We Sold Our Homesteads

We sold our homesteads and started on our way
Just like the birds will fly when autumn is here to stay.
One day they will return, come spring again that's when.
But we will never see our native country again.

At first we traveled through the English countryside
On tracks and on wagons as quickly as birds would fly.
It was a lovely sight to see the land at last
But all the glorious sights kept flashing by too fast.

And later when we came to Liverpuddlian Bay
The tears of regret finally started to have their say.
The hearts then started burning in each and everyone
We only talked of Sweden that used to be our home.

We all were packed together in one unhealthy cave
It was as if we'd stepped into an open grave.
The food that we had brought from blessed Swedish land
Was suddenly forbidden and taken from our hand.

And when we had been sailing for just a week or two
A horrid kind of darkness was clouding our view.
We couldn't see each other and hardly breathe or walk
It was a gruesome anguish for all people aboard.

The air was filled with hunger and drenched in wretched cries,
The howling and the noises would pierce right through the skies
And death became the ruler that forces us to our knees.
The dead were buried in the horrid fathom of the seas.

We sold our homesteads and started on our way
Just like the birds will fly when autumn is here to stay
One day they will return, come spring again, that's when
But we will never see our native country again

At first we travelled through the English countryside
On tracks and on wagons as quickly as birds would fly
It was a lovely sight to see the land at last
But all the glorious sights kept flashing by too fast
The glorious sights kept flashing by too fast

And later when we came to Liverpuddlian bay
The tears of regret finally started to have their say
The hearts then started burning in each and everyone
We only talked of Sweden that used to be our home

We all were packed together in one unhealthy cave
It was as if we'd stepped into an open grave
The food that we had brought from blessed Swedish land
Was suddenly forbidden and taken from our hand
It was forbidden and taken from our hand

And when we had been sailing for just a week or two
A horrid kind of darkness was clouding our view
We couldn't see each other and hardly breathe or walk
It was a gruesome anguish for all people aboard

The air was filled with hunger and drenched in wretched cries
The howling and the noises would pierce right through the skies
And death became the ruler that forced us to our knees
The dead were buried in the horrid fathom of the seas
They were buried in the fathom of the seas

Vi sålde våra hemman
Och gav oss sedan ut
Som fågelen bort flyger
När sommaren tar slut
Han kommer en gång åter
När våren skrider fram
Men vi få aldrig skåda
Vårt kära fosterland

Och när vi kommo till
Den Liverpoolska hamn
Begynte ångerns tårar
Så stritt att bryta fram
Det blev en hjärtans sveda
I bröstet på var och en
Man talar blott om Sverige
Och om sitt förra hem

Vi packades tillsammans
Uti ett osunt kvav
Det var för oss att skåda
Liksom en öppen grav
Och födan som vi fraktat
Ifrån vår svenska jord
Den blev oss nu förbjuden
Att taga med ombord
Blev förbjuden att taga med ombord

Och när vi hade seglat
En vecka eller två
Ett mörker däcket höljde
Och bredde sig därpå
Ej se varann vi kunde
Knappt andas eller gå
Det var en gruvlig plåga
För stora och för små

Nu blir en ömklig hunger
Med sorg och grÅt och gny
En jämmer som sig tränger
Till himmelens höga sky
Och döden gruvligt härjar
Bland mänskorna ombord
Man ser de döda kastas
I havets vilda flod
Döda kastas I havets vilda flod