MIDNATT RÅDER (TOMTARNAS JULNATT)
MIDNIGHT REIGNS (THE CHRISTMAS NIGHT OF THE BROWNIES)

by Vilhelm Sefve


Midnatt råder,   tyst det är i husen,
Midnight reigns, it is quiet in the houses,

tyst i husen.
(so) quiet in the houses.

Alla sova,          släckta äro ljusen,
Everyone is asleep, the candles are put out,

äro ljusen.
(the candles) are put out.

Tipp tapp, tipp tapp, tippe tippe tipp tapp,
Pit pat,   pit pat,   pit pit pat,

tipp tipp tapp.
pit pit pat.



Se då krypa tomtar       upp ur vrårna,
See, brownies now emerge from nooks and corners,

upp ur vrårna.
from the corners.

Lyssna, speja, 
(They) listen, (they) look and search, 

trippa fram på tårna,
they come tip-toeing with mincing steps,

fram på tårna.
with mincing steps.

Tipp tapp...
Pit pat...



Snälla folket        låtit maten rara,
The kind husbandfolk have left some food,

maten rara,
have left some food,

stå på bordet åt en tomteskara,
on the table  for the troop of brownies,

tomteskara.
the troop of brownies.

Tipp tapp...
Pit pat...



Hur de mysa, hoppa upp bland faten,
How they joyously jump among the platters,

upp bland faten.
among the platters.

Tissla, tassla:           god är julematen,
(They) tittle and tattle: the Yule fare is tasty,

julematen.
the food is (so) tasty.

Tipp tapp...
Pit pat...



Gröt och skinka, lilla äppelbiten,
Pudding and ham, a little slice of apple,

äppelbiten,
a slice of apple,

tänk, så rart det smakar, Nisse liten,
oh, how sweet it tastes,  littlest brownie,

Nisse liten.
littlest brownie!

Tipp tapp...
Pit pat...



Nu till lekar!        Glada skratten klingar,
Now let's play games! The laughter merrily resounds,

skratten klingar.
merrily resounds.

Runt om granen skaran muntert svingar,
The brownies happily dance around the Christmas tree,

muntert svingar.
around the Yule tree.

Tipp tapp...
Pit pat...



Natten lider.            Snart de tomtar snälla,
The night is drawing on. Soon the good-natured brownies,

tomtar snälla,
the good-natured brownies,

kvickt och näpet   allt i ordning ställa,
quickly and tidily put everything in order,

ordning ställa.
everything back in order.

Tipp tapp...
Pit pat...



Sedan åter       in i tysta vrårna,
Then, yet again, into the quiet corners,

tysta vrårna,
the quiet nooks and corners,

tomteskaran           tassar nätt på tårna,
the troop of brownies tip-toe quietly back,

nätt på tårna.
quietly back.

Tipp tapp...
Pit pat...




Translation by Eva Toller, 2004