Stadin kundi [English translation]

When I opened my eyes for the first time

and I saw the world,

then mother said, "look son, this is Helsinki,

your very own city."

I looked and I admired and I was so overjoyed

that I nearly missed my first portion of milk.

But mother said, "so-so son, show your skills

by first drinking your milk."

Yuu, yuu and hey-ra-la-la-lah,

sometimes it is nice to sing,

this song here is refreshing, it warms the heart.

I'm a city boy, ohoy, I can't stop singing.

My goblet, my beer, I drink to the city.

As a school boy I sold Helsinki's newspapers

and earned a markka1 a day,

and with my mates I then played skrubu,2

and in that way I earned money for the cinema.

And during summer evenings I fished at the beach,

and from time to time I cheated a small fish.

Thus, life at that time was like a dream,

I will remember those years forever.

But when I was fifteen I met Kerttu,

she was the most marvellous of girls.

And I still remember her fiery eyes,

oh, how I adored them.

I would always whistle beneath her window,

"Hey, let's go, my girl Kerttu, now let's go and dance."

Although I wore my dad's big shoes,

it didn't hinder me from following the rhythm.

When I saw sailboats and steamboats at the beach,

I longed for the sea.

And when I finished school I got a big pair of work trousers,

then I sank into them.

I saw so many cities on my travels,

but in my heart I always yearned for Helsinki.

When a señorita kissed me one night in Rio,

then I recalled the girls of Helsinki.

Yuu, yuu and hey-ra-la-la-lah,

sometimes it is nice to sing,

this song here is refreshing, it warms the heart.

I'm a city boy, ohoy, I can't stop singing.

My goblet, my beer, I drink to the city.

1. Former currency of Finland, replaced by the euro in 20022. A game involving money

• Artist:Georg Malmstén