Små grodorna
Encyclopedia
Små grodorna is a traditional Swedish dance and song traditionally performed at midsummer
, where the participants dance around the maypole
. The dance involves movements that illustrate body parts that frogs lack, namely "ears" (öron) and "tails" (svansar). Occasionally, Små grodorna is also sung at Christmas
, but instead of dancing around the maypole, Swedes dance around the Christmas tree
.
The melody originates from a military march from the french revolution
"La Chanson de l’Oignon" ("The onion song"), with the chorus "Au pas, camarade, au pas camarade / au pas, au pas, au pas!" ("In step, comrade"). The enemies of the French
at the time, the British
, changed the text with condescending irony to "Au pas, grenouilles!" ("In step, little frogs"). The melody is still in use in a French
children's song with the original lyrics "Au pas camarades". It is still (1999) not known how the melody ended up in Sweden
, but the Swedish lyrics are clearly inspired by the english version.
Though not often heard outside Sweden, actress Caroline Lagerfelt
can be heard singing the song in Steven Spielberg
's Minority Report
. In the film, Peter Stormare
is playing an eye-doctor, and Lagerfelt plays his nurse. She subsequently replaces the "ears" (öron) mentioned in the song with "eyes" (ögon).
Traditional lyrics in Swedish:
English translation:
A more literal English translation:
There is also a version featuring pigs.
English translation:
Midsummer
Midsummer may simply refer to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place on a day between June 21 and June 24, and the preceding evening. The exact dates vary between different...
, where the participants dance around the maypole
Maypole
A maypole is a tall wooden pole erected as a part of various European folk festivals, particularly on May Day, or Pentecost although in some countries it is instead erected at Midsummer...
. The dance involves movements that illustrate body parts that frogs lack, namely "ears" (öron) and "tails" (svansar). Occasionally, Små grodorna is also sung at Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, but instead of dancing around the maypole, Swedes dance around the Christmas tree
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
.
The melody originates from a military march from the french revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
"La Chanson de l’Oignon" ("The onion song"), with the chorus "Au pas, camarade, au pas camarade / au pas, au pas, au pas!" ("In step, comrade"). The enemies of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
at the time, the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, changed the text with condescending irony to "Au pas, grenouilles!" ("In step, little frogs"). The melody is still in use in a French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
children's song with the original lyrics "Au pas camarades". It is still (1999) not known how the melody ended up in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, but the Swedish lyrics are clearly inspired by the english version.
Though not often heard outside Sweden, actress Caroline Lagerfelt
Caroline Lagerfelt
Caroline Eugenie "Carolyn" Lagerfelt is a French-born stage, film, and television actress of Swedish descent, long-based in the United States.-Early life and education:...
can be heard singing the song in Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
's Minority Report
Minority Report (film)
Minority Report is a 2002 American neo-noir science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg and loosely based on the short story "The Minority Report" by Philip K. Dick. It is set primarily in Washington, D.C...
. In the film, Peter Stormare
Peter Stormare
is a Swedish film, stage, voice and television actor as well as a theatrical director, playwright and musician.- Early life :...
is playing an eye-doctor, and Lagerfelt plays his nurse. She subsequently replaces the "ears" (öron) mentioned in the song with "eyes" (ögon).
Traditional lyrics in Swedish:
- Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
- Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
- Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.
- Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.
- Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
- kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
- Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
- kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
English translation:
- The little frogs, the little frogs are funny to observe.
- The little frogs, the little frogs are funny to observe.
- No ears, no ears no tails do they possess.
- No ears, no ears no tails do they possess.
- Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
- kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
- Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
- kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
A more literal English translation:
- Small frogs, small frogs are funny to see.
- Small frogs, small frogs are funny to see.
- No ears, no ears, no tails have they.
- No ears, no ears, no tails have they.
- Quack quack quack, quack quack quack,
- Quack quack quack quacka.
- Quack quack quack, quack quack quack,
- Quack quack quack quacka.
There is also a version featuring pigs.
- Små grisarna, små grisarna är lustiga att se.
- Små grisarna, små grisarna är lustiga att se.
- Båd öron, båd öron, och svansar hava de.
- Båd öron, båd öron, och svansar hava de.
- Å nöff nöff nöff, å nöff nöff nöff,
- å nöff nöff nöff nöff nöff.
- Å nöff nöff nöff, å nöff nöff nöff,
- å nöff nöff nöff nöff nöff.
English translation:
- The little pigs, the little pigs are funny to observe.
- The little pigs, the little pigs are funny to observe.
- Both ears, both ears and tails do they possess.
- Both ears, both ears and tails do they possess.
- Oh oink oink oink, oh oink oink oink,
- oh oink oink oink oink oink
- Oh oink oink oink, oh oink oink oink,
- oh oink oink oink oink oink