The life of a merchant marine (part II)
In Norwegian there is a saying, “Det er best å ha ryggen fri” (Gullestad, p. 15), meaning that “It’s best to keep your options open.” Use of the word ryggen (back) refers to the old practice of sleeping in the same bed with other members of the household, such as brothers or cousins, in order to take advantage of body heat during the winter. It’s also quite common for children in Scandinavia to sleep in their parents’ bed until they are 5 or 6, or even older if they want the comfort of their parents’ warmth beside them. To have someone bak ryggen (literally behind one’s back) is to feel protected, secure, and at home. A sailor, in order to be successful, must deny such security and comfort. To ha ryggen fri was to be open to opportunity, whether this be in terms of economic gain or the achievement of pleasure, knowledge, or experience. To be tough-skinned in romantic matters was a matter of pride, and emotions such as passion and grief are equated with elements which must be weathered by the men at sea.
I Brenning og Vær
Jeg vokste opp ble vakrere en sjælve Don Juan.
Jeg måtte s¢ke pol’tihjelp mot jentene i land.
Det var som brenning og vær, dem lå og ba på sine knær,
Og gråt fordi dem alle ville bli min hjertenskjær.
Ja rundt på verdens strander gråter jenter overalt,
Så nå har jeg fått skylda for at havet er så salt.
Å j¢ss for brenning og vær imellom holmer og skjær:
“Den norske sj¢mann er et gjennombarket folkeferd.”
In Burning and Weather
I grew up, became finer than Don Juan himself
I had to seek police help against the girls on land.
It was like burning and weather, they lay and pled on their knees,
And wept because they all wanted to be my love.
Yes, around the world’s beaches girls are weeping everywhere,
Now I’ve been blamed for the ocean’s being salty.
O gee what burning and weather between islets and stone:
“The Norwegian seaman is a tough-skinned folk.”
This self control holds particularly true in matters of love and romantic attachment where relationships become a competition in emotional coolness and detachment. For the wife there is an uncertainty over whether her husband will return, whether he will continue to send his wages home for her support, and whether her loneliness during his absence will be too much to bear. In turn, the sailor has little guarantee that his wife will be there upon his return, but must sacrifice the certainty of keeping tabs on her in order to earn money for her keep. In the following song, a sailor urges his wife not to cry as he prepares to go off on a trip. While establishing the level of his commitment through financial support and a promise to return, he also denies her power over his emotional world by implying that he’ll take on a lover. Although he speaks about eventually quitting his life as a sailor, he acknowledges it – and not his wife - is his only love.
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