Han havde to døtre ved bord
Den ene var som mælk og blod
Den anden så sort som jord
For den de begge var forelskede i
Ville til den yngste datter fri
Ingen skal forglemme mig
Når harpen begynder at synge
Den yngste gik med udslagen hår
Den ældste med falske råd:
"Lad os ned til havet gå
Og vaske os rene fra båd"
Den unge trådte ud på breden sten
Den anden stødte hende ud med sit ben
Det var to unge spillemænd
De vandrede langs med strand
Da de ser den søsters lig
Ført op på det hvide sand
Af knoglerne og hendes gyldne hår
Gjorde de en harpe - smuk som vår
Harpen bringes til bondens gård
Og alle kan kende dens sang
Min søster tog mit unge liv
Men aldrig skal hun tage min mand
I aften sidder hun på brudebænk
I morgen bliver hun på bålet brændt for
Ingen skal forglemme mig
Når harpen begynder at synge
Sorten Muld (lit. 'Black Soil' or 'Dark Ground') is a Danish folktronica band, formed in 1995. They have won two Danish Grammys for Mark II.
Their music can be characterized by elegantly composed rhythms, floating sound of typical folk-instruments like bagpipes, flutes and violins, in an electronica-composition that supports the dramatic lyrics. Some tracks on Mark II are up-beat with only few lyrics and could also be characterized as dance or techno.
The lyrics are old stories from Danish folk tradition, about jealousy, murder, mythology and creatures. In "Kirstin" from Mark II a father serves his daughter a meal of her boyfriend's heart. In "Ulver" from III a man takes his girlfriend into the forest to kill and bury her. He falls asleep and she cuts him into pieces with his own sword.
Sorten Muld also published a concept album called Jord, Luft, Ild, Vand (Earth, Air, Fire, Water) – a mostly instrumental journey through the classic elements. The album is a reworked recording of music commissioned by Danske Gymnastik- & Idrætsforeninger for a gymnastics show on Bornholm. It was self-published and was only available to buy from their website.
After this album the group disappeared from the public eye, but in April/May 2011 they performed three concerts in Denmark, and again in 2012 at Tønder Festival. and in 2014 and 2019.
