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As a swede, I have heard this song so many times. Still get chills every time. I'm an atheist but I can still feel her pain.

When I was 23 one of best friend died and this was his favourite song. "Without you I am a splinter on a dark and stormy sea" has ever been felt more accurate. Everytime I hear this song I still cry remembering him. It has been almost 15 years.

I played in the Gothenburg Opera Orchestra several of the performances of Kristina från Duvemåla. Helen Sjöholm perfomed every single performace at the best level possible!!!!!

I’m Mexican and I travel le to Sweden to watch this musical to Sweden , NYC, Royal Albert hall when there was an eruption that kept me 2 weeks there and to Finland . So that’s how it is good ! As someone wrote is based on “the novel “ of Sweden about emigrants to the US , running away from religious power. Bjorn of ABBA wrote those masterpiece lyrics although he’s agnostic . Even Meryl Streep cried when she attended the Carnegie Hall concert cos it exists in English translated by the lyricist who did the job for Les Miserables .

Wow, shes amazing.. rarely cry but damn she has such a raw tone to her. Just cuts all the way to the bone

As a fellow atheist, and also as a Swede who absolutely ADORES Helen, I can still really feel Kristinas (the characters) emotions of absolute turmoil in that this higher being, that she has spent her whole life relying on, might not be there. It has to be excrutiating to feel that, and Helen conveys that feeling, and what the character she's portraiting is going through soooo powerfully! 'Cause it's about a family who emigrates from Sweden to Minnesota in the mid 1800s, so religion wasn't really much of an option, they all believed in God, they'd been brought up believing.

This is THE musical song to listen too! I love musicals, been listening to .. I dont know how many😂 and loved, loved, loved, so many BUT this one gives ne chills, tears in my eyes, happiness and despair at the same time, but in the end ONLY HAPPINESS because I have listened to a masterpiece performance by this gorgeous Helen Sjöholm

The two men in the audience in the beginning was Björn and Benny from ABBA, they wrote the song

Helen Sjöholm is a Swedish national treasure along with Björn & Benny of ABBA. Yes it was them in the clip. :) They translated the songs and did a couple of concerts called "Kristina" in NYC a some years back. The whole concert in english is available on spotify and here on youtube I think. When people ask me what my favorite musical is (I worked on stage for many years) I always ask "Broadway musical or just musical? Because there are different answers to those questions." Kristina från Duvemåla is my favorite musical period. "Wicked" is my favorite Broadway musical. I am not a religious person but I do believe there is something after we leave this physical world. Not sure what, but something. We are so much more than these meat sacks we walk around in. Anyway, this concert they did in Minnesota was pure magic and the lady in the choir behind Helen is having her little mind blown. Love her, love Helen.

The musical was fantastic to watch! The story is based on a time in Swedish history when a lot of Swedes emigrated to America due to poverty. It is very touching and the music really good. I am very glad I got to see it 🙂

This musical is based on a book series written by Willhelm Moberg. It tells the story of Karl-Oskar, his wife Kristina and their family as they starve in Sweden and decide to emigrate to America in search of a better life. It follows them from their courtship as teenages until Karl-Oskar dies as an old man in Minnesota. A neighbor writes the last letter to Sweden telling of his death because none of Karl Oskar's children or grand children knows Swedish any more. It's 4 books The Emigrants, The Imigrants, The homesteaders and The last letter to Sweden. The story is very famous in Sweden and has been depicted in movies, musical and theater. 20% of the Swedish population left Sweden for America so almost all Swedes have long lost relatives in America. This story resonates with people in a very personal way because of this. I have had the privelige of meeting relatives both from my morhters and my fathers side whos parents emigrated to America. In the book they have a child in Sweden called Anna, she's so hungry that she eats grains newly put away to swell and eats so much that when the grains swell in her instead, they burst her instines and she dies. Karl-Oskar saves her shoes and bring them with him to Amerca as a reminder. I was born shorlty after the first movie came out and I'm named Anna after that little girl. Kristina never takes to America like her husband does, she refuses to learn the language and is extremely home sick and the death of this child push her to the brink. Desperate for her husbands affections she gets pregnant again but this preganacy kills her. Before she dies the apple tree they brought from Sweden gives fruit for the first time and in her delirious state, when she taste the first apple, she dies happily because she thinks she's back home in Sweden again. Her last words are "Karl-Oskar, I'm home"

Many thanks for the reaction. Ut was certainly sooner than I had expected, knowing you have many requests. It was Björn in the intro and then both Björn and Benny in the audience. I thought you might find the topic and the lyrics interesting, as it's not what many would expect from ABBA, compared to their pop music. The translation was very good. There were plans for a while on a Broadway set, it has been very successful in both Sweden and Finland. It ended though with a concertversion on tour in the US and performance in Carnegie Hall. Subject is illustrating the Swedish emigration and settlement in US in the 1800eds. Reasons mainly economical and for some also religious freedom from a staunch Lutheran society. Kristina was a devout person, her husband less so. All her life she longed back and her very beloved husband looked forward to a more successful life materially. She felt very lost, for her homeland, her lost child and the doctors forbidding further intimacy with her husband as a new pregnancy would kill her. In the end it does. Helen is portraying her thoughts and doubts very well. Next song, from her younger brother in law, a dreamer and weakling compared to the husband/big brother portrays him seeking his fortune in the Californian goldrush, taking his best friend with him. Coming back through great danger and sacrifice with his savings in what turned out to be worthless paper money, wildcat money. All dreams crushed for nothing. Especially hard to admit to his elder brother, so he tells his story to a more sympathetic Kristina.

You can be an atheist and still completely understand the absolute desperation she is feeling.

Great reaction! Fun fact: This was performed in Minnesota, where actually 10% of the population in the state is of Swedish heritage due to the Swedish emigration in the 1800's and early 1900's. As a Swede I got distant relatives in Chicago, and it's quite usual that Swedes got relatives in the US from the migration

I have watched several reactors that dont speak swedish. But i must say how impressive i was with your intro when you introducing the song in swedish. Im so impressed, it sounded like you actually can speak swedish.

As much as we celebrate the musical genius of Benny Andersson: It is testament to Bjorn Ulveaus’ empathy that he was able to write these heart-wrenching lyrics although he is a convinced atheist himself, and much like Helen Sjoholm here inhabits the pain and horror of the character - a true believer. This is a contributing reason why ABBA’s music still endures the test of time: Writing convincing art of any kind - literature, poetry, songs - is all about empathy, and the ability to imagine walking in someone else’s shoes.

She’s absolutely amazing! From the musical Kristina från Duvemåla by the guys in ABBA. The musical made a huge success in Sweden and also in Minnesota where a lot of SwedeAmericans live. This clip is from Minnesota where the Swedish artists came over and performed a short version of the musical. The popular musical is about the 1,5 million Swedes who emigrated to the US. in the 1800’s. That’s one 1/5 of the population at that time.

Thoroughly enjoyed this. All my family are disbelievers, my son thinks G.. is pretty sick to allow all the misery on earth. I talk to Mother Nature and tell her I am angry when she makes it rain day after day. Good reaction. thanks

The background is that she followed her husband in emigration to Minnesota USA, where they settled and got around materially quite well. Before the emigration she lost one child to starvation, and almost died on the ship over the Atlantic from Scorbut. In US a doctor told her she could not have any more children because she would die if she got pregnant again. So she is now also “taken from her husband” She also feels she doesn’t connect to God, which really was central for her, and she has thoughts this is because she broke the fourth commandment about staying in your country. She feels overgiven by God and that is what the song is about. And YES she is fantastic and your should see this with subtitles. And your reaction is really honest and good! This comment is published once before to another reactor

The musical is based on the epic novel series "Utvandrarna" (The Emigrants) which is among swedens most beloved literature of all times. Written by Wilhelm Moberg who was a 100% atheist. And the lyrics to the musical is made of another non believer in a god, Björn Ulveaus. So RJJ, You are in good company. Thanks for Your reaction to this lovely song! From me (another non-believer) 🙂

What people dont realize is that the two bearded guys at 2:34 and 5:06 is the main guys behind this musical ! Björn and Benny. Also the guys behind ABBA!

Great song and singer. I was there back in around 1998. :)

Yes, it is Benny and Björn from ABBA in that shot 🙂

I have evidence on a daily basis that God is active in our lives. He gives direction after prayer and puts people and situations on my path to learn and love and make free choices and gives internal peace. This song is a musical confirmation and I love it.

I saw the original ensemble many years ago at the new premiere in Gothenburg. It still gets me every time, it is so good

Being a little drunk and just watching foreigners react to this song have somewhat become an obscure national sport for some of us Swedes.

The lyrics is about pepole who traveled from Sweden 150 years ago. Most people back then where religious.

You are so on point, "bless you" ;)

Great musical, BTW. Based on The Emigrants/The Immigrants/The Final Letter to Sweden cycle by Vilhelm Moberg, considered canonical literature in Sweden. And made by the B:s in ABBA, just like Chess, another good musical.

Nice one RJJ! Check out Tommy Körberg - Bro över mörka vatten live with symphony orchestra. Which is a Swedish version of Bridge over troubled water.

She has another song that is amazing called “Gabriella’s sång”. It’s from a movie called “så som I himmelen”. Something to note about that movie, the character she plays is a victim of domestic abuse. The grumpy guy in the audience leaning against the wall is her abuser and husband, to begin with she doesn’t want to sing this song because she knows what consequences she will face from him, but in the end she does. In the beginning of the clip that I will link she starts laughing because of a traumatic ish thing where the dude crying stands up for himself, after who knows how many years and that’s when she decides that she will sing it. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/kN6dms6pt9jUink.htmlsi=_RlDK7ohMxIKJBU1 the video does have English subtitles.

You have to see it in the context of the 1800 swedenwhen everyone was religious. Today is a different story. We need to remember those people and their reality in which they were living.

The time in this musical is in 1800 something.

For your background information: Björn Ulvaeus, who wrote the lyrics, is actually one of the most prominent atheists in Sweden.

I have missed you SO Much Ron.😊 My health and family situation (sickness), have for a long time and still given me problems to watch, read, listen on anything. I have missed your reactions videos a lot. Hope I can see more of them now for a while. Thanks so very much for listening and sharing this Ron.❤️ I love Helen Sjöholm by myself, and this is about when Sweden has lost’s of people who emigrated from our land, as you maybe know. And we have been a christian country since long time ago and we still are. Even if we have different religions here now, so are Sweden from the beginning a christian country. I’m Christian by myself, but I think everyone must choose their own religions and we all have to respect each other’s beliefs. I don’t know if “Erik Grönwall”❤️‍🔥🎶has wrote to you? But if not, he was happy that you did reacting videos and wrote, that I should thank you and greet you.🙏🏼 Hugs from Jeanette/Sweden 🇸🇪

I agree with your thoughts about religion 😊

You Have To Be There - Kristina från Duvemåla. The swedish version is most powerful but check out Helen Sjöholm singing the original english lyrics with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. You have banished me From the land where I was born Here upon a foreign shore, forsaken I have followed you and done Thy will Should I kneel to you? When I rise You strike me down Once again a little one you’ve taken Everywhere I turn it’s darker still What is it, Lord, that you want And that I am not seeing? What, in my innocent prayers, Am I failing to say? Never before have I questioned The truth of your being Never once have I dared Never until today All of a tremble I stand On the edge of confusion Who is to save me If into the darkness I fall? Now that I need more than ever My God to be near me Do you here when I call? Are you there, after all? You have to be there, you have to My life I have placed in thy keep And without you I am drifting On a dark and rising sea You have to be there, you have to Without you I drown in the deep Too far, too far from land The waters drag me down I reach for your hand Who, when I die, will throw open His arms to receive me? Who will believe me and take me into his embrace? When I have gone to my rest Will you watch me and wake me? When my time comes at last Will you grant me your grace? I am so small on this earth I am nothing without you Daring to doubt you at all Turns a knife in my heart Little by little I’m losing my way In the shadows I am losing my hold And the world falls apart You have to be there, you have to My life I have placed in thy keep And without you I am drifting On a dark and rising sea You have to be there, you have to Without you I drown in the deep Too far, too far from land The waters drag me down I reach for your hand And without you I am drifting On a vast and rising sea You have to be there, you have to Without you I drown in the deep Too far, too far from land The waters drag me down I reach for your hand Written by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus 2:35 Great reaction & Greetings from Sweden👋👍🏻.

It's fantastic to see Americans reacting to this. But i think it isn't stated enough that this is your history as much as us Swedes. We had 1.2 million people emigrating to the US - a fifth of our whole population in the 19th century, and this story is depicting one of the many dark and horrible stories that laid ground to the amazing place that is USA today.

After she loses her child, she is told by a doctor that she will die if she gets pregnant again. So when she sings that God took her away from her husband, that's about it. After a long time, she wants to share bed again with Karl-Oscar. She becomes pregnant again and dies at the age of 37. She was very homesick for her homeland Sweden.

Björn Ulveaus (Abba) wrote the lyrics. He is an athehist. There is no god. It´s about her pain

The character is a poor person from rural 19th-centrury Sweden moving to a strugglig life in Minnesota; of course she believes in the Christian god. It was what people did back then. Modern Swedes however... Not so much.

Have you listen to the new ABBA song's?

That is why i am not religious, go back in time and count how may times horrors have been made in the name of religion, ALOT. And trying yo justify it, is another horror in its self.

Du måste finnas/ you must exist! not "be real" so its a wrong translation there!

There is no god

In the choice between Jesus or satan, most of the swedes has chosen the evil. In their acts, thoughts and talks. My God has seen EVERYTHING and now comes the judgement. At least one third of the Swedish people will decrease in the coming War, says my Lord. God has abandoned you, as you have abandoned Him. But it's one difference: God's move is firm and.. for the whole Eternity. Amen. BEN, I'm the Prophet in my country Sweden