I LOVED THIS SONG! Garmarna "Herr Mannelig"

[@senseo2848]

For me personally the best of all versions, it delivers the drama of the troll begging to be married and willing to give him the most valueable things of that time, to end her misery.

[@draug7966]

I love this song and and the old-fashioned words in it, it's so poetic to my ears. The artwork is from John Bauer who got famous for his illustrations to fairy-tale books, his trolls, golden-haired princesses and not least his forests are beloved by more or less every Swede i think . In fact "Bauer forest" has become a term for the classic Scandinavian old boreal forest with the huge pines and fir-trees and mossy rocks everywhere. In our folklore, trolls and other supernatural creatures are basically allergic to anything christian. In many tales someone gets under the spell of a troll or some other creature, then he or she says smth like "cross" or "Jesus" and suddenly the spell is broken. That's also why people were in a hurry to baptize their children cause there were many stories of trolls kidnapping an unbaptized child and replacing it with one of their own, a "changeling" or "bortbyting" in Swedish. Lastly, i know you're into werewolves so you need to check out "Varulven" too by this band. 🐺

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

Dude anything werewolves! hell yes!

[@rheakhere]

Garmarna is one of my favorite bands, and this song was my introduction to them! Great choice.

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

I saw the song and just had to hear it

[@norahagberg9897]

It was also my introduction to their music.

[@dakken74]

I love Garmarna! At one point I had all of their CDs.

[@Chifaire]

This is such a beautiful song with a great vocalist performing it. I was always told the troll's plight, or torment/suffering in Swedish, was that there was a curse on her. If she could have convinced Herr (=Mister) Mannerlig to marry her, her curse would have been broken. That was why she was so desperate for an answer, and giving him such lavish gifts.

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

I absolutely loved this!

[@SvenskNationalist2000]

​@@TheWolffAndTheMelodycan you react to enhetsfrontsång

[@iLSeparatio-oz7lm]

Pensé que solo quería sexo....

[@ShadowhispersBand]

Oh wow. I only knew the version of the german folk rock band In Extremo. I always liked that song. But this one is beautiful. And I finally know what the song is about 😉

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

Dude this moved me so much! Just beautiful

[@Mossy-Rock]

Thank you for reviewing this song from Garmarna! You'd probably find a lot of their music would interest you. This is the most famous Scandinavian ballad of all time. The history, background and details of it are very complex, and a thorough discussion of it would make a small book. No less than 30 versions of this ballad exist in Sweden's Medieval Ballads (SMB) catalog. All of them tell a different story. Some versions are massively long and some are short. This version is one of the shortest versions. The ballad started out as "Herr Magnus och Havsfrun" (Sir Magnus and the Mermaid), SMB #26, in the 1700s. Sir Magnus was a Swedish prince and duke in 1555. This version from 1862 involves the supernatural beings called "Necken" ("The Neck," which are shape-shifters). In general, a "troll" is a mischievous or evil supernatural entity. In this version an entity of Necken takes the form of a beautiful woman who tries to trick Herr Mannelig into marrying her through the offering of gifts to him. The reason this entity/troll wants to marry Herr Mannelig is because this entity is not human and has no soul, and in marrying a human the entity would gain a soul and therefore gain life after death. This is the entity's "plight," torment and torture (plåga) - the entity is not human and has no soul. If this sounds remarkably like Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" story regarding the "acquisition" of a soul, it is because both they have the same roots.

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

Thank you soooo much for explaining! Such a cool story

[@johncenashi5117]

I just have to add. The words and dialect they use in this song is an older version of Swedish and can be hard to understand for even some Swedes. If you think about it you can probably figure it out but just reading it could be hard for some. It has extra letters, use words that we dont use at all today and also some structure is different.

[@CommissarMitch]

​@@johncenashi5117 Eeh I would not nesscearily call it that much older. It is a bit like Shakespare English; perfectly understandable with just some funny spellings.

[@retrogamedreamer8761]

Beautiful. The art looks to be John Bauer, who’s a beloved artist here in Sweden mostly known for illustrations used in fairytales and children’s books. All the best from 🇸🇪

[@Templarofsteel88]

Indeed it is John Bauer's art. An artist who sadly died way too young.

[@johncenashi5117]

I went to a school called John Bauer. Always love hearing more about him

[@pellejonsson7933]

Alot of metaphores in this song. Trolls are magical beings in our folklore and her blight was probably that she was heartbroken. Alot of old tales tell of elfs(älvor)/trolls giving riches and power to the ones they love and 'marry'. Could interpret this song as the end of paganism. The artist who drew that painting is 'John Bauer'.

[@bdlkinetics]

thats exactly what it is, so its expression of spiritual agony......

[@Telleryn]

I love this group, all their stuff is worth checking out, particularly Herr Holger, Två Systrar, Gamen, and Ramunder, at least in my opinion.

[@uncommonman]

Don't forget about Bläck

[@gabrielkain1]

Beautiful......just beautiful. These types of songs always sound spiritual to me. I have no idea if it is or not, but the vocalist is really good. The music is basic but still really good.

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

Yea dude, this song had so much heart.

[@RitaFMachado]

I'm not swedish but what I know is that this is a very old swedish folk song, this is a version.

[@gabrielkain1]

@@RitaFMachado OH ok. Thank makes since.

[@uncommonman]

The artist for the image is named John Bauer. He is very influencial of the way trolls are depicted in Scandinavian culture. He lived between 1882 - 1918. I'll make another comment with a bunch of links to other similar music, Sweden has a pretty good amount of "folk-rock" music and I grew up on it so I'm very happy to see you liking this weird genre of music. ❤

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

I loved this song so much.

[@WNYretiree]

I have heard this song before, but not this version, I don't think. This was enthralling and drew you into the story so quickly.

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

It was so beautiful!

[@Need4Needle]

Haggard also made a Herr Mannelig song in their Eppur Si Muove (Galileo Galilei) album

[@Enen2096]

Услышала недавно эту балладу , окунулась в скандинавскую мифологию. Это просто клад ❤сокровище!

[@TheColdfeather]

Lovely, I never get tired hearing Herr Mannelig! :) And I loveee the rolling rrrrrrs, haha.

[@leokleman4395]

Rolling rrrrrrrs? Well, now that you mention it ...

[@Enen2096]

Мне тоже очень нравится это " Р"

[@soleywolfgangsdottir]

you are so taken because it speaks to your roots. you said to me that beowulf was one of your favourite movies, this song is also to be found in the 2005 movie beowulf and grendel. the music video is made from scenes of this movie. filmed in iceland, of course. mesmerizing melody and she rolls the r so fine. i have reccomended this song to you a while ago. liked the reaction!

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

I loveeeed this!

[@gigababy9400]

as a Swedish man myself i can comfirm: THIS IS A BANGER🔥🔥

[@sfyrisvasileios7799]

There is also an amazing version of this song from Haggard.

[@jubbaday]

Oh yes! I remember haggard. Old school folk-metal. Have you heard oFortuna by Therion?

[@sfyrisvasileios7799]

Yea, Therion used to slay before the changes in their lineup. Changing members in a band with a neoclassical/symphonic sound always causes an issue.

[@martinweber8299]

In Extremo also has a great version of the song!

[@norahagberg9897]

Hah this was a blast from the past. I listened a lot to this song in like 2015. I also recommend their song “Varulven”

[@Xcm-yg1vv]

The art is made by John Bauer, he is legendary in sweden

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

I've seen his art. Its soooo good!

[@Hadradaa]

Ye im a swede and i love this melody its make you remember where you came from

[@LewdTrout]

Oh man! This is pure concentrated nostalgia for me. this is one of the first pagan folk songs I ever listened to. Soooo many memories of all the nicest people I've ever met at folk festivals here in germany.

[@ann-christinfalkman4625]

One interpretation of the song is that the gifts are actually mist, ocean waves, a sunbeam, and spider webs respectively. The troll presents them as magnificent gifts to trick Herr Mannelig, hence her "false tongue".

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

ohhh thats very interesting.

[@wtglb]

Love this kind of music ❤❤❤❤

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

I either like extreme metal, or folk stuff hHa

[@wtglb]

@@TheWolffAndTheMelody I love Metal probably the most, but I enjoy just about everything, I appreciate excellent musicianship foremost, regardless of genre 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@williswameyo5737]

The word Herr is also in German, just in Swedish, it means Sir or Mister in formal terms

[@CommissarMitch]

The troll is basically calling the human "Mr. Man" I think that is funny.

[@ZNZ94]

You just earned yourself a follow just for the love you show towards my country my language and our history/heritage brother!🙏❤️

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

thank you so much friend! That means alot!

[@anco89]

This song was first recorded in the 19th century but it is believed to be much older than that. There are also several lyric regional variations but this is the most known one. Sometimes it is a troll, sometimes a pagan woman, a wood or water nymph. What her plight is is not clear, but in Nordic tales it's quite common that curses are broken by being gifted something freely or by being loved for who you are despite your ugly appearence etc. So she might not be a true troll but a cursed woman/creature. It is also considered by some to be a cautionary tale to not trust trolls/pagans as they are always deceiving you (they mention her false tongue), although you clearly feel sorry for the troll in this. Some lyric versions doesn't use "false tongue" though but rather "touching tongue" meaning emotionally affecting. Don't try to learn the Swedish from this song though, it is very old Swedish which is not spoken anymore😊 We can understand it, and some words are the same but it's a bit like learning English from Chaucer or Shakespeare, ie "At night was come in-to that hostelrye, wel nyne and twenty in a companye. Of sondry folk, by aventure y-falle In felawshipe, and pilgrims were they alle" Trivia: the symbol in the beginning of the video is the Kingdom of Swedens national coat of arms. It's very pompous and grand😂

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

hahaha But I wanna learn this swedish! haha

[@anco89]

@@TheWolffAndTheMelody I agree that it is much cooler than modern Swedish😁

[@АклызМелкенды]

Oh, it also was closer to english, than modern swedish, I think 'cause there were phrases, in which every word had the same stem

[@GameAddict84]

Came for the reaction, staying because I noticed that you seem to be a very nice, caring and humble person.

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

@@GameAddict84 Appreciate that! Thanks so much for being here.

[@williswameyo5737]

Garmarna is so good with this song🎉🎉

[@HansenSWE]

Someone should probably say that this song is either 12th or 13th century so if anyone thinks it'll help you with your Swedish language practice, you'll impress your history teacher moreso than your Swedish teacher. Even things as beautiful as the old language that enthralls us in this song has to change. Nothing lasts forever.

[@jondoe1538]

I like this Version with female vocals🙏👍👏

[@mojokarlsson4842]

Painting of John Bauer. Our most famous (absolutely not the only one) "troll painter". Another one is Rolf Lidberg.

[@АклызМелкенды]

I love that there are so many versions of this song in different languages by different artists

[@soderlund3610]

Have only heard it in swedish

[@АклызМелкенды]

@@soderlund3610Склот and Green crow in Russian, litvintroll in Belorussian, Haggard and Dunkelschön in German, Zniwa and Cztery Mile Lasu in Polish, Chronilus in English

[@Desertsol1]

My grandma used to tell me bedtime stories about trolls when I was a kid. This song reminds me a bit of that time.

[@TheRealmBetween]

Curiously, scandinavia had a lot of creatures and tales, and christian's greatest assets were their adaptability. So the preachers and priests said "yes, those creatures you belive fill the forests and rivers are real, but here's how to protect yourself from them!" (that's why trolls hate christians ;P) What's sad is that there were a lot of protectors of the forest, trees, caves and so on that people had to respect that they eventually lost their respect for, leading up to today's struggles to protect and preserve forests, trees, caves and so on.

[@issyd2366]

That's not true, the trolls were considered evil already during the pagan days. Thor himself fought them in the myths.

[@TheRealmBetween]

@issyd2366 Tor fought giants, mainly. And I wasn't talking about trolls. They were not the only beings hiding in the forest and mountains. There are Gruvrå, Skogsrå, Askefora, Källrå, millmen and so on. Those were good or bad depending on how you treated their domains.

[@Patterner]

i like this song, and i'll check out the suggestions in the comments. for me it gives "Saltatio Mortis"「 My mother told me」vibes. if you like the language listen to "Slay Radio"「Mastering Swedish」

[@vansting]

The story is told in an Ancient Swedish, we do not talk like that anymore…

[@abhinavchauhan7864]

Its important to realise that she is not literally a troll but a person who believes in the "old" gods

[@SatansOps]

Yeah, lots of translations get that wrong. "Bergatroll" translates to (essentially) "witch".

[@Jennie-vo7wk]

@@SatansOps No, it translates to Mountain Troll. I'm swedish. Witch is "häxa" in Swedish. But the word troll have different meanings in Swedish. It can mean like the creature troll but also magic. The song is most likely about a pagan woman and not a mountrain troll though with all the metaphors.

[@SatansOps]

@@Jennie-vo7wk in old Swedish mythology (and in old Swedish in general), bergatroll did not translate to a troll as we know of them now but rather a humanoid witch until the later periods of Christianity where it became the trolls of today. I am also Swedish.

[@Jennie-vo7wk]

@@SatansOps Troll can mean both magic and the mythological creature. You should read some Old Norse sources and you'll see that even a thousand years ago, long before this song, the word bergatroll specifically references the mythological creatures. Even if I would accept your false premise you are still wrong, since this song is not that old, and the language used in it is from a time period where troll, and most certainly bergatroll, exclusively means the mythological creatures. To translate bergatroll into witch is not a correct translation. If you wanted the connection to the word witch you'd not use bergatroll but rather trollpacka.

[@Jennie-vo7wk]

@@SatansOps With that said, the appearance of trolls, the creature, are not necessarily always like how John Bauer depicts them. They could look quite human if not completely human.

[@williswameyo5737]

Love this folk music 🎵🎵❤❤

[@CarolMarianaa]

This is one of the songs I most love singing and listening to. Haggard made a great version of it in Italian, and it's likewise beautiful.

[@Jim.G]

I think the troll maid's "plight" was not being married. She wanted a handsome groom, it might not be more complicated than that. A troll doesn't necessarily look much different than a human, but Mannelig was able to tell she was a troll because he figured she was lying about all the stuff she said she'd give him, and trolls are known to be liars (because they aren't Christian).

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

Hmmm very interestinf

[@rhiannonfugatt3269]

I love Garmarna, especially their songs Luci Lila and Tvar Systar

[@KhaziirEverflight]

Hey, i absolutely love this song... so much so that i somehow by ear managed to learn about half of it so far xD one recommendation that i'd love to do is Karliene. specifically the Beren and Luthien song. Also, all songs of Clamavi de Profundis.

[@KhaziirEverflight]

my interpretation to this song is that the Trollw as actually a women cursed into trollhood due to whatever reason there might have been... maybe just pissed off the wrong Fae. And marriage to a noble christian Knight/Sir would have lifted the curse. Tho i might be completely wrong tho. That interpretation just "feels right" to me, and would make this tale a good story of "don'T judge a book by its cover, or intentions of words based on words you were spoken to in the past by another person".

[@Coleostro]

The storry is: The Matrix, Red pill (yes) blue pill (no). but so much more :)

[@leopoldinapaixao200]

Bravo... beautiful this music. Here in Portugal we have a radio named " world music" we listen things absolutely different, that play all...what a good taste of yours...thanks. I suggest you, if you don't mind; listen GOGOL BORDELLO.... romaine one...thanks a lot ( obrigada)😊😊

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

Oh sounds good

[@williswameyo5737]

The woman is a mountain troll,an element of the Old Norse religion, trying to speak to the Christian man about marriage

[@Mischnikvideos]

Mr. Mannelig is a Swedish folk song that was first recorded in the 19th century. Since then it has been reinterpreted several times. The original version is too slow for me. This metal version made it into the computer game Gothic and is therefore the best known: In Extremo - Mr. Mannelig ("Friday" - Live from the Loreley open-air stage)

[@sergragnar9452]

In Extremo and Haggard versions are my favorites

[@Vatvorius]

The version from the game Gothic was recorded exclusively with medieval instruments. The metal version of the song is on the same album.

[@jkopacetick]

Very interesting to hear a full song in swedish. A folklore was also interesting and I do have some swedish roots thanks to my grandfather, So perhaps that's why I was little drawn to the song as well. ❤ and ✌️

[@centurycountess4949]

there is a music video with live actors, the KZbin channel is called TheatricalChicken and their short film of this song is beautiful. the troll maiden looks amazing like she just stepped out of a world of warcraft or Skyrim. what's cooler is the prosthetic they used not just for her face but her hands and feet and her voice and the guy who plays Herr Mannelig his voice for the male verses makes it amazing! they acting especially when he refuses to marry the troll maiden you can just see the anguish in her face the best part toward the end , he looks back toward the woods as if having second thoughts before he joins his hunting party and travels on.

[@IpsenOnech]

You should listen to the "merseburger zaubersprüche" 1 and 2, also the history behind them.

[@CommissarMitch]

"The worst he can say is no."

[@IRoXXI]

Great song! Do you know the Medieval Rock Version from In Extremo? They give this song another great vibe.

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

I need to check them out.

[@TOM_GINGERALE]

You should check out Nina Hagen: "So Bad" (the music video)

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

Oh that sounds cool

[@OMGwtfSTFUbrb]

A nuance I’ve seen floating around is that this is a form of middle age Christian polemics against Germanic polytheism. The troll in this story can be interpreted as a pagan woman. If you are a pagan woman who falls in love with a Christian man not even the magical gifts a magical creature can offer could win him over so convert to Christianity or be “a mountain troll” ever rejected.

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

I think that is a really cool thought. It changes how I think of the song! Thanks for sharing.

[@martinfranzen9151]

You said correct me i i'm wrong. I won't do but i have a thought. I think trolls don't allways have the exact same meaning depending on where you're from. There's alot to it..i'm a bit drunk and would've like to be able to explain it better and as a Swede my vocabulary is not the best. But i think i got my point out there 🙏

[@martinfranzen9151]

If i''m *

[@williswameyo5737]

Made me fascinated to learn Swedish

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

Swedish is one of my favorite languages

[@CCEDE73]

I am in a small singing group, Embla, which has translated it into Danish and I play the Hurdy-gurdy. Something about that song. The text is also interesting. It's about a troll who tries to seduce an knight and promises him a lot in return, but she ends up having to walk away with an unfinished business.

[@angiewegenerdjmetalamazon4468]

German folk/medieval metalband IN Extremo have a famous cover of this old Swedish folk song. Not sure, if the link will work: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKjGlZhujrmYaK8

[@Pilutta100]

I actually have no idea, but it felt like if he had said yes, the troll would have turned human. So for real I'm on the troll side 😊 He rejected her because of her looks, and it is very justified in this case. But like the princess kissing the frog.....same. Hugs from Sweden.

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

Its kind of crazy how we will disregard something because its not "Beautiful"

[@morbvsclz]

The Song is not actually that old most likely. It was first printed in the late 1870s and the text apparently is not consistent with medieval swedish, but more a mix of 18th century onwards and modern swedish. Dunno... Don't know Swedish :-D So it's probably kind of an early example of romantic medievel recreation art. Which may actually be one of the reasons it's such a great song... It still sounds great to modern ears, because it was made for modern ears, in the style of ancient times. A medieval song I know about that can be traced back to the Crusades (basically advertising for them) is the Palästinalied from Walther von der Vogelweide (12th century). That song was actually written down with lyrics including the notes. So it can be recreated very closely to what it would have sounded like. And it's a wonderful piece of history and not bad to listen to... But without modern interpretation it would not exactly make the charts 😀

[@JaqueDark]

It's Garmarna... I was wondering which version it was going to be. Haggard also does a very good version of this song.

[@Vatvorius]

You should definitely listen to the metal version of the song by the band In Extremo. One of the best medieval metal songs I know.

[@Vatvorius]

In Extremo has different versions of the song. I like the metal version of the album Verehrt und Angespien the best. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJy7YpyEitZpgNk

[@AngryLookingBanana]

I always feel so bad for the troll in this song. But from what i read about this story the troll was a beautiful woman cursed to be a troll and she need to get a man to marry her to lift the curse to turn human again. And the song is supposedly to teach to not to judge only by someones looks and beauty. But I'm not sure that is actually the story.

[@TheBlackleoner]

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[@jamesnelson1968]

I think Faun did this too.

[@jespergranstrom5267]

herr mannelig = sir, mannelig, buy some john bauer paintings they are very beutful and remind me of childehood, growing of in the forest of sweden, thout i saw some trolls to.

[@michaelpotts4001]

Plight is the forcible change to Christianity

[@LittleBrother-ud2yw]

Believe it or not the queen made that song for me I am the king of Sweden

[@eddiesiroky1534]

Um? The troll (female ) wants to marry sven ( the young guy) sven rejects her, the troll storms off.

[@NicolasMHarrison]

Remember everyone. The song said she had a false tongue so she was probably lying about having that stuff

[@eta1231]

Her life, turned out to what it was. Trolls was good and bad, depends on what you do.

[@sgthaggis1448]

Merrigan has the best version of this Classic.

[@KeyMoveMedia]

John Bauer (the art)

[@larsolesen9882]

The translation is incorrect. The text is in old swedish, and the translation should be in old english to reflect the same level of text and understanding of the text.

[@williswameyo5737]

It is in Old Swedish, which had the rolled R sound, which is rare in Modern Swedish

[@Casper96012]

Yes this is not modern Swedish, I haven’t really thought on that before but I think it depends on your accent, from the region of Sweden I am from we pronounce the R similar to in the song (Skaraborg)

[@williswameyo5737]

@@Casper96012 that is good to hear

[@christerfurberg6538]

This is a great song, and I understand that it's useful with the English subtitles, but those who posted this on YT could have been more clear that this is Garmarna performing the song. The channel Fäderneslandet (Fatherland) is also a bit … problematic. They mainly focus on Swedish patriotic songs and military marches, plus some old folk songs like this one. But they have also posted videos agains globalism, and making fun of muslims upset with rasists burning the Quran in the name of free speech. This might lead you to believe that they are not just some people who like folk music.

[@RandallHidalgoS21allas96]

I really like the In Extremo version. The Haggard one is also cool, a lot similar to this one.

[@TheWolffAndTheMelody]

Im going to check out the Extremo for sure.

[@philipesterle6409]

There's also this version from Norwegian band Midnattsol: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJvddYiaetappq8&ab_channel=NapalmRecords

[@SvenskNationalist2000]

Can you react to enhetsfrontsång

[@SvenskNationalist2000]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIqUgXR4Z8hkeZIsi=DKslGZRaOt8Hu6_S

[@michaelpotts4001]

I'm sure you know by now that the true story is the troll is the pagan woman and or culture amd the knight is the good Christian so as much as a cool.song was a warning to not go back to pagan roots.

[@xx-v-mcmlxxvi]

Me Tu! 😈

[@xx-v-mcmlxxvi]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5zKhKltg6mXlassi=AHPVysae2OUojR3h 😏

[@xx-v-mcmlxxvi]

This is... on another level! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZuxZaxrq7yCra8si=Ngj3Nj7ZwgsmyUjY 😁