«PÅ LANDEVEIENS GRØFTEKANT I SØLEVANN TIL KNES». GRENSEOMRÅDER I ALF PRØYSENS BARNEVISER
«KNEE-DEEP IN THE MUDDY WATER OF THE ROADSIDE DITCH». BOUNDARY AREAS IN ALF PRØYSEN’S CHILDREN’S SONGS

Summary/Abstract: «Knee-deep in the Muddy Water of the Roadside Ditch». Boundary Areas in Alf Prøysen’s Children’s Songs. The children's songs by Alf Prøysen (1914-1970), esteemed Norwegian author and artist, form an important part of his literary and musical legacy. This article discusses a characteristic feature of Prøysen's song lyrics for children, namely his fascination for boundary areas, often implying a form of existential meeting between different life spheres. One example is found in “Den første løvetann” (“The First Dandelion”), where the small boy picking a dandelion in a ditch is presented as more natural and lively than the clever children walking with their bouquets on the road. Besides this relation and meeting between the vigorous child and the growth of nature, I discuss boundary phenomena like children's relations to animals and material things and the relation between children and adults.

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