Ola Var Fra Sandefjord

Ola var fra Sandefjord (“Ola was from Sandefjord”) is a 1929 Norwegian song by Einar Rose. It was originally named "My Little Sweetheart". It was one of the most popular songs in Norway in the 1930s. It was composed by Albert Edvin Pedersen and written by Per Kvist.

The Johnny Band revived the 30-year old classic in 1965 and it became one of Norway's best-selling singles. It was awarded Norway's silver record award in 1965 for its number of sales. It sold a total of 48,000 copies.

Background

The song was made famous by the Johnny Band in 1965, a year in which they sold nearly 50,000 copies. The song, which dates to 1929, was originally composed by Albert Edvin Pedersen and the songwriter is Per Kvist. It was originally a Foxtrot and was released the same year by singer Einar Rose. The Johnny Band and John Klemetsen's version of the song is in the genre of Schlager music. The Johnny Band first performed their song at Sandefjord's Park Hotel in 1965 and it quickly became one of Norway's most sold singles. Its original title is “My Little Sweetheart” and the song was originally written for the music contest ''Jazzmusikkonkurransen 1929'', where it came in as number three. The song was first released on a 78 rpm disc record in 1929 by the record company Odeon. The cover version by the Johnny Band sold 48,000 copies soon after their initial concert at Park Hotel.

Charts

The song reached the top ten on the chart in Norway on numerous occasions in the mid-1960s. It was No. 10 in November 1965, and in January 1966, it peaked at No. 4 in Norway. In February 1966, it was No. 6.

The Decca Records cover version by the Johnny Band sold over 25,000 copies and was awarded the official Norwegian silver record award in 1966. It is a family rock or beat music version of the original song and became a breakthrough for the Johnny Band as their biggest hit. The gold and silver record awards had been handed out annually by the newspaper ''Arbeiderbladet'' since 1960.

Content

Lyrics and translation

The song text is:Berg, Harry (1992). ''Populære sangtekster''. Bjørgvin grafisk forlag. Pages 42-43. ISBN 8291162018.

{, class="wikitable" align=center rules="cols" style="text-align:center;"
, -
!Norwegian lyrics
!English translation
, -
, I
Ola var fra Sandefjord
han var lettmatros om bord.
Skuta kom til Engeland
og i land gikk han.
Meget snart traff Ola der
en som han fikk mektig kjær.
Kunne Ola engelsk nei,
men han klarte seg.

II
For en ting kunne han si: «My little sweetheart»
og hun sa: «Yes, very well» og «I love you.»
Han sa: «Jeg vil du skal bli my little sweetheart»
og snart så kunne hun si: «Jeg elsker du.»
Det gikk på engelsk og norsk, engelsk og norsk,
og den lille Miss fikk på norsk et ærlig kiss.
For en ting kunne han si: «My little sweetheart»
og hun sa: «Yes, very well» og «I love you.»

III
Ola kom på fest og dill
kvelden den ble ganske vill
og en kvinnelig polis
som i England gi's
ville arrestere ham.
Ola synes det var skam
og han slapp og følge med
vet de, hvordan det?

IV
For en ting kunne han si: «My little sweetheart»
og hun sa: «Yes, very well» og «I love you.»
Han sa: «Jeg vil du skal bli my little sweetheart»
og snart så kunne hun si: «Jeg elsker du.»
Det gikk på engelsk og norsk, engelsk og norsk,
og den lille Miss fikk på norsk et ærlig kiss.
For en ting kunne han si: «My little sweetheart»
og hun sa: «Yes, very well» og «I love you.»

V
Men da Ola så kom hjem
hadde kjær'sten hans vært slem
med en engelsk orlogsmann
hadde hun slått an.
«Ola, uff, du er så dorsk
jeg er luta lei av norsk!
I love English gå din vei!»
men han klarte seg.

VI
For en ting kunne han si: «My little sweetheart»
og hun sa: «Yes, very well» og «I love you.»
Han sa: «Jeg vil du skal bli my little sweetheart»
og snart så kunne hun si: «Jeg elsker du.»
Det gikk på engelsk og norsk, engelsk og norsk,
og den lille Miss fikk på norsk et ærlig kiss.
For en ting kunne han si: «My little sweetheart»
og hun sa: «Yes, very well» og «I love you.»
, I
Ola was from Sandefjord
He was an ordinary seaman onboard.
The ship came to England
and he went ashore.
Very soon there Ola met
one that he got very close to.
Could Ola speak English, no,
but he managed

II
For he could say one thing: «My little sweetheart»
and she said «Yes, very well» and «I love you.»
He said: «I want you to be my little sweetheart»
and soon she could say: «Jeg elsker du.»
It went in English and Norwegian, English and Norwegian,
and the little miss got in Norwegian an honest kiss.
For he could say one thing: «My little sweetheart»
and she said «Yes, very well» and «I love you.»

III
Ola came to a party
that night got pretty wild
and a female police
who in England's way
wanted to arrest him.
Ola thought it was a shame
but he managed,
do you know how?

IV
For he could say one thing: «My little sweetheart»
and she said «Yes, very well» and «I love you.»
He said: «I want you to be my little sweetheart»
and soon she could say: «Jeg elsker du.»
It went in English and Norwegian, English and Norwegian,
and the little miss got in Norwegian an honest kiss.
For he could say one thing: «My little sweetheart»
and she said «Yes, very well» and «I love you.»

V
But then when Ola got home
had his girlfriend been bad
with an English war man
she had been turned on.
«Ola, ugh, you are so slow
I am so tired of Norwegian!
I love English, go away!»
but he managed

VI
For he could say one thing: «My little sweetheart»
and she said «Yes, very well» and «I love you.»
He said: «I want you to be my little sweetheart»
and soon she could say: «Jeg elsker du.»
It went in English and Norwegian, English and Norwegian,
and the little miss got in Norwegian an honest kiss.
For he could say one thing: «My little sweetheart»
and she said «Yes, very well» and «I love you.»

Cover versions

The song has been covered by several artists, including:

* The Johnny Band
* Ivar Ruste
* Rune Rudberg
* Ronald Holmberg
* Zelimir Kulisic
* Arne Mørch

References

Norwegian songs
Norwegian-language songs
1929 songs
1945 singles
Songs about Norway