Procol Harum

Beyond
the Pale

PH on stage | PH on record | PH in print | BtP features | What's new | Interact with BtP | For sale | Site search | Home

En souvenir fra Malmø

(A souvenir of London)


Niels-Erik Mortensen writes to BtP:

En souvenir fra Malmø (A Souvenir of London): CBS Denmark 1981. Credited: solely to Frede Fup (not mentioning Brooker / Reid at all). According to the 45, Frede Fup himself wrote the song. The name 'Fup' actually means 'Cheat'.

The arrangement is a bit faster, scored for voice, two guitar, bass and drums and bears no trace of the original's "busker"-arrangement. However the song is very faithful to the original. Though transposed down to D major, the instrumental bits between verses are kept. But Fup has three verses; No 1 and 3 translations of the original except on two points: the venereal gift derives from Malmø, not London, and the last line goes, "What a terrible mess" instead of "There's a lot of it about".

The five-piece band featuring singer Freddy Norbrink ("Frede Fup") existed between 1979 until disbanding in 1993 with a large popular following, which however did not reflect on their ability to sell records. This single from 1981 was not available on any albums, and none of the Fup records have been reissued as CDs.

Jeg har fået en souvenir fra Malmø

   I've got a souvenir of Malmø

Og den skal gemmes for min mor

   And I have to hide it from my Mum

Den skal med mig igennem tolden

   Got to get it through the customs

Den skal helt til, hvor jeg bor

   Taking it right to where I live

Jeg har prøvet at holde den hem'lig

   I've tried to keep it a secret

Men det er sevet ud

   But it's been leaking out

At jeg har fået en souvenir fra Malmø

  That I've got a souvenir of Malmø

Sikke noget forfærd'ligt rod.

  What a terrible mess
     

Ja jeg har vær't et smut i Malmø

   Yes, I've been on a trip to Malmø

Og fået noget med mig hjem

   And got something back home with me

Som skal op og tjekkes hos lægen

   That I'll got to have checked at the doctor

Er den ikke bare grim?

   Isn't it just ugly?

Jeg har prøvet at holde den heml'lig

   I've tried to keep it a secret

Men det er sevet ud

   But it's been leaking out

At jeg fået en souvenir fra Malmø

  That I've got a souvenir of Malmø

Sikke noget forfærd'ligt rod

  What a terrible mess
     

Ja, jeg har fået en del af Malmø

   Yes, I've got a part of Malmø

Og den skal sniges med mig hjem

   And have to sneak it back home

Den skal helt op til min doktor

   Got to take it to my doctor

Den er ved at bli' for slem

   It's growing much to bad

Jeg har prøvet at holde den hem'lig

   I've tried to keep it a secret

Men det er sevet ud

   But it's been leaking out

At jeg fået en souvenir fra Malmø

  That I've got a souvenir of Malmø

Sikke noget forfærd'ligt rod

  What a terrible mess

 


Other non-English versions of Procol Harum songs


PH on stage | PH on record | PH in print | BtP features | What's new | Interact with BtP | For sale | Site search | Home