Seeing this discussion, and mention of Singing Together, I thought I should add the version as taught in British schools:

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PER SPELMANN
Norwegian folk song

1, Per Spelmann the fiddler was hungry and cold;
He wanted a cow so his fiddle he sold.
He very soon found than no milk would she give;
“No milk and no food, oh how shall I live?”
        “Oh-lee, oh-lay, my violin, my violin,
        my fiddle can play!”

2, Per Spelmann the fiddler he looked at hi cow;
“My fiddle was worth ten of you, that I vow.”
His cow he took down to the market next day;
He bought back his fiddle and started to play.
        “Oh-lee, oh-lay, my violin, my violin,
        my fiddle can play!”

3, Per Spelmann he played till the rafters they rang, (twice)
The boys they all danced and the girls they all sang. (twice)
        “Oh-lee, oh-lay, my violin, my violin,
        my fiddle can play!”

4, ‘But if I grow old as the moss on the tree, (twice)
My fiddle shall never be parted from me. (twice)
        “Oh-lee, oh-lay, my violin, my violin,
        my fiddle can play!”

X: 1
T:Per Spelmann
M:6/8
L:1/8
S: Rhythm & Melody Summer 1952
Z: NP 04 May 2021
K:Eb
B| BFA GEe| dec B2 B| BFA GEe| dec B2 B| B3/c/d eBG| G3/A/F E2 B| B3/c/d e(BG)| G3/A/F E2 B|e2 B G2 F| E/E/EG E/E/EG| FFD E2||
w: Per Spel-mann the fid-dler was hun-gry and cold; He want-ed a cow so his fid-dle he sold. He ve-ry soon found than no milk would she give; “No milk and no food, oh_ how shall I live?” “Oh-lee, oh-lay, my vi-o-lin, my vi-o-lin, my fid-dle can play!”

This is taken from the Radio programme "Rhythm and Music" for the Summer Term 1952. No attribution is given for the English lyrics,
NP