Lyrics:
Vi dro fra by og bygd hit opp på skauen
I en fart – i en fart – i en fart.
Vi unngikk Gestapo og tyskerdauen.
Det var smart – det var smart – det var smart.
Vi bygget hytter i en fei.
Vi tråkket sti på hver en lei.
En partisaner lar seg aldri skremme.
Stol på det – stol på det - pang, pang, pang!
På skauen føler vi oss riktig hjemme,
Her er bra, her er bra, her er bra.
Her har vi Stengun og pistoler fremme.
Godt å ha – godt å ha – godt å ha.
Selv om det regner eller sner
Vi er i godt humør og ler.
En partisaner lar seg aldri skremme.
Stol på det – stol på det - pang, pang, pang!
En vakker dag skal vi dra ned fra skauen.
Ned til by’n – ned til by’n – ned til by’n.
Nazistene skal vi gi forræderdauen.
Det blir syn – det blir syn – det blir syn.
Vi stormer fram med norske flagg.
Ja, det skal bli vår største dag.
partisaner lar seg aldri skremme.
Stol på det – stol på det - pang, pang, pang!
I første rekke stiller vi oss gjerne,
Tar vårt tak – tar vårt tak – tar vårt tak.
For vi vil loven i vårt Norge verne,
Blir vår sak – blir vår sak – blir vår sak.
Vi kjemper for vårt fedreland.
Det vil vi verne alle mann.
Ja en partisaner lar seg aldri skremme.
Stol på det – stol på det – pang, pang, pang!
English translation
We left the city and villages for the woods
In a hurry – in a hurry – in a hurry
We evaded Gestapo and the German-death
That was smart – that was smart – that was smart
We built cottages in a hurry
We trod a trail everywhere
A partisan never gets frightened
Trust it – trust it – pang, pang, pang!
In the woods we feel at home
It’s good – it’s good – it’s good
We have Stengun and pistols at the ready
Good to have – good to have – good to have
Even if it rains or snow
We are in good spirits and laugh
A partisan never gets frightened
Trust it – trust it – pang, pang, pang!
On a wonderful day we shall leave the woods
Down to the city – down to the city – down to the city
We will give the Nazis a traitor’s death
What a sight – what a sight – what a sight
We rush forward with Norwegian flags
Yes, that will be our greatest day
A partisan never gets frightened
Trust it – trust it – pang, pang, pang!
We will gladly stand first in line
Do our part – do our part – do our part
For we will guard the law of Norway
Becomes our cause – becomes our cause – becomes our cause
We fight for our Fatherland
We will guard it, every man
A partisan never gets frightened
Trust it – trust it – pang, pang, pang!
(I did the translation myself. I know the English is clunky and awkward at times, but I wanted to preserve as much of the original lyrics as I could during translation.)
The song is from the album “Illegale sanger” (“illegal songs”), recorded by the Norwegian group Gutta på Skauen in 2012. The songs from the album are all from the Nazi occupation of Norway between 1940-1945. The songs are gathered from civilians, prisoners, and members of the resistance movement.
This song in particular are one of several that were written for a songwriting competition autumn 1944, organized by Milorg (short for Militær Organisasjon – Military Organization). Milorg was the official military organization for the Norwegian resistance during the occupation. The reason for the competition was simply to give the resistance members something to do while hiding out in the woods and to lift their spirits. The prize was a kilogram of British tobacco, and I’m sure it motivated plenty. Pang, pang, pang was not the winner of the competition however, that would the song from the same album Partisanersang (Partisan’s song).
Members of the Norwegian resistance from eastern Norway
I felt like this song however set itself a bit apart because the older mans voice audible in the song is a former member of the resistance. I didn’t find any hard evidence for who exactly the older man is unfortunately.
The name of the band, Gutta på skauen, is also a common way to refer to all Norwegians who escaped to the woods during the war. It simply means “the boys in the forest”. Usually it was to avoid doing any service for the Nazis, or they wanted to join the resistance.
Boys in the forest. Photo taken in Sigdal, 1945
