This song is based on a really old Finnish poem about the stifling of musical creativity under the church rule, when some music was seen as rousing the devil and peasants were convicted and punished for playing ancient music. This song was written as an answer to what music actually is. Beautiful stuff.
Lyrics are the best part.
Truly they lie, they talk utter nonsense
Who say that music reckon that the kantele
Was fashioned by a god
Out of a great pike's shoulders
From a water-dog's hooked bones
It was made from the grief
It's belly out of hard days
It's soundboard from endless woes
It's strings gathered from torments
And it's pegs from other ills
Truly they lie, they talk utter nonsense
It's belly out of hard days
It's soundboard from endless woes
It's strings gathered from torments
And it's pegs from other ills
Truly they lie, they talk utter nonsense
So it not play, will not rejoice at all
Music will not play to please
Give off the right sort of joy
For it was fashioned from cares
Moulded from sorrow
From sorrow