne ascendes
Like a flame bright & pure
From the bonfires of heretics
Ecstatick, then, his Mind!
Grant him thus Light anew,
Thou, Sunne of Satan
So that he shall reigne
Through infinite
In colde, inconceivable Majestie!
6. Wolf & Passion
On he hunts with sorrow none
For what hath passed is gone
His sole regret the absence
Of desires worthie his teares
Until he saw pitie in her eyne
Where all the light did shine
And soone all joie should die
Her glazed eyne did wander
A mayden pure in grandeur
Left alone & lost
From her eyne he retreats
Clad in mournfulle Mysterie
He takes her heart in his
But dark & dead is her light
Evil took her fire's breath
Her embers were by him devour'd
And inside of him a fire buildes
Of Hate & Love & Hope so sad
The Moone comes forth
Born anew above her Soule -
Stolen here by the dark,
Binding Magick of olde
Frighten'd she nears him,
And speakes:
Thou, messenger of the Devil,
Who brings fear into lovers' hearts,
Thou, elixir to the hatred of men
And air to my Soule, now dying;
Leave me not, O shadow,
Before I give myself away
To these long denied desires,
Thy gift to my dying heart
7. Wolf & Destiny
No more he wore his constume
Red as bloode & wine
For wine & bloode was on his hands
As he stoode by her bed and corpse
When the two of them were found
8. Wolf & The Night
Had Love fetter'd this force of free?
What he leaves dead, he forgets
No memories arise from the grave,
No anger glides through the night of Soules
With humble tears she flatter'd
The Divinitie shes hated and fear'd
Her lamb-like nature
Left him not untouch'd
By Magick she was bound
To the Beast within him
These Soules twain
Enforced one's end
Payne anew from woe of olde
A Tragedie of endless dayes
Insatiable, the thirst
Inconceivable, the lust
Wild & mad he hunts
In anguish black at heart
The winter's colde
Soone fulfill'd
- And his yearning
Towards a winter's night
Wandering alone,
The Wolf
those are some of the greatest lyrics i've ever read, by the way!
i've allways found it odd that the titles are in english even though the lyrics are in scandinavian! so i translated the titles:
1. Ulv oc Fryckt
2. Ulv oc Diefvelen
3. Ulv oc Had
4. Ulv oc Mand
5. Ulv oc Maanen
6. Ulv oc Lidenskab
7. Ulv oc Skaebne
8. Ulv oc Natten
