hear the harp of Väinämöinen...

Velisurmaaja (The Brother Murderer)

words from the Kanteletar


1. "Mistäs tulet, kustas tulet,
Poikani iloinen?"--
"Meren rannalta, meren rannalta,
Äitini kultainen."
1. "Where do you come from, my cheerful son?"
"From the seashore, my dear mother."
2. "Mitä sieltä tekemästä,
Poikani iloinen?"--
"Hevostani juottamasta,
Äitini kultainen."
2. "What were you doing there, my cheerful son?"
"I brought my horse to drink, my dear mother."
3. "Mist' on selkäsi saveen tullut,
Poikani iloinen?"--
"Hevonen huiskasi hännällänsä,
Äitini kultainen."
3. "Why do you have clay on your back, my cheerful son?"
"Because my horse swished his tail, my dear mother."
4. "Mist' on jalkasi vereen tullut,
Poikani iloinen?"--
"Hevonen polkasi rauallansa,
Äitini kultainen."
4. "Why do you have blood on your leg, my cheerful son?"
"Because my horse kicked my leg, my dear mother."
5. Mist' on miekkasi vereen tullut,
Poikani iloinen?"--
"Pistin veljeni kuoliaaksi,
Äitini kultainen."
5. "Why is there blood upon your sword, my cheerful son?"
"Because I stabbed my brother to death, my dear mother."
6. "Mintähen sinä veljesi pistit,
Poikani poloinen?"--
"Mintähen naistani nauratteli,
Muorini kultainen."
6. "Why did you stab your brother to death, my poor dear son?"
"Because he flirted with my girl, my dear mother.

(NOTE: A visitor to my website wrote to say: 'I think "Mintähen naistani nauratteli" may mean something way more sinister than flirting with his wife. ...Similar expressions in archaic texts mean mock, make laughable, take virginity, make pregnant, rape.  It also would make much more sense to kill your brother because he raped or had sex with your wife than for being flirty.' This makes sense to me, so I have included the information here.)
7. "Minne nyt sinä itse jouvut,
Poikani poloinen?"--
"Muille maille vierahille,
Muorini kultainen."
7. "Where will you go now, my poor dear son?"
"Off to strange lands, my dear mother."
8. "Minne heität taattosi vanhan,
Poikani poloinen?"--
"Mieron verkkoja paikatkohon,
Muorini kultainen."
8. "Where will you leave your father, my poor dear son?"
"Let him patch a stranger's nets, my dear mother."
9. "Minne heität maammosi vanhan,
Poikani poloinen?"--
"Mieron rihmoja keträtköhön,
Muorini kultainen."
9. "Where will you leave your mother, my poor dear son?"
"Let her spin a stranger's threads, my dear mother."
10. "Minne heität naisesi nuoren,
Poikani poloinen?"--
"Mieron miehiä katselkohon,
Muorini kultainen.
10. "Where will you leave your sweetheart, my poor dear son?"
"Let her look at strange men, my dear mother."
11. "Minne heität poikasi nuoren,
Poikani poloinen?--
"Mieron koulua kärsiköhön,
Muorini kultainen."
11. "Where will you leave your young son, my poor dear son?"
"Let him learn the beggar's trade, my dear mother."
12. "Minne heität tyttösi nuoren,
Poikani poloinen?"--
"Mieron karjoja kaitsekohon,
Muorini kultainen."
12. "Where will you leave your young daughter, my poor dear son?"
"Let her watch over a stranger's cattle, my dear mother."
13. "Koskas sieltä kotihin käännyt,
Poikani poloinen?"--
"Konsa tähet taivaalla tanssii,
Muorini kultainen."
13. "When will you come back again, my poor dear son?"
"When the stars go dancing in the sky, my dear mother."
14. "Koskas tähet taivaalla tanssii,
Poikani poloinen?"--
"Konsa kaikki tuomiolle tullaan,
Muorini kultainen."
14. "When will the stars dance in the sky, my poor dear son?"
"The stars will dance on Judgment Day, my dear mother."