"Små grodorna" ("The Little Frogs") is a traditional Swedish song and ring dance which is usually sung and danced at Midsummer (and Christmas). The dance is supposed to illustrate what frogs don't have, like ears and tails. In Midsummer we dance it around the Maypole/Midsummer pole and at Christmas around the Christmas tree.
The melody has apparently been traced from a military march from the French Revolution; "La Chanson de l'Oignon" ("The Onion Song") with the refrain "Au pas, camarade, au pas camarade / au pas, au pas, au pas!" (At walking pace, comrade!"). It is said that the French's enemies during that time, the Brits, changed the lyrics to a rather snide one; "Au pas, grenouilles!" ("At a walking pace, small frogs!"). It's unknown where the Swedish lyrics comes from, but it's possible that it was inspired by the English ironic one.
Here's the lyrics in Swedish and English:
Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se
(Small frogs, small frogs are funny to see)
Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se
(Small frogs, small frogs are funny to see)
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de
(No ears, no ears, no tails have they)
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de
(No ears, no ears, no tails have they)
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack.
Kou ack ack ack ack kaa
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack.
Kou ack ack ack ack kaa
