The song “On suuri sun rantas autius” is about the feeling that the view of a lonely wide beach and water can evoke. Feelings of melancholy, with the composer citing metaphors such as a lost mallard duck chick in the reeds and first heartbreak.

It is a well-known folk song, you could say a Finnish life song, which reflects well how connected people in Finland are to nature and especially to the element of water.

The song reminds me of long, bright summers in the Finnish countryside, always in close proximity to vast water and untouched nature.

My name is Marie-Lou Perou. With roots in several European countries, I found my ‘Wahlheimat’ in the Netherlands, and especially in Twente, more than 20 years ago. Wherever I have lived, I have always carried a piece of my Finnish mother culture, native language and childhood memories with me.