PĂ„ Helheims Veg / Road to Hell - Hadestown
André De Shields (Hermes) in Hadestown © Helen Maybanks 2018
Another Norwegian version of a Hadestown song - this time of Road to Hell. This is the introduction of the story and the characters, sung by Hermes.Â
As Iâve translated it to Norwegian, I also wanted the scene to fit a Norwegian setting. I have this idea that the musical could be preformed on one of the many shut down railroad stations, preferably in my own home region along the RĂžros line (RĂžrosbanen). The building of the railroad was hard work. In the original Hadestown setting, there are references to the industrial era and the culture of black workers and slaves. To make a similar parallel to Norwegian history, I wanted to reference the rise of the working class and socialism. This was a very red period, reflected for example in the songs by Hans Rotmo. Since it doesnât make as much sense in Norwegian to use the term âBrotherâ, I have therefore changed these to âKameratâ (comrade).
âThe road to hellâ is a term used in many American songs and other media. In Norse mythology, there was a literal road to hell - Helveg. This was the road (veg) to Hel - the Norse underworld and afterlife. Since the story is mythology based, but the translation should fit a Norwegian audience, I chose to refer to the Helveg. I thought this to be a fun touch, but others might disagree.
PĂ„ Helheims Veg
En gang i tida gikk ei linje her
âMen kamrat, hvor?â - jo lytt og lĂŠr
Det var Helveg - det var harde tider
En tid for guder
Og folk!
.
Er en gammel sang
Det er en gammel sang fra den gang da
Er en gammel sang
Men vi synger den enda
.
Guder og folk, ja
Vi har noen guder her i dag.
.
Og pÄ Helheims veg gikk en gammel linje
Og der var tre kvinner kledd helt likt
Du hĂžrer dem alltid i drĂžmmene dine
Folkens, mĂžt skjebnene!
.
Og pÄ Helheims veg var en togstasjon
PĂ„ perrongen - en ankommet kvinne
Som bringer Ă„rets sommer-rasjon
Persefone - en gudinne
.
Og hvis du gÄr ombord
GĂ„r ombordÂ
Og tar toget til siste stopp
Hvor det slites og det svettes og klages
Tusen gruver, ett eneste slott
Og mĂžrke Herre Hades.
.
Var det flere da?
Ja, jeg glemte nesten
.
Og pĂ„ Helheims veg var en togstasjonÂ
Og en mester kledd med fjÊr pÄ fÞtten
Som hjelper deg til din destinasjon
Herr Hermes, du har mĂžtt'n
.
For noen mÄ jo synge den
Uansett om det gÄr bra
Kanskje det gĂ„r bra i dagÂ
PÄ Helheims veg, pÄ vÄr togstasjon
.
Er en trist sang
Er en trist sang om en gammel venn
Er en trist sang
Men vi synger den igjen
.
Ja, selv guder sliter
Ikke glem, det er tĂžffe tider
TĂžffe tider for dĂždelige menn
La meg introdusere noen av dem
Det er verdt Ă„ kunne gi ordetÂ
kamerater, gutter og jenter
Til det hardtarbeidene koret
Som leverer mer enn jeg forventer
.
Og sterkere enn fĂžr
HĂžr pĂ„ hva vĂ„rt band kan gjĂžrâ
.
Ă h, pĂ„ Helheims veg var en togstasjonÂ
Og en mann som skriver ei vise
Mor hans var en venn av meg
Han var sĂžnn av ei muse
PĂ„ Helheims veg, pĂ„ vĂ„r togstasjonÂ
Du kan si han var begavet
Elsket av folk og guder sjĂžl
Gi en hÄnd- for Orfeus
.
Det var en sjel til pÄ Helveg
KjĂŠre, kom inn og sett deg
PĂ„ Helheims veg, pĂ„ vĂ„r togstasjonÂ
Ei frÞken pÄ leit etter noe Ä spise
Kamerat, slik starter vÄr vise
Om Orfeus og Eurydike
.
Er en kjĂŠr sang
Om kjĂŠrlighet som aldri dĂžr
Er en kjĂŠr sang
Om to stykker som tĂžr.
Er en gammel sang
Er en gammel sang fra den gang da
Men vi synger den
Vi synger den
Vi synger den enda
English direct translation
Once upon a time, a railroad line went here. âBut, comrade, where?â - listen and learn It was Helveg - it was hard times A time for gods And people! Itâs an old song Itâs an old song from back then Itâs an old song But we sing it still Gods and people, yes We have some gods here today And on Helheimâs road was an old line And there were three women dressed the same You always hear them in your dreams Guys, meet the fates And on Heimheimâs road was a railroad station And on the platform - a woman arrived Who brought this yearâs ration of summer Persephone - a goddess And if you aboard the train Aboard the train And take the train to itâs final stop Where they strain and sweat and complain A thousand mines, a single castle And the dark lord Hades Were there anyone else? Yes, I almost forgot And on Helheimâs road was a railroad station And a master dressed with feathers on his feet Who will help you to your destination Mister Hermes, youâve already met him Because someone has to sing it Whether or not it turns out well Maybe it will be fine this time On Helheimâs road, on our railroad station Itâs a sad song Itâs a sad song about an old friend Itâs a sad song But we sing it again Yes, even gods struggle But donât forget, the times are hard Hard times for mortal men Let me introduce you to some of them Itâs worth giving the word  -Comrades, boys and girls To the hard-working chorus Who deliver more than I expect And stronger than before Listen to what our band can do Oh, on Helheimâs road was a railroad station And a man writing a song His mother was a friend of mine He was the son of a muse On Helheimâs road, on our railroad station You could say he was gifted Loved by people and gods Give a hand - for Orpheus It was one more soul on Helveg Love, come on in and sit down On Helheimâs road, on our railroad station A missus looking for something to eat Comrade, such begins our song About Orpheus and Eurydice Itâs a loved song About love that never dies Itâs a loved song About two who dares Itâs an old song Itâs an old song from back then But we sing it We sing it We sing it again