Sinklars Vísa

Zinklar's Visa

Mr. Zinklar crossed the salty sea
To Norway his course must stand
Among Guldbrand's cliffs he found his grave
Where a bloody forehead did land

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

Mr. Zinklar sailed the blue waves
To fight for Swedish gold
God help you, you surely must
In the grass, the Norseman’s bold

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

The moon shines pale in the night
They dare to roll so sly
A mermaid rose from the water’s height
She foretold Mr. Zinklar’s plight

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

Turn back, turn back, you Scottish man!
It’s your life that’s at stake
If you come to Norway, I tell you true
You’ll never come back, for heaven’s sake

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

Your song is sad, you venomous troll!
You always predict misfortune
If I catch you once in my hold
I’ll let you be chopped to pieces, no doubt

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

He sailed for days, he sailed for three
With all his hired crew
On the fourth morning, he’d see Norway
I won’t let that go unspoken

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

By Romsdal’s shores, he steered to land
Declared himself an enemy
He was followed by fourteen hundred men
All of whom had ill intent

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

They plundered and burned as they moved along
All the people they could offend
The old man’s weakness didn’t touch them
They mocked the weeping widow

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

The child was killed in the mother’s arms
So gently it had smiled
But the rumor of this sorrow and need
Rushed to the heart of the land

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

The beacon shone and the messenger ran
From Grande to the nearest Grande
The valley’s sons didn’t hide away
Mr. Zinklar had to see

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

The soldier is out on the king’s campaign
We must defend our land
Cursed be the coward’s pull
Who now wants to spare his blood!

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

The farmers from Vaage, Lessøe, and Lom
With sharp axes on their backs
In Bredebøigd they gathered as one
To talk with the Scotsmen

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

Close under Lide, there runs a path
Which one might call the circle
The league hurries past there
In it, the enemies shall fall

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

The rifle no longer hangs on the wall
There the gray-haired shooter aims
The water spirit lifts its wet beard
And waits with longing for its prey

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

The first shot Mr. Zinklar cried out
He roared and gave up his breath
Every Scot shouted when the colonel fell
God free us from this torment!

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

Forward, farmers! Forward, Norwegian men!
Strike down, strike down at their feet!
Then the Scot wished to go home again
He was not in a cheerful mood

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

With dead bodies, the circle was strewn
The ravens had enough to eat
The youth’s blood that flowed here
The Scottish girls mourned

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

No living soul came home
Who could tell their countrymen
How dangerous it is to visit them
Who dwell among Norway’s fields

Up before dawn, they’ll come over the heath

Still stands a pillar in the same place
As Norway’s enemies may threaten
Woe to every Norseman who doesn’t stay warm
So often his eyes shall see!