I went out to Spotify and found a playlist someone made of 100 of the best Scandinavian songs, but after sampling many of them I wasn’t too keen on the musical tastes of the person who put the list together. Then I put a search on Scandinavian musical artists and started scrolling until I found an album cover that caught my eye. Sure enough, I liked the song, went out to YouTube to see if there were any videos of it, and there was Garmarna, singing “Vänner och Fränder (Friends and Relatives)”. I love the tribal sounds in this, and oh what a story it tells. I love that she chose and that she chose love.
Per wikipedia:
Garmarna is a Swedish folk rock band. Their songs are mainly old Scandinavian ballads. Garmarna was founded in 1990. Stefan Brisland-Ferner, Gotte Ringqvist and Rickard Westman were inspired by old Swedish music, which they had heard in a theater. They began searching for old tunes and instruments. After two years of playing together, Jens Höglin joined the band on drums.
In 1992 the band recorded their first EP. They thought that female vocals would provide a contrast to the dark mood of their music and invited Emma Härdelin, a long-time friend of the band, as the guest vocalist on the EP. She officially joined the band in 1993.
Guds spelemän (The Fiddlers of God) is Garmarna’s second full-length album, released in 1996. All songs on it except one are sung in Swedish. “Vänner och Fränder (Friends and Relatives)” is the second cut on the album.
Garmarna about the track:
This is one of our favourite ballads, and it has been recorded several times before. The melody of the tune is rather odd; perhaps it is older than most of the other medieval ballads. The lyrics tell the story of a maiden who marries the King’s son, but refuses to go to bed with him. When a message arrives that poor Roland, her true love, is about to leave the harbour on his ship, she runs away from the rich Prince and sails away with Roland.
Friends and kin
Friends and kinsfolk met to deliberate
To whom would they marry off their kinswoman this year
Rosy youth
They deliberated
To whom would they marry off their kinswoman this year
We want you to wed the son of a king
Who has more gold than poor Roland has land
Wed the son of a king
Who has more gold than poor Roland has land
On Saturday and Sunday the word it was spread
Monday and Tuesday will show what she gets
Word was spread
Monday and Tuesday will show what she gets
On Wednesday and Thursday the wine was made
Friday and Saturday the wedding was cheered
Wine was made Friday and Saturday the wedding was cheered
They drank for days, they drank for two,
But the bride wouldn’t to the chamber go
They drank for two
But the bride wouldn’t to the chamber go
They drank for days, they drank for three
But the bridal bed she refused for to see
They drank for three
But the bridal bed she refused for to see
Then entered in a poor ship’s hand
Wore a blue blouse both tattered and torn
Poor ship’s hand Wore a blue blouse both tattered and torn
He stood at the table and he spoke
I see only masts and the places where they go
And he spoke I see only masts and the places where they go
And the maiden went up to the high loft
And ran down the path to the broad sea shore
Went to the high loft
And ran down the path to the broad sea shore
She ran on the rocks, she ran on tiptoe
But took great care to mind the blue waves below
Ran on tiptoe
But took great care to mind the blue waves below
And she was invited on board the ship
And there they bade her drink both mead and wine
On board ship
And there they bade her drink both mead and wine
I see I see on your white fingers small
The wedding band has not been there for long
White fingers small
The wedding band has not been there for long
I see I see on your golden hair
That before yesterday the wreath was not there
Golden hair
That before yesterday the wreath was not there
I see I see on your lily white breasts
That small children they have not consoled
Lily white breasts
That small children they have not consoled
And now the maiden lays at poor Roland’s side
She feels neither sorrow nor anguish
Rosy youth
At poor Roland’s side
Songwriter: Traditional
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. This week Jim asks us to find Scandinavian music, songs from Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden.
Tao Talk 
I like the acoustic sound of this band, and you picked a real winner here, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do too, Jim. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do have a really nice sound and melody. It’s very rootsy to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes they do. They remind me of the group Pentangle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice 👌
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Satyam.
LikeLike
This was cool, Lisa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you like it, Nancy. I like the vibrations it puts out, feels magical to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
💫
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is great! I’m a big follower of folk music and have played the likes of Faun, Otava Yo, Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span on my blog. Thank you for this introduction to a new band for me to enjoy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Clive so happy you enjoyed them. I’m familiar with Fairport Convention (led to them via Richard Thompson) and Steeleye Span. I’m sure you’ve heard of Pentangle then too? Happy to introduce you to a new folk band.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve seen all three in concert several times, so yes I’m very familiar. And RT as a soloist, with his then wife Linda, and with his full band. I enjoyed your band, and subscribed to their YouTube channel earlier today 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool! I have a few of Richard & Linda albums and one or two of FC. I first heard of Richard when someone put his Vincent Black Lightning on a mix tape.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a full set of both, plus all of Richard’s solo albums. You could call me a fan, going right back to their early days, and before they turned to English folk music. If you like folk, I hope Liege And Lief is one of the albums you have – no folk fan should be without it 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess you are a fan :) Yes Liege And Lief is one I have. Haven’t listened to it a ton, have listened to Richard & Linda ones more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should give it another try. One of the most important albums in our folk music history, generally reckoned here to be where English folk-rock began. It’s a superb album, from a time when the late Sandy Denny was their lead vocalist. Still, to my ears, the best voice ever to come out of this country.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Lisa I really like this type of music and I am always spellbound by the Scandinavian languages 💜👌😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Willow I like those “trills” or whatever they’re called as they sing also. The resonance of this acoustic music blows me away. Happy you enjoyed the tune :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s absolutely brilliant 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
bare bones and beautiful
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed 💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s some really exciting stuff coming out of europe, just like their literature too. Thanks for this Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe you, Paul. Glad you like this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I think about old “Swedish songs”, I think Abba! :-)
On a more serious note, kudos for featuring a “real” Swedish song. I actually think sounds pretty!
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol on Abba. They were my first thought. That or Blue Swede’s Venus. The tones in her voice and in the instruments are truly magical. I also love the story this old traditional tells.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice. They sound like a German version of the English folk rock band; Fairport Convention
LikeLiked by 1 person
I mean Swedish lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I knew what you meant :)
LikeLike
I really like their sound also.
LikeLike
Wow, this is absolutely mesmerizing, MSJ–the vocal and harmonies, the tribal beat and droning strings, every aspect of it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
For sure, Mitch :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like those 70s British folk bands, Steeleye Span and Pentangle. Fairport too. I love those traditional songs–all those minor keys. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do meld well together and transports me to another place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oooh This sound really good. Glad you found it. :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you like it, Barbara :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
this band is so good! I like their sound a lot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
:)
LikeLike