Music – Jenni Vartiainen – Seili

Jenni Vartiainen

Jenni Vartiainen is a hugely popular female artist in Finland. Her second (and so far latest) album was published in April, 2010 and is called “Seili”. The album has sold more that 135000 copies and is one the top 30 albums of all times in Finland. A perfect addition to your ship’s music library!

Interestingly, the name of the album and of the title song refer to an island with a very dark and tragic history. The island Seili (Själö in Swedish) in located in the Finnish archipelago some 20 miles south of Turku, at the very southern end of the Airisto inlet or firth. Seili used to be a leper hospital and – since the late 18th century until as late as 1962 – a mental hospital. During the last 70 years, Seili only received female patients. You can read more about the island of Seili/Själö in this post here on Sail in Finland.

The song “Seili” actually tells the story of a woman who is about to make her – most likely last – trip to Seili. The reference to the wood and nails means that you had to bring the material for her own coffin with with you when you came to Seili, you would never leave alive.

A rough and non-artistic translation of the lyrics of the song “Seili” into English below:


Under way over the waves of Airisto
Sofia, in her ragged clothes
When she looks over her shoulder, there is still
the familiar road home
Through the dark waters
the boat slowly
glides towards a remote island
Through the dark waters
gliding slowly
rowing to Seili
rowing to Seili
If a destination looms ahead
There is the island of the sentenced
Whoever ends up on Seili, will also remain there
To their death, the weak are being rowed
Through the dark waters
the boat slowly
glides towards a remote island
Through the dark waters
gliding slowly
rowing to Seili
rowing to Seili
Bring your nails and planks
they will be your resting place
One hundred graves there are on Seili
and hundreds more will be dug

One a happier note, one more bonus song from Jenny. In this song her very personal style really shines through!

You can find Jenni on the web on her Facebook page.

2 thoughts on “Music – Jenni Vartiainen – Seili

Comments are closed.