Tutorial: Sofðu unga ástin mín by Peter Rezník

This song is a part of the freely available online choral tutorial library with music from Slovak composers. It was created with the support of Slovak Arts Council (Fond na podporu umenia).

Basic information about Sofðu unga ástin mín

Composer: Peter Rezník
Description: Icelandic lullaby
English name: O, What Light Is That?

Tutorial recordings for Sofðu unga ástin mín

• recordings and lyrics for sopranos
• recordings and lyrics for altos
• recordings and lyrics for tenors
• recordings and lyrics for basses

The performance is at a practice tempo (to make it easier to learn voice parts), recorded by members of the Technik STU Choir. If you are interested in singing with the Technik STU choir, consider joining us.

Photo © Barbora Gotthardt

Common lyrics and translation of Sofðu unga ástin mín

Sofðu unga ástin mín.
Úti regnið grætur.
Mamma geymir gullin þín,
gamla leggi og völuskrín.
Við skulum ekki vaka um dimmar nætur.

Það er margt sem myrkrið veit,
minn er hugur þungur.
Oft ég svarta sandinn leit
svíða grænan engireit.
Í jöklinum hljóða dauðadjúpar sprungur.

Sofðu lengi, sofðu rótt,
seint mun best að vakna.
Mæðan kenna mun þér fljótt,
meðan hallar degi skjótt,
að mennirnir elska, missa, gráta og sakna.

***

Sleep my little love,
Outside the rain is weeping.
Mommy keeps watch over your gold,
Old leg bones and a little treasure chest.
Let’s not stay awake through dark nights.

There is much that darkness knows,
My mind is heavy.
Often live seen the black sand
Scorching green meadows.
In the glacier rumbles deadly-deep cracks.

Sleep long, sleep tight,
It’s best to wake up late.
Hardship will teach you soon,
White the day becomes night,
That the people love, lose, cry and mourn.