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Comment by draugadrotten | Hacker News Reader

As recently as 2003, Swedish citizens abroad were sometimes forced to sing the Swedish tune "Små grodorna" at the Swedish Embassy to prove they were indeed Swedes. ( Source: https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/BJWj4l/tvingades-sjunga... )

Now, not even two decades later, Sweden's population is comprised of 18% born outside Sweden and 24% with a non-Swedish background. (source https://www.migrationsinfo.se/fragor-och-svar/hur-manga-utri... )

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The article says she was asked what song is commonly sung on midsummer's eve in Sweden. She became uncertain, so the embassy person started singing "Små grodorna" and she felt compelled to sing along. Nowhere in the article does it say she was forced, or even asked, to sing the song. Maybe she was, maybe she wasn't; the article only says she felt compelled.

Why cite statistics about the population of Sweden instead of statistics about Swedish citizens?

Looking at the statistics in the linked article, Sweden's population consists of 9.1% non-Swedish citizens, and 10.86% of Swedish citizens were born outside of Sweden.

I was born in the heart of Sweden in 1985 and I've lived in Sweden my entire life. I don't know the 2nd part of Små grodorna.

Små grodorna, små grodorna, så lustiga att se. Små grodorna, små grodorna ...???

And the next thing I remember is that stupid noise they make as they dance around the may pole.

2x: Ej öron ej öron och svansar havar de -

Born 94, I believe this is the second part.

Almost right!

Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.

Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.

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.

Considering I've never read it I would give myself an E+ at least.

Cheers for remembering that last weird bit.

And then the next verse about pigs. Which (unlike frogs) have ears and tails, and also are funny looking.

It is, but I had to look it up (born late 80's).

For another data point: Born early 80s in a Swedish part of Finland, and I learned the whole song and have now taught my kids.

My general impression is that Finland-swedes often out-swede the Sweden-swedes. =)

I doubt my child (ethnic Swede with ethnic Swedish parents) knows the words of the song either - we haven't been to a traditional Midsummer celebration in years.

If they attend a Swedish school they will most likely come out knowing the traditional children's songs.

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