Balladi Olavinlinnasta

Annikki Tähti's song "Balladi Olavinlinnasta" is a poignant narrative that delves into the history and legends surrounding Olavinlinna, a medieval castle in Finland. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the castle standing by a swift river, its stone walls once a formidable defense against the tides of time and conflict. The castle, now silent, holds within its walls stories of the past, waiting to be understood by those who can hear its sighs.

The song recounts a tragic tale from a stormy night when the castle's gates were breached by enemies. As the battle raged until dawn, a betrayal was uncovered, and a young maiden from Viena was wrongfully accused. Despite her innocence, she was sentenced to a cruel fate, walled up within the castle's dungeon. Her only crime was her love for someone deemed guilty. This heart-wrenching story is a testament to the harsh judgments and the often unjust consequences faced by individuals in times of turmoil.

In a beautiful yet sorrowful twist, the maiden's tears gave life to a rowan tree, which grew and eventually broke through the castle's walls. The tree's white flowers and pure-hearted berries symbolize the enduring power of love and innocence. Even after the tree was felled by another storm, its legacy lives on in the winds that still carry the maiden's song. The ballad of Olavinlinna thus becomes a timeless reminder of love's resilience and the haunting echoes of history that linger in the places where such stories unfolded.