Eitt dýpi av dýrari tíð
(In english: “A Chasm of Precious Time”)
This is the title of one of Elin’s most popular songs that has won international recognition.
There are two versions of the song – the original one from 1988 and a later edition from 2002 recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, which today is the most reknown.
You can listen to the original version here:
You can listen to the symphonic version here:
You can also watch Elin perform the song live here.
About the song
The song was one of the most popular songs from the album “Nalja” featuring Elin Heinesen and Kåre Linderoth Jacobsen. The album was released the first time as an MC in 1988 and re-released on CD in 1998 by the record company Tutl on the Faroe Islands. The music was recorded in Bløndal Studio in Copenhagen in 1988.
Elin Brimheim Heinesen wrote and arranged the track “Eitt dýpi av dýrari tíð”. Her father, the Faroese author Jens Pauli Heinesen, wrote the lyrics in 1953 – only 21 years old – and unhappily in love.
The 10. and the 17. November 2002 a TV documentary in two parts was broadcasted for the first time in the Faroese national television. The documentary about the author and the man Jens Pauli Heinesen was made by Gulla Øregaard as a tribute to him on his 70 years birthday the 12. November 2002.
In the making of the documentary a new version of the song ‘Eitt dýpi av dýrari tíð’ was produced. The Danish film composer Søren Hyldgaard made the arrangements for symphony orchestra and a mens choir. The music was recorded partly in Prague with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra under the conduction of Mario Klemens – and partly in Tórshavn with the Tórshavn Men’s Choir under the conduction of Bjarni Restorff and with Elin Brimheim Heinesen as a soloist.
This last version of the song has been released two times – the first time in 2003 on a Faroese compilation CD called Popp List 2, published by 3’arin (go to www.popplist.fo) and the second time on another Faroese compilation CD with Faroese female artists only, published as an introductory gift to people who subscribe to the Faroese womens magazine ‘Kvinna’. This CD was released the first time in November 2004 (go to www.kvinna.fo).
If you’d like to play the song yourself, you can download the score here: Chords with lyrics / Melody with lyrics
The song is also the soundtrack on the video “Where Nature Rules”. Read more down below.
Lyrics in 5 languages
Faroese:
EITT DÝPI AV DÝRARI TÍÐ
Orð: Jens Pauli Heinesen (1953)
Lag: Elin Brimheim Heinesen (1987)
So verður sagt av monnum
at lívið er markleys neyð
eitt dýpi av gráum døgum
og børn, ið biða um breyð
Kanska er lívið sorgarlag
kanska er lívið gott
og kanska eg ein skínandi dag
beri kenslu av myrkari nátt.
Í nátt er luftin so rein og klár
bládjúp og ísandi køld
foldin hvílir í hvítari tøgn
og norðlýsið reisir sær tjøld
Og vit mítt er fult av tonkum
á ferð út á víðan veg
at finna á miðleysu náttargongd
tann vísdóm, ið uggar meg.
Men ongan vísdóm eg finni
ið sigur tey sonnu orð
Sum bløðandi fuglar falla tey
aftur at hvítari for
Tó eg veit at dýrgripir finnast
og fjalast við gráan eim
tá gentur og dreingir spenna
sum folar í dans og gleim.
Tá barmur mín spentur av undran
av eydnu, av tungari trá
av iva og sorgarløgum
Eisini, eisini tá
veit eg at lívið er gáva
eitt dýpi av dýrari tíð
sum øll skulu valla ígjøgnum
rekast og villast inní.
Veit eg at lívið er gáva
eitt dýpi av dýrari tíð
sum øll skulu valla ígjøgnum
rekast og villast inní
Dansk:
ET DYB AF DYREBAR TID
Tekst af Jens Pauli Heinesen (1953)
Musik af Elin Brimheim Heinesen (1987)
Oversat af Elin Brimheim Heinesen (2005)
Der er mange mennesker, der mener
at livet er endeløs nød
en afgrund af triste dage
og børn, der tigger om brød
Måske er livet en sorgfuld sang
måske er livet godt
måske kan jeg en solskinsdag
fornemme den mørke nat.
I nat er luften så ren og klar
dybblå og isnende kold
hvid og tyst hviler jorden
og nordlyset folder sit skjold
mit sind er opfyldt af tanker
på rejse langt ud i det blå
i nat uden mål for at finde
og lindrende visdom nå.
Men der er ingen visdom at finde
der siger de sande ord
som blødende fugle falder de
ned på den snehvide jord
Dog ved jeg der findes skatte
gemt inde i askens røg
når piger og drenge danser
så kåde på livets vej.
Da fyldes mit hjerte af undren
af længsel og melankoli
af tvivl og af lykke og attrå
Også i det øjeblik
ved jeg, at vi fik foræret
et dyb af dyrebar tid
et liv vi skal vandre igennem
drive, forvildes ind i.
Også i det øjeblik
ved jeg, at vi fik foræret
et dyb af dyrebar tid
et liv vi skal vandre igennem
drive, forvildes ind i
English:
A CHASM OF PRECIOUS TIME
Lyrics in Faroese: Jens Pauli Heinesen (1953)
Music: Elin Brimheim Heinesen (1987)
Translation to English: Elin Brimheim Heinesen (2020)
So many people are saying
that life is eternal dread
a chasm of mournful moments
and children begging for bread
Life may well be a mournful song
Life may well be alright
And maybe I on a sunshiny day
remember a shadowy night
Tonight, the air is so pure and clear
deep blue and icy cold
Earth lies beneath a silent, white layer
and northern lights let their veils fold
my mind is so full of wondering
and travelling far in the blind
tonight, without heading or purpose trying
to heartening wisdom find
But there is no wisdom to gather
that brings out those trusty words
Like bleeding birds, they splatter right down
back on the snow-covered earth
But I know that treasures are buried
deep down in the ember’s gray
when girls and boys, unwearied
are dancing like foals in play
That is when my heart bursts with wonder
of yearn and deep melancholy
of doubt and of bliss and shudder
Also, those moments I see
see that this life is an offering
a chasm of precious time, you
were given to go through exploring
to drift and to stray deep into
Another translation to English
of Eitt dýpi av dýrari tíð:
AN ABYSS OF PRECIOUS TIME
Lyrics in Faroese: Jens Pauli Heinesen (1953)
Music: Elin Brimheim Heinesen (1987)
Translation to English: Olga Gorenskaya (2015)
So many people are claiming
that life is an ever distress
an abyss of grey days evading
where children are begging for bread
Maybe, some days life is a sad, dull song
Maybe, some days life looks bright
Though, sometimes, even on shiny days
I’ve thrilling touch of dark night.
Tonight the sky is so pure and clear
deep blue and icy cold,
the earth lies calm in its whiteness sheer
and the northern lights’ veils let enfold
Hence this night I am feeling so thoughtful
and wandering up there in blue
in trying to find through my dim aspiring
the wisdom that gives me a clue.
But no flashes seem dawn upon me
through which I could find those true words
They’re darting down upon white ground
like breathless slain blooded birds
Although I believe true gems exist
somewhere, in grey ash that glows
the moment in time, where girls and boys
are cheering in dance like foals.
At sight of it my chest gets tightened
with longing and flows of joy
and threaded with doubt so doleful
making its unique alloy
Know again and again – life’s an offering
an abyss of precious time in,
that’s granted to everyone wandering
to drift and get lost with in!
Know that your life is an offering
an abyss of precious time in
that’s granted to everyone wandering
to drift and get lost within
Deutch:
EINE TIEFE KOSTBARER ZEIT
Tekst: Jens Pauli Heinesen (1953)
Musik: Elin Brimheim Heinesen (1987)
Übersetzung: Arne List (2009)
So viele Menschen betrachten
das Leben als endlose Not
eine Tiefe grauer Tage
und Kinder betteln um Brot
Vielleicht ist das Leben traurig
vielleicht ist das Leben gut
und vielleicht an einem strahlenden Tag
fühle ich die dunkelste Nacht.
In der Nacht ist die Luft so rein und klar
tiefblau und eisklirrend kalt
die Erde schläft in weißem Gewand
das Nordlicht errichtet sein Zelt
Mein Kopf ist voller Gedanken
hinaus in die weite Welt
zu finden auf ziellosem Wege dich
du Weisheit, du schließlicher Trost.
Keine der Weisheiten kann mir
die Wahrheit erklären
Wie blutende Vögel fallen sie
zurück auf den schneeweißen Grund
Doch ich weiß die Schätze sind da
verborgen von aschgrauem Staub
wenn Mädchen und Jungen traben
wie Fohlen in Tanz und Spaß.
Meine Brust spannt sich mit Wundern
von Glück und von Begehren
von Zweifeln und schmerzenden Wunden
Aber auch, aber auch dann
Weiß ich das Leben zu schätzen
als Tiefe der kostbaren Zeit
die wir alle durchwandern
getrieben und in ihr verirrt.
Weiß ich das Leben zu schätzen
als Tiefe der kostbaren Zeit
die wir alle durchwandern
getrieben und in ihr verirrt
Magyar:
DRÁGA IDŐ TÁTONGÓ MÉLYSÉGE
Dalszöveg: Jens Pauli Heinesen (1953)
Zene: Elin Brimheim Heinesen (1987)
Fordítás: piratebunny / https://lyricstranslate.com/ (2018)
Oly sokan mondják
Hogy az élet csupa szenvedés
Szürke napok tátongó mélysége
És kenyérért kolduló gyermekek sora
Az élet talán gyászének
Az élet talán jó
És talán egy verőfényes napon is
Érzem az éj sötétjét
Ma éjjel oly tiszta és derült az ég
Mélykék és jéghideg
A föld fehér csendben pihen
És az északi fény sátrat ver
És a fejem gondolatokkal tele
Melyek céltalan, estéli vándorlásukon
Széles e világban keresik ama bölcsességet
Mely vigaszt nyújt nekem
De nem lelek oly bölcsességet
Mely ezen igaz szavakon szólna
Mint vérző madarak, úgy hullanak
Vissza a fehér földre
Mégis tudom, hogy szürke hamvak közt
Rejtőznek kincsek is
Mikor leányok és fiúk, mint csikók
Járnak örvendve táncot
Mikor mellkasomat az ámulat
Öröm, s mélyről jövő vágyakozás
Kétség, s szomorú dallamok feszítik
Akkor is, még akkor is
Tudom, hogy az élet ajándék
Drága idő tátongó mélysége
Melyen mindannyian átkelünk
S melyben sodródunk, s időnként elveszünk
Tudom, hogy az élet ajándék
Drága idő tátongó mélysége
Melyen mindannyian átkelünk
S melyben sodródunk, s időnként elveszünk
A popular video
The song was also used in a video presentation about the Faroe Islands called “Where Nature Rules”, that Elin made in 2008, after the magazine National Geographic Traveler in November 2007 rated the Faroe Islands as best islands in the world. The little film shows landscapes from the Faroe Islands and advertises for the Faroes as a travel destination. Pictures and music are shown with quotes from traveler descriptions of the Faroes.
The 12. of March 2009 the video got awarded with 3. prize at the international tourism film award ceremony “Golden City Gate” at the ITB Tourist Fair in Berlin – one of the largest of its kind in the world. (Read more here: www.das-goldene-stadttor.de).
Watch the video ”Where nature rules” here:
You can also find this video on Facebook here and on YouTube here or here (English) > (Danish) > (German)
Elin:
“It was really a surprise to me that the video won an award. Actually it was a draft I made as a presentation for a meeting we had at my work place where we were supposed to discuss various ways of marketing the Faroes. This was my suggestion that I made at home after work hours with an amateur film editing program Windows Movie Maker. I put the video on YouTube and Facebook to get some feedback – so that I could learn from the comments. After a while I realised that people liked the video so much that they were sending the link to each other and to their friends and acquaintances all over the world.
After a couple of months more than twelve thousand people had seen the video on YouTube and probably just as many on Facebook (unfortunately Facebook does not count the viewers). A month before the Tourist Fair ITB in Berlin (which by the way is one of the biggest in the world with up to 200.000 visitors) where the Tourism Film Award Ceremony “Golden City Gate Awards” takes place, my staff suggested that I should send the video to the film competition, but I said no – because it was a FILM competition and my video is just a row of stills (as I said, just a sketch really). But they sent it in anyway without me knowing it, so I was really taken by surprise when they called me and told me that it had won the 3rd prize!”
In Feb 2010 the number of downloads exceeded more than a hundred thousand on YouTube and Facebook – and 5 years after the release more than 200.000 people had watched the video on YouTube. The reason that the video has become so popular so fast might probably, on the one hand, be the amazing pictures and on the other hand also the music. The song “Eitt dýpi av dýrari tíð” (translated to English: A Chasm of Precious Time) was already very popular on the Faroes a long time before the video was made. Elin Brimheim Heinesen made the music and the lyrics were written by her father, the Faroese author Jens Pauli Heinesen, who is his generations greatest and most appreciated authors on the Faroes.
You can read the whole story about the music and the lyrics and also read the lyrics in four languages – Faroese, and translated to Danish, English and German – and listen to the music in two versions – the original and the symphonic one – for free! – here on this page: A Popular Song
Here are some of the initial comments about the video in E-mails, YouTube and Facebook.
Eivør performs the song with Føroya Symfoniorkestur
In January 2013 Føroya Symfoniorkestur (Faroe Islands Philharmonics) performed the song “Eitt dýpi av dýrari tíð” with famous Faroese singer, Eivør, at their annual New Years Eve Concert. The performance was a tribute to the late author, Jens Pauli Heinesen, who had just had his 80th birthday in november 2012.
Watch their performance here:
A live acoustic version of the song, performed by Elin Brimheim Heinesen herself: