Calle Schewens vals
(Evert Taube, 1890-1976)

On Roslagen’s isle, in a flowery bay,
Where ripples wash in from the sea,
The reeds slowly rock, and the sweet new-mown hay
Is wafting its fragrance to me.
There I sit alone ‘mid the trees by the way
And gaze at the sea-birds on high.
They dive to the water with glitter of spray
And feed, while I watch them and sigh.

I’m mixing my coffee quite freely with rum
To a strength and a flavor just right!
The accordion’s measures alluringly come
From my cabin so gaily alight.
I feel like a boy, though a Grandad am I:
My spirit my grey hair belies.
I only get worse as the years pass me by,
With dancing and maidens’ bright eyes.

Look—there is a gull with a fish he has caught;
But I’m caught by arms soft and white!
My heart is so happy, my years are as naught;
Then play, for I’m dancing tonight!
The sea sends a song, and its fragrance the glade;
Tonight you must stay as my guest.
Here dances Calle Schewen with Roslagen’s maid--
The sunset is in the northwest!

My flowery isle on your bosom you hold,
You tranquil and darkling blue seas!
While July twilight shadows so tender, enfold
All the slumbering bushes and trees.
You’re dancing so quietly, sweet little miss--
I think that all men you despise.
It trembles, that small childish hand that I kiss,
While in minor the waltz softly dies.

But hey, all you fellows who visit my bay
I’m really a sober old man,
When morning has come I must stack up my hay,
And catch all the fish that I can!
The deuce take you, twilight; the morn you disclose
In firtops agleam one by one--
Here dances Calle Schewen with Roslagen’s rose:
He dances while up comes the sun!


Charmaine
VERSE 1:
That summer day, I looked into your eyes of blue,
I thought the world was mine. Charmaine, alas that was then!
With the sun you went away; our story was so short.

REFRAIN:
When shall you return to me, Charmaine? My Charmaine?
One Christmas we’ll meet perhaps anew, in the sun’s glow,
I wonder if again you remember the love you gave to me?
You have left me, and I wonder where,
Say when you will come again, Charmaine.

VERSE 2:
How your rose-red mouth invited me, stands before as yesterday.
I feel even yet the kisses glow and the fragrance of your hair.
Though years have fled, I have not forgotten you, Charmaine.

Tr: by R. Solomonson, ASIMC Minneapolis


De svenske (The Swedes)
Now come the Swedes, now come the Swedes a-singing
Now come the Swedes, they come singing,
from the plains, from the mountains they come storming down,
our life is a longing, our longing is slow in coming,
now we wish, now we must, now everyone must come along,
now we wish, now we must all come, now must all be along,
now thaws all the frozen, which covers spring's surge,
from the sea through the forest has the spring's driving wind,
hear the winter's salute to the bursting ice's roar,
hear the winter's salute to the bursting ice's roar:
now step, now awaken, now step, now awaken,
now it shall break loose, break loose!

Tr: Einer Oberg, ASIMC Minneapolis


Domaredansen (The judge’s dance)
Now will we begin a judge’s dance, but the judge is not at home.
All those that get into the judge’s dance, their heart shall burn.
All say (them) oh! oh! oh!
All say (them) no! no! no!
(If you) have dreamed of your dearest last night, shall you smile at the light.

Tr: R. Solomonson, ASIMC Minneapolis