Storm is coating sky with shadows
Spinning, reeling snowy clouds.
Now it’s wailing, howling beast-like,
Now it’s weeping like a child.
Now it’s rustling all of sudden
Roof of old decrepit reeds,
Now like tired belated traveler
Knocks at window pane and pleads.

Our old ramshackle cabin
Is indeed so sad and dark.
Tell me you, oh my old nanny,
Why you fell so silent thus?
Are with howl of storm, its wailing
You, my friend, exhausted much?
Or you’re dozing, sweetly napping
At the humming of old spindle?

Let us drink, my sweet old lady,
To my poor, wretched life.
Drink of grief, oh where’s a noggin?
Heart’ll rejoice with every gulp.
Sing a song to me how tomtit
Lived in peace over distant seas,
Sing a song how fair maiden
Went on mornings to the creek.

Storm is coating sky with shadows
Spinning, reeling snowy clouds.
Now it’s wailing, howling beast-like,
Now it’s weeping like a child.
Let us drink, my sweet old lady
To my poor, wretched life.
Drink of grief, oh where’s a noggin?
Heart’ll rejoice with every gulp.

1825