Þið kannizt við jólaköttinn
- sá köttur var griðarstór
Fólk vissi'ekki hvaðan hann kom
eða hvert hann fór

Hann glennti upp glyrnurnar sinar
glóandi báðar tvær
Það var ekki heiglum hent
að horfa í þær

Kamparnir beittir sem broddar
upp úr bakinu kryppna há
og klærnar à loðinni löpp
var ljótt að sjá

Því var það, að konurnar kepptust
við kamba og vefstól og rokk
og prjónuðu litfagran lepp
eða lítin sokk

Þvi kötturinn mátti' ekki koma
og krækja í börnin smá
Þau urðu að fásína flík
þeim fullorðnu hjá

Og er kveikt var á jólakvöldið
og kötturin gægðist inn
stóðu börnin bísperrt og rjóð
með böggulinn sinn

Hann veifaði stélinu sterka
hann stökk og hann klóraði' og blés
og var ýmist uppi í dal
eða úti' um nes

Hann sveimaði, soltinn og grimmur
í sárköldum jólasnæ
og vakti í hjörtunum hroll
á hverjum bæ

Ef mjálmað var aumlega úti
var ólukkan samstundis vís
Allir vissu' að hann veiddi menn
en vildi ekki mýs

Hann lagðist á fátæka fólkið
sem fékk enga nýja spjör
fyrir jólin - og baslaði og bjó
við bágust kjör

Frá því tók hann ætið í einu
allan þess jólamat
og át það svo oftast nær sjálft
ef hann gat

Því var það, að konurnar kepptust
við kamba og vefstól og rokk
og prjónuðu litfagran lepp
eða lítin sokk

Sum höfðe fengið svuntu
og sum höfðu fengið skó
eða eitthvað, sem þótti þarft
en þad var nóg

Þvi kisa máti' engan eta
sem einhverja flíkina hlaut
Hún hvæsti þá heldur ljót
og hljóp á braut

Hvort enn er hún til, veit ég ekki
en aum yrði hennar för
ef allir eignuðust næst
einhverja spjör

Þið hafið nú kannske í huga
að hjálpa, ef þörf verður á
máske enn finnist einhver börn
sem ekkert fá

Máske, að leitin að þeim sem líða
af ljósskorti heims um ból
gefi ykkur góðan dag
og gleðileg jól


Lyrics submitted by bjorkellina

Jólakötturinn song meanings
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    General Comment

    TRANSLATION:

    The Christmas Cat (Icelandic Christmas compilation)

    You know the christmas cat

    • that cat is very large We dont know where he came from nor where he has gone

    He opened his eyes widely glowing both of them it was not for cowards to look into them

    His hair sharp as needles his back was high and bulgy and claws on his hairy paw were not a pretty sight

    Therefore the women competed to rock and sow and spin and knitted colorful clothes or one little sock

    For the cat could not come and get the little children they had to get new clothes from the grownups

    When christmas eve was lighted and the cat looked inside the children stood straight and red-cheeked with their presents

    He waved his strong tail he jumped, scratched and blew and was either in the valley or out on the headland

    He walked about, hungry and mean in hurtfully cold christmas snow and kindled the hearts with fear in every town

    If outside one heard a weak "meaow" then unluck was sure to happen all knew he hunted men and didnt want mice

    He followed the poorer people who didnt get any new clothing near christmas - and tried and lived in poorest conditions

    From them he took at the same time all their christmas food and ate them also themselves if he could

    Therefore the women competed to rock and sow and spin and knitted colorful clothes or one little sock

    Some had gotten an apron and some had got a new shoe or anything that was needful but that was enough

    For pussy should not eat no-one who got some new piece of clothes She hissed with her ugly voice and ran away

    If she still exists I dont know but for nothing would be his trip if everybody would get next christmas some new rag

    You may want to keep it in mind to help if there is need for somewhere there might be children who get nothing at all

    Mayhaps that looking for those who suffer from lack of plentiful lights will give you a happy season and merry christmas

    bjorkellinaon October 06, 2002   Link

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