Lyrics and translation Bubbi Morthens - Elliðaárþula

Elliðaárþula

Stríðir straumar falla, stundum er flóð.
Þá stekkur hann fossinn, finnur sína slóð.
Stríðir straumar falla, stundum er flóð.
Þá stekkur hann fossinn, finnur sína slóð.

Eitt sinn rann silfurbjört áin alla leið
Eftir dalnum drengur minn, draumfull og breið.
Söng hún sína þulu, fornann fagrann seið,
Söng hún sína þulu, mörg eru mannanna verkin leið.

Stríðir straumar falla, stundum er flóð.
Þá stekkur hann fossinn, finnur sína slóð.
Stríðir straumar falla, stundum er flóð.
Fáir rata í fossinn, né finna sína slóð.

Þá var hún full af fiski, fannst í hverjum hyl.
Hrygna og hængur sem hérna urðu til.
Þá var áin hrein og tær,
Vorsins laxi var hún fær.
Engin hindrun, öðru nær.
Þá var hún prýði,
þá var hún dalsins prýði.

Stríðir straumar falla, stundum er flóð.
Fáir rata í fossinn, né finna sína slóð.
Stríðir straumar falla, stundum er flóð.
Fáir rata í fossinn, né finna sína slóð.

Horfinn er Svuntufoss, Ullarfoss.
Hefur þú séð þá renna?
Horfinn er Arnarfoss, Búrfoss.
Hverju er um að kenna?
Mörg eru mannanna verkin leið.
Ekki rennur áin mín lengur greið,
Ekki rennur áin mín lengur greið.

Stríðir straumar falla, stundum er flóð.

Elliðaárþula

Warring currents fall, sometimes there's a flood.
Then the waterfall leaps, finds its path.
Warring currents fall, sometimes there's a flood.
Then the waterfall leaps, finds its path.

Once upon a time, the river ran silvery bright all the way.
Through the valley, my boy, dreamy and wide.
She sang her saga, an ancient, beautiful enchantment,
She sang her saga, many are the ways of man's deeds.

Warring currents fall, sometimes there's a flood.
Then the waterfall leaps, finds its path.
Warring currents fall, sometimes there's a flood.
Few fall into the waterfall, or find their path.

Then she was full of fish, found in every pool.
Hrygna and Hængur, as they became known here.
Then the river was clean and clear,
She was able to provide spring salmon.
No obstacles, near or far.
Then she was an ornament,
then she was the ornament of the valley.

Warring currents fall, sometimes there's a flood.
Few fall into the waterfall, or find their path.
Warring currents fall, sometimes there's a flood.
Few fall into the waterfall, or find their path.

Svuntufoss is gone, Ullarfoss.
Have you seen them flow?
Arnarfoss is gone, Búrfoss.
What is to blame?
Many are the ways of man's deeds.
My river no longer flows smoothly,
My river no longer flows smoothly.

Warring currents fall, sometimes there's a flood.