På 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.
As I’ve 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 Røros line (Rørosbanen). 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 doesn’t make as much sense in Norwegian to use the term “Brother”, I have therefore changed these to “Kamerat” (comrade).
“The road to hell” 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.
På Helheims Veg
En gang i tida gikk ei linje her
“Men kamrat, hvor?” - jo lytt og lær
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 på Helheims veg gikk en gammel linje
Og der var tre kvinner kledd helt likt
Du hører dem alltid i drømmene dine
Folkens, møt skjebnene!
.
Og på Helheims veg var en togstasjon
På perrongen - en ankommet kvinne
Som bringer årets sommer-rasjon
Persefone - en gudinne
.
Og hvis du går ombord
Går ombord
Og tar toget til siste stopp
Hvor det slites og det svettes og klages
Tusen gruver, ett eneste slott
Og mørke Herre Hades.
.
Var det flere da?
Ja, jeg glemte nesten
.
Og på Helheims veg var en togstasjon
Og en mester kledd med fjær på føtten
Som hjelper deg til din destinasjon
Herr Hermes, du har møtt'n
.
For noen må jo synge den
Uansett om det går bra
Kanskje det går bra i dag
På Helheims veg, på vår 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 tøffe tider
Tøffe tider for dødelige menn
La meg introdusere noen av dem
Det er verdt å kunne gi ordet
kamerater, gutter og jenter
Til det hardtarbeidene koret
Som leverer mer enn jeg forventer
.
Og sterkere enn før
Hør på hva vårt band kan gjør’
.
Åh, på Helheims veg var en togstasjon
Og en mann som skriver ei vise
Mor hans var en venn av meg
Han var sønn av ei muse
På Helheims veg, på vår togstasjon
Du kan si han var begavet
Elsket av folk og guder sjøl
Gi en hånd- for Orfeus
.
Det var en sjel til på Helveg
Kjære, kom inn og sett deg
På Helheims veg, på vår togstasjon
Ei frøken på leit etter noe å spise
Kamerat, slik starter vår vise
Om Orfeus og Eurydike
.
Er en kjær sang
Om kjærlighet som aldri dør
Er en kjær sang
Om to stykker som tør.
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. “But, comrade, where?” - listen and learn It was Helveg - it was hard times A time for gods And people! It’s an old song It’s an old song from back then It’s an old song But we sing it still Gods and people, yes We have some gods here today And on Helheim’s 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 Heimheim’s road was a railroad station And on the platform - a woman arrived Who brought this year’s ration of summer Persephone - a goddess And if you aboard the train Aboard the train And take the train to it’s 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 Helheim’s road was a railroad station And a master dressed with feathers on his feet Who will help you to your destination Mister Hermes, you’ve already met him Because someone has to sing it Whether or not it turns out well Maybe it will be fine this time On Helheim’s road, on our railroad station It’s a sad song It’s a sad song about an old friend It’s a sad song But we sing it again Yes, even gods struggle But don’t forget, the times are hard Hard times for mortal men Let me introduce you to some of them It’s 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 Helheim’s 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 Helheim’s 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 Helheim’s road, on our railroad station A missus looking for something to eat Comrade, such begins our song About Orpheus and Eurydice It’s a loved song About love that never dies It’s a loved song About two who dares It’s an old song It’s an old song from back then But we sing it We sing it We sing it again