Vem Kan Segla Förutan Vind? (Who Can Sail without a Wind?)

DESCRIPTION: Swedish: "Vem Kan Segla Förutan Vind? Vem kan ro utan åror?" Who can sail without a wind, or row without oars? Who can leave a friend without crying? "I can sail without a wind, I can row without oars, But I can't part from a friend without crying."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1960 (Dannielson, East-West Songs, according to "Songs of Many Nations")
KEYWORDS: foreignlanguage separation campsong
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Averill-CampSongsFolkSongs, p. 340, 444, "Who Can Sail" (notes only)
SongsOfManyNations, "Vem kan segla förutan vind? (Who Can Sail?)" (1 text, 1 tune) (12th edition, p. 1)
DT, CANSAIL (English text only)
NOTES [141 words]: Although versions of this in English songbooks are rare, Ross Sutter, from whom I learned it, tells me that it is one of the two most popular songs among Swedes in America (the other being the famous "Hälsa Dem Därhemma"). It reportedly comes from the island of Åland, which belongs to Finland but is Swedish-speaking. Jerome Epstein told me that there is also a Norwegian translation, so it is common in Scandinavia.
I've always wondered if this might not be the remnant of a revenant ballad.
The tune is very close to "Im Eshkachek," or, "If I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem," which is an interesting melody for a Scandinvian song!
The bit about what can sail without a wind is also a bit reminiscent of the riddles in the Yiddish "Tumbalalaika." There are a few similar musical phrases, too. Hard to imagine how they could be connected, though. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.7
File: ACSF340V

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