As I\u2019ve written before, I sometimes do fieldwork in the United States, interviewing and talking with Scandinavian Americans. It\u2019s a great experience and I get a chance to meet a lot of wonderful people and hear some amazing stories. One thing that has popped up a couple of times is an old nursery rhyme that a lot of people remember from their childhood. In fact, I remember it from mine also!<\/p>\n
It\u2019s called Rida Rida Ranka<\/em> and has quite a few different variations. Rida Rida Ranka<\/em> means to ride on a rocking horse or to ride on someone\u2019s knees. Usually this little rhyme is said while bouncing a child on one\u2019s knees. I\u2019ve included a couple of versions below:<\/p>\n Rida rida Ranka Here is a very rough translation, minus the rhyming.<\/p>\n Ride, ride a rocking horse Or:<\/p>\n Rida, rida ranka, And again, a very rough translation:<\/p>\n Ride, ride a rocking horse I\u2019ve also included a really great YouTube clip with the nursery rhyme:<\/p>\n
\nh\u00e4sten heter Blanka
\nVart ska vi rida?
\nTill en liten piga
\nVad kan hon heta?
\nJungfru Margareta
\nden tjocka och den feta<\/p>\n
\nThe horse\u2019s name is Blanka.
\nWhere shall we ride?
\nTo a little girl.
\nWhat is her name?
\nThe Virgin Margareta
\nThe chubby and the fat one<\/p>\n
\nh\u00e4sten heter Blanka.
\nLiten riddare s\u00e5 rar
\n\u00e4nnu inga sporrar har.
\nN\u00e4r han dem har vunnit,
\nbarndomsro f\u00f6rsvunnit.<\/p>\n
\nThe horse\u2019s name is Blanka.
\nCute little knight
\nYou have no spurs yet.
\nWhen you have won them
\nYour childhood will disappear<\/p>\n