Yersinia Pesta

There  was an old woman wrapped up in a shawl
(When the wind blew long, and the thin rains did fall)
If she had a broom it could carry many men.
(So pray that she stays o'er the border in Sweden)

There was an old woman whose head-scarf was black
(When the lightning flashed and the thunder did crack)
There was an old woman whose name was Yersinia
{So pray that she stays in the village of Kongsvinger)

There was an old woman whose name was Yersinia
(When the rats swarmed in Oslo men said that they'd seen her.)
She bore there her rake, so some people were spared
(In Asker and Drammen they prayed when they heard.)

There was an old woman and where er she treads
(Then the people start coughing and take to their beds).
With broom or with rake she will winnow their pain
(Oh, pray that she comes not south here to Skien!)



Trans from trad Norwegian:

Det var en gammel kvinne pakket inn i et sjal
(Når vinden blåste lenge, og de tynne regnene falt)
Hvis hun hadde en kost, kunne den bære mange menn.
(Så ber at hun holder seg over grensen i Sverige)

Det var en gammel kvinne med hodeskjerf var svart
(Da lynet blinket og torden sprakk)
Det var en gammel kvinne som het Yersinia
{Så ber at hun blir i landsbyen Kongsvinger)

Det var en gammel kvinne som het Yersinia
(Da rottene svermet i Oslo sa menn at de hadde sett henne.)
Hun bar der sin rake, så noen mennesker ble skånet
(I Asker og Drammen ba de da de hørte det.)

Det var en gammel kvinne og hvor hun trår
(Så begynner folket å hoste og ta seg til sengene sine).
Med kvast eller med rake vil hun vinne smertene deres
(Å, be om at hun ikke kommer sørover hit til Skien!)