Kråkevisa ("The Crow Song"), also known as Bonden og Kråka ("The Farmer and the Crow") and Mannen Han Gjekk Seg i Vedaskog ("The Man Went Into the Firewood Forest"), is a widespread Norwegian name for a folk song and jocular ballad spread over all of Scandinavia. There are different versions in Norway, which also uses other melodies. Kråkevisa was sometimes sung by two people as a duel song, where the loser was the one who forgot the verses, or was not able to come up with new verses. Variants are also known in Danish, Faroese, and Swedish.Olav Solberg: Den ommsnudde verda: Ein studie i dei norske skjemteballadane. Oslo 1993
Although the song is counted among the Scandinavian medieval ballads,The Types of the Scandinavian Medieval Ballad: F 58, "The tremendous bird" it is still widely well-known, often as a song for children.
An 8-minute-long animation film Kråkevisa was released in 1962. It was directed by Wilfred Jensenius to a version of the song by Alf Prøysen and produced by Kommunenes Filmcentral A/S.''Animation: A World History. Vol. II: Birth of a Style. Giannalberto Bendazzi, 2015
Recordings (Norwegian) Lillebjørn Nilsen: ...og Fia hadde sko Polydor 2920 119, 1974 Lillebjørn Nilsen: Norske Ballader: 30 ballader – Om drap og elskov, skjemt og lengsel blant riddere, jomfruer, kjemper og dyr. Grappa 2009, HCD 7239 Tempest Morten Harket Spiritual Seasons Leaves' Eyes - 2011 Arve Moen Bergset Wenche Myhre - Sanger fra dengang mor var liten 2 Polydor, 1976 Turid Spildo, Nykkjen. Heilo, Grappa HCD 7196, 2005 Myrkur (Amalie Bruun) - 2018 Mortemia - 2023
References
Further reading Arthur Brox, 1976: Folkeminne frå Ytre Senja Issue 117, pp.113-116 Skrifter frå Norsk målførearkiv 1967: Vol. 18, p. 227