This is a freely translated and adapted English version of the folk ballad Heiemo and nøkken. Translated, sang, performed and adapted by Lena Heide-Brennand. Guitar/drum/production: Johnny Williamsen. All rights reserved and copyrighted 2022.

Heiemo walked by the riverside

The day was falling still

When from the dark and silent stream

There rose a creature by his will

Stay, stay far Heiemo and listen to me

For I can teach you songs so deep

No living soul will ever see

That you learned those hymns from me

If you learn my hidden tunes

And play and sing as none before you

You must give me what I ask

And I am asked to be loved by you

He drew the bow across the strings

The water froze as stone

And all the world grew strange and still

As if it were no longer its own

Heiemo stood and could not move

Nor turn herself away

For once you hear the Nøkkens tune

You don't leave unchanged

Then she took a knife from her pocket

And tried to stab this creature in his heart

But down into the water the creature rocket

And she was certain he was no more

She thought the Nøkken had fallen still

And that all of his songs were gone

She turned her back upon the stream

And stepped to find her way home

But from the depth a claw rose cold

And took her where she stood

And no one saw more of fair Heiemo

But at midnight there might be some ripples of blood

The ballad from Denmark/Norway about the young and beautiful girl Heiemo who sings so beautifully that Nøkken shapeshifts to go snd kidnap her from a party. Nb! Norwegian original text.

Who is Nøkken? The Nix? The evil but spellbinding creature of the northern forest waters that lures people into his lair.

Welcome to the Scandinavian forests. Which role does the forest play in folklore and mythology? Who dwells there? Why are they so dangerously enchanting?