| Syttende Mai Strum, Wisconsin Page 3 of 4 by Ralph Heath |
So, “Skol” and “Skol pa fisken”, “Hors und gorta” and “Vata bra”. “Are you in town too”? And the mountains echoed “Yah”. And each year on Syttende Mai When the race was done, They thanked their God for ice and snow In the land of the Midnight Sun. And time went by as time will do, And little children came--- Thorson, Jensen, Larson, Carlson, And Haakonson was their name. The kids grew up as kids will do. One year they really come Like a wave of Nordic immigrants To the little town of Strum “As we live here in the New World We will not forget the old. We will keep traditions going ‘Cause we like the snow and cold”. So each year in the Midwest They performed this ritual stunt--- The Norwegians chased the Swedes; The Swedes followed right in front. From Fairchild to Mondovi Each year they could be seen As they ran through both these towns And some that’s in between. The Norwegian immigrants came out And the street in Strum was full Connie Johnstad played the music of Edvard Grieg and Ole Bull. And each year on Syttende Mai When the race was done--- They pledged to meet again next year ‘Cause it was so much fun. And time went by as time will do And then grandchildren came--- They couldn’t do what their fathers did So they had to keep their name. Grandkids grew up as grandkids do And as their Dads grew old--- They said, “We’re going to Arizona, We can’t stand the snow and cold”. |