Alf Proysen (Part III of III)

Like "Du skal få en dag i mårå," Prøysen's famous song "Lillebrors vise" also focuses on the unrealized potential of the young in an adult's world. Lillebror (little brother) is saddened as he finds himself excluded from the activities of his older brothers and sisters. Or, as the song goes,

Lillebror synes det er trist,
fryktelig trist,
sikkert og visst,
alle de andre har gått av sted,
og uten at han fikk bli med!

Little brother feels sad,
very sad,
for certain and for true
all of the other have gone away
without him getting to come with!

Again, as with "Du skal få en dag i mårå," the little boy finds his abilities constrained by an environment that will not permit him to express himself, to accomplish all that he is capable of doing. With each verse, a sibling returns (whether sisters Kari and Mari or brothers Pelle and Kjell) from an errand of independence to find Lillebror eagerly demonstrating his abilities by crawling under the bed to retrieve a spool of thread or applying his imagination to drawings.

The song ends with on a hopeful note, promising more for the future, but congratulating Lillebror on today:

Engang skal Lillebror selv bli stor!
Fryktelig stor!
Større enn mor!
Da skal han lære hvert minste grann
av det som de kan alle mann,
lekser og leser av alle slag.
Men dette som Lillebror greier i dag
det kan bare Lillebror...

One day Lillebror himself will be big!
Very big!
Bigger than Mom!
Then he'll learn every little thing
about that which all men can do,
homework and readings of all sorts.
But that which Lillebror can do today
only Lillebror can do...

Writing in his distinctive dialect, Prøysen reveals a regional pride that warmly recalls the heart of the country. His songs are touchingly nationalistic in that they focus, not on the grandiose political themes of a European nation, but on the personal details of family, childhood, and home: picking apples and blueberries, walking to school, and the acquisition of something neat and mysterious.

Alf Prøysen died of cancer on November 23rd, 1970. He was 66 years old. By his death he had published many songs and stories about Norwegian life, preserving forever his distinctive vision of what it meant to be Norwegian. More importantly, he had captivated Norwegian children and adults alike with his radio and television programs, his ability to tell a story through song, and his faithful allegiance to the irony and charm of country life.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic