Helan Går

Helan går is a popular Swedish drinking song, or snapsvisa. Helan ("the whole") is an expression signifying the first (small) glass of spirit (commonly akvavit or vodka) in a series, and går means "goes (down)"; loosely translated as, "Bottoms up!" Thus, it is commonly sung as a toast, typically for the first glass of spirit at a seated dinner. The song has also become quite common in Finland, especially at academic dinners.

When Sweden's ice hockey team won the 1957 World Ice Hockey Championships in Moscow, not all of the Swedish players knew the lyrics to Du gamla, du fria, the de facto Swedish national anthem, so the players sang Helan går instead.

The song's origin is uncertain because it is rarely noted in historical documents. One early mention occurs in an operetta in 1843. Several composers have written variations of the melody, including Franz Lehár. In 1959 The Belafonte Folk Singers recorded Heylan Går on the album Drinking Songs Around The World RCA LSP1992. The song, in an instrumental version under the title Helan, is present as a ringtone on some Nokia mobile phones, possibly as a nod to Nokia's Nordic (Finnish) heritage. It is Sweden's theme in Civilization VI.

Lyrics
Helan går Sjung hopp faderallan lallan lej Helan går Sjung hopp faderallan lej Och den som inte helan tar* Han heller inte halvan får Helan går (Drink) Sjung hopp faderallan lej


 * In the classic version, "trår" is used instead of "tar". "Tar" is modernized, and doesn't rhyme.

English version
 Here's the first Sing "hup fol-de-rol la la la la" Here's the first Sing "hup fol-de-rol la la" He who doesn't drink the first Shall never, ever quench his thirst Here's the first [drink] Sing "hup fol-de-rol la la"

A more verbatim translation might be: The whole goes down Sing "hup fol-de-rol la la la la" The whole goes down Sing "hup fol-de-rol la la" And he who doesn't take the whole Doesn't get the half either The whole goes down [drink] Sing "hup fol-de-rol la la"

The phonetic version for English speakers who want to sing in Swedish: Hey-lan gore Hung hop father lala lala lay Hey-lan gore Hung hop father lala lay Oh then some in the hey-lan tar Han hell eh in the hall van fore Hey-lan goooooore [drink] Hung hop father lala laaaay

And a parodic meta-version (Staffan Waltré): Hell and Gore! Chung hop, Father Alan, Alan Lay! Hell and Gore! Chung hop, Father Alan Lay! And handsome in the Hell & Tar, and hail are in the Half & Four: Hell and Gore! Chung hop, Father Alan Lay! The half, or "halvan" in the lyrics above refer to the name traditionally given to the second snaps. The meaning is therefore "the one who doesn't drink the first snaps won't get the second one either"

References (Swedish)

 * Christina Mattsson, Helan går. 150 visor till skålen, Atlantis, 2002.
 * Christina Mattsson, Från Helan till lilla Manasse, Atlantis, 2002.