Elsinore [Prinsen på dom fördömdas slott] [English translation]

In a tower room of stone, behind iron gratings,

And a sealed up door of solid wood,

with a pain which grows like a tumor in his chest,

he stands and gazes towards Sweden's coast,

in his dismal contemplation of his miserable lot

to pine away at Elsinore Castle.

Once he was happy and free and danced;

A ladies' favorite, so handsome and gallant.

A prince without arrogance, a welcome friend

both in the palace as well as in the simplest home.

The last one thought would fade away

in the tower at Elsinore Castle.

He rode out into the world in his young days,

and saw with dismay how unjust it was

that the people died of sickness and starvation,

because the ruler's greediness lacked boundaries.

But this insight he should not have had,

because it brought him to Elsinore Castle.

He sold his cattle, his land and his castle,

and everything that he earned he gave away.

But those who received gifts often wanted more,

and when the help ended the distressed became angry.

So he harvested pain from the goodness he sowed;

Therefore he lives in Elsinore Castle.

A prince without money is treated with contempt

by all of the others who belong to his class.

A noble who dares to take the people's part

is greeted by coldness and eyes of ice.

Because there evil finds the goodness is a crime

So he is sent to Elsinore Castle

So now he lives in lifelong exil;

Abandoned by the poor, despised by the rich.

The walls glitter in red and in gold,

when the twilight sinks by Oresund.

He gazes towards Sweden, he sees no hope;

No one is freed from Elsinore Castle.

• Artist:Björn Afzelius
• Album:Elsinore (1999)