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Icelandic
lyrics:
Þið kannizt við jólaköttinn
- sá köttur var griðarstór
Fólk vissi'ekki hvaðan hann kom
eða hvert hann fór
Hann glennti upp glyrnurnar sinar
glóandi báðar tvær
Það var ekki heiglum hent
að horfa í þær
Kamparnir beittir sem broddar
upp úr bakinu kryppna há
og klærnar à loðinni löpp
var ljótt að sjá
Því var það, að konurnar kepptust
við kamba og vefstól og rokk
og prjónuðu litfagran lepp
eða lítin sokk
Þvi kötturinn mátti' ekki koma
og krækja í börnin smá
Þau urðu að fásína flík
þeim fullorðnu hjá
Og er kveikt var á jólakvöldið
og kötturin gægðist inn
stóðu börnin bísperrt og rjóð
með böggulinn sinn
Hann veifaði stélinu sterka
hann stökk og hann klóraði' og blés
og var ýmist uppi í dal
eða úti' um nes
Hann sveimaði, soltinn og grimmur
í sárköldum jólasnæ
og vakti í hjörtunum hroll
á hverjum bæ
Ef mjálmað var aumlega úti
var ólukkan samstundis vís
Allir vissu' að hann veiddi menn
en vildi ekki mýs
Hann lagðist á fátæka fólkið
sem fékk enga nýja spjör
fyrir jólin - og baslaði og bjó
við bágust kjör
Frá því tók hann ætið í einu
allan þess jólamat
og át það svo oftast nær sjálft
ef hann gat
Því var það, að konurnar kepptust
við kamba og vefstól og rokk
og prjónuðu litfagran lepp
eða lítin sokk
Sum höfðe fengið svuntu
og sum höfðu fengið skó
eða eitthvað, sem þótti þarft
en þad var nóg
Þvi kisa máti' engan eta
sem einhverja flíkina hlaut
Hún hvæsti þá heldur ljót
og hljóp á braut
Hvort enn er hún til, veit ég ekki
en aum yrði hennar för
ef allir eignuðust næst
einhverja spjör
Þið hafið nú kannske í huga
að hjálpa, ef þörf verður á
máske enn finnist einhver börn
sem ekkert fá
Máske, að leitin að þeim sem líða
af ljósskorti heims um ból
gefi ykkur góðan dag
og gleðileg jól
lyrics from Bjork.com
lyrics special. |
| The
Christmas Cat |
|
|
Jolakurtinn
was released on the compilation album Hvít Er Borg Og Bær in
December 1987. Bjork was in the band, the
Sugarcubes at the time.
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| Track
list: |
|
1.
Jólabros Í Jólaös (Egill Ólafsson & Barnakór Kársnesskóla)
2. Jólaþula (Halla Margrét)
3. Hin Fyrstu Jól (Hljómeyki)
4. Jólin Eru Að Koma (Hólmfríður Karlsdóttir & Barnakór Kársnesskóla)
5. Grýlukvæði (Megas)
6. Hvít Er Borg Og Bær (Ragnhildur Gísladóttir & Barnakór Kársnesskóla)
7. Í Vetur Koma Jól (Hljómeyki)
8. Jólakötturinn (Björk Guðmundsdóttir)
9. Barnagæla Frá Nýja Íslandi (Ingibjörg Þorbergs)
10. Þrettándasöngur (Kristinn Sigmundsson)
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| Comment: |
|
"Björk did quite a few
'guest appearances' on other projects during her punk-band and Sugarcube era's (Mid to late 80's) back in Iceland...
Jólakötturinn is one of many of these appearances. But possibly the only one of these rare side-projects at the time to not be a duet or collaboration.
"It always has been just credited to JUST 'Björk'. Which is strange... as most of her side-projects around this time were with other Icelandic musicians such as
Bless (Yonder, Worlds Collapse), Thorhallur
(Takk) or the KK band (O Borg Min Borg) and many more etc.
"It would seem, until any further evidence shows up, that
Jólakötturinn is one of the earliest examples of Björk, for want of a better term, flexing her "solo" muscles for the first
time!"
~pagan
poet |
| |
| Hvít Er Borg Og
Bær |
| Poorly
translated it means "white is the town and
island." |
|
|
| Links |
| *Jolakotturinn
on bjork.com's 77
island discography
*order
Hvít Er Borg Og Bær from Smekkleysa. |
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English Lyrics:
You know the christmas cat
- that cat is very large
We dont know where he came from
nor where he has gone
He opened his eyes widely
glowing both of them
it was not for cowards
to look into them
His hair sharp as needles
his back was high and bulgy
and claws on his hairy paw
were not a pretty sight
Therefore the women competed
to rock and sow and spin
and knitted colorful clothes
or one little sock
For the cat could not come
and get the little children
they had to get new clothes
from the grownups
When christmas eve was lighted
and the cat looked inside
the children stood straight and red-cheeked
with their presents
He waved his strong tail
he jumped, scratched and blew
and was either in the valley
or out on the headland
He walked about, hungry and mean
in hurtfully cold christmas snow
and kindled the hearts with fear
in every town
If outside one heard a weak "meaow"
then unluck was sure to happen
all knew he hunted men
and didnt want mice
He followed the poorer people
who didnt get any new clothing
near christmas - and tried and lived
in poorest conditions
From them he took at the same time
all their christmas food
and ate them also themselves
if he could
Therefore the women competed
to rock and sow and spin
and knitted colorful clothes
or one little sock
Some had gotten an apron
and some had got a new shoe
or anything that was needful
but that was enough
For pussy should not eat no-one
who got some new piece of clothes
She hissed with her ugly voice
and ran away
If she still exists I dont know
but for nothing would be his trip
if everybody would get next christmas
some new rag
You may want to keep it in mind
to help if there is need
for somewhere there might be children
who get nothing at all
Mayhaps that looking for those who suffer
from lack of plentiful lights
will give you a happy season
and merry christmas |
