Every Moment Has A Song

Adolf Fredrik Girls Choir: “Vem Kan Segla (Who Can Sail?)” (2006)

Founded in 1971 by Bo Johansson, the Adolf Fredrik Girls Choir of Stockholm, Sweden is now ranked among the foremost in the world. It represents the Adolf Fredrik Music Classes, Sweden’s oldest specialized school, which dates from 1939 and was founded to allow children ages 11-16 an opportunity to develop their singing talents free of charge.

The results, as you can hear, are angelic.

“Who Can Sail?” is a solemn, dirge-like folk song from Swedish-speaking Finland.

Vem kan segla förutan vind,
vem kan ro utan åror,
vem kan skiljas från vännen sin
utan att fälla tårar?

Jag kan segla förutan vind,
jag kan ro utan åror,
men ej skiljas från vännen min
utan att fälla tårar.

Translation:

Who can sail without wind,
who can row without oars,
who can part from their
friend without shedding tears?

I can sail without wind,
I can row without oars,
but I cannot be separated from my
friend without shedding tears.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2025/04/15/songs-you-may-have-missed-775/