SKELVA — Nøkken (The River Sings) | Dark Nordic Folk | Norwegian Ritual Chant

A dark Nordic ritual folk song, sung in Norwegian. Her brother walked into the river without a sound. Since then, at night, a fiddle no hands are holding plays from the deep pool and it plays what he used to sing. Nøkken – the Nix – is the water spirit of Norwegian folklore. He lives in rivers, lakes and tarns, he plays the fiddle by the waterfalls and rapids, and he often comes as a horse. Whoever he pulls under has one protection: say his name, and he lets go and sinks back into the deep. By still water after sunset, people said the old charm "Nykk! nykk! Nål i vatn" – Nix, nix, needle in the water. Theodor Kittelsen drew him in 1888 as two eyes rising out of the black water. This song is a sister at the pool where her brother was lost, with a needle in her fist, facing the thing that wears his eyes. Plucked strings like dripping water, bowed lyre, heavy frame drums, dark drones, scraping bass and a low, smoky female voice. LYRICS – Norwegian | English Elva går forbi der broren min | The river runs past where my brother gikk ut i vannet uten lyd. | walked into the water without a sound. Mor sa: Det var strømmen. | Mother said: It was the current. Men jeg hørte spill den kvelden. | But I heard music that evening. Om natten kommer det fra kulpen, | At night it comes from the deep pool, en fele ingen hender holder. | a fiddle that no hands are holding. Den spiller det han pleide synge | It plays what he used to sing og kaller meg med hans stemme. | and calls me with his voice. Ikke gå ned. | Don't go down. Ikke se i vannet. | Don't look into the water. Hold nåla hardt. | Hold the needle tight. Si navnet høyt. | Say the name out loud. Elva synger, elva synger | The river sings, the river sings med en stemme jeg har mistet. | with a voice that I have lost. Den vil ha meg ned til ham – | It wants me down there with him – elva synger. Elva synger. | the river sings. The river sings. Nøkk, nøkk, nål i vann. | Nøkk, nøkk, needle in the water. Nøkk, nøkk, nål i vann. | Nøkk, nøkk, needle in the water. Jeg går ned til kulpen likevel | I go down to the pool anyway med nåla i knyttneven, | with the needle in my fist, og der står han i det svarte, | and there he stands in the black, hvit hest med våte manker. | a white horse with a dripping mane. Han har brorens øyne i natt, | He has my brother's eyes tonight, og han spiller det jeg kjenner. | and he plays the tune I know. Men jeg kaster nåla i vannet | But I throw the needle into the water og roper navnet hans tre ganger. | and call his name three times. Ikke gå ned. | Don't go down. Ikke se i vannet. | Don't look into the water. Hold nåla hardt. | Hold the needle tight. Si navnet høyt. | Say the name out loud. Elva synger, elva synger | The river sings, the river sings med en stemme jeg har mistet. | with a voice that I have lost. Den vil ha meg ned til ham – | It wants me down there with him – elva synger. Elva synger. | the river sings. The river sings. Nøkk, nøkk, nål i vann. | Nøkk, nøkk, needle in the water. Nøkk, nøkk, nål i vann. | Nøkk, nøkk, needle in the water. Vannet blir stille. Felen tier. | The water goes still. The fiddle falls silent. Hesten er bare tåke. | The horse is only mist. Og broren min er like borte | And my brother is as gone som han var i går. | as he was yesterday. Elva synger, elva synger | The river sings, the river sings med en stemme jeg har mistet. | with a voice that I have lost. Den vil ha meg ned til ham – | It wants me down there with him – elva synger. Elva synger. | the river sings. The river sings. Elva synger, men jeg står, | The river sings, but I stand, og jeg synger det han sang. | and I sing what he sang. Nå er det min stemme han hører – | Now it is my voice he hears – jeg synger. Jeg synger. | I sing. I sing. Nøkk, nøkk, nål i vann. | Nøkk, nøkk, needle in the water. CREDITS Words & concept: SKELVA Music & vocals: created with Suno AI Visuals: created with Krea #Nøkken #NordicFolk #AIMusic