Gubben Noak
Encyclopedia
"Gubben Noak" is a traditional Swedish
song, a drinking song
and bible travesty
written in 1766 (or possibly earlier), with text by Carl Michael Bellman
. The song is probably the best known of all Bellman's compositions.
from the Old Testament
had come to rest on the mountains of Ararat
, and is inspired by the Book of Genesis 9:20–21, when Noah established a vineyard and got drunk from drinking the wine. From there ends the bible connection. The song is, along with songs number 36–43, for instance "Joakim uti Babylon" and "Ahasverus var så mäktig", one of the biblical travesties that made Bellman popular during the 1760s.
throughout the country; although it was generally known at the time who had composed the song.
In 1768 the Lund
chapter
reacted by sending a letter to the priests of the diocese, attempting to collect all prints and transcripts of "Gubben Noach" and other biblical travesties, in order to have them destroyed.
In 1791 "Gubben Noak" was included in the song book Fredmans sånger
, along with eight other biblical travesties, such as "Gubben Loth och hans gamla Fru" (Songs of Fredman
no 35–43).
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
song, a drinking song
Drinking song
A drinking song is a song sung while drinking alcohol. Most drinking songs are folk songs, and may be varied from person to person and region to region, in both the lyrics and in the music...
and bible travesty
Burlesque
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects...
written in 1766 (or possibly earlier), with text by Carl Michael Bellman
Carl Michael Bellman
was a Swedish poet and composer. Bellman is a central figure in the Swedish song tradition and remains a very important influence in Swedish music, as well as in Scandinavian literature in general, to this day....
. The song is probably the best known of all Bellman's compositions.
The song
The setting in the song is when NoahNoah
Noah was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the tenth and last of the antediluvian Patriarchs. The biblical story of Noah is contained in chapters 6–9 of the book of Genesis, where he saves his family and representatives of all animals from the flood by constructing an ark...
from the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
had come to rest on the mountains of Ararat
Mountains of Ararat
The Mountains of Ararat is the place named in the Book of Genesis where Noah's Ark came to rest after the great flood ....
, and is inspired by the Book of Genesis 9:20–21, when Noah established a vineyard and got drunk from drinking the wine. From there ends the bible connection. The song is, along with songs number 36–43, for instance "Joakim uti Babylon" and "Ahasverus var så mäktig", one of the biblical travesties that made Bellman popular during the 1760s.
Distribution
Being somewhat afraid of the church, Bellman chose to first publish the song anonymously on broadsheetsBroadside (music)
A broadside is a single sheet of cheap paper printed on one side, often with a ballad, rhyme, news and sometimes with woodcut illustrations...
throughout the country; although it was generally known at the time who had composed the song.
In 1768 the Lund
Diocese of Lund
-External links:* from Nordisk Familjebok, in Swedish...
chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
reacted by sending a letter to the priests of the diocese, attempting to collect all prints and transcripts of "Gubben Noach" and other biblical travesties, in order to have them destroyed.
In 1791 "Gubben Noak" was included in the song book Fredmans sånger
Songs of Fredman
Songs of Fredman is a collection of 65 poems and songs published in 1791 by the Swedish poet Carl Michael Bellman.As a follow-up of Epistles of Fredman from the previous year, the book contains songs from a longer period...
, along with eight other biblical travesties, such as "Gubben Loth och hans gamla Fru" (Songs of Fredman
Songs of Fredman
Songs of Fredman is a collection of 65 poems and songs published in 1791 by the Swedish poet Carl Michael Bellman.As a follow-up of Epistles of Fredman from the previous year, the book contains songs from a longer period...
no 35–43).