SIG:AR:TYR LYRICS

1. Helluland

Through the mists, through the hiding fog
to sight lands off the prow
a worthless land it seems to me
flat stones where no fields may grow

Are we lost in another world?
a strange silence now falls
watch our breath frost before your eyes
hear our hearts like thunder in the winds

Far from home, unseen by the sun
is our fate to be lost?
drifting closer to the edge of the world
where did the gods guide our path?

Helluland... where no gods or men live
Helluland... where the giants sleep
Helluland... where no ravens fly
Where the ice flows, where no life kann grow

Helluland... where no gods or men live
Helluland... where the giants sleep
Helluland... where no ravens fly
where dead souls go, where no life blood flows

The clouds gather to obscure the sun
to shroud all in their night
are those eyes, that watch from ashore?
or shadows from the fading light

Ghosts that whisper, of dead ages past
of fallen gods and their might
cursed men, doomed souls that will to live
breathe life in lost tales that died

this wretched cost and its winds that pierce
far deep in our souls
what dwells just beyond these shores?
where does the sun hide its light?

Helluland... where no gods or men live
Helluland... where the giants sleep
Helluland... where no ravens fly
Where the ice flows, where no life kann grow

Helluland... where no gods or men live
Helluland... where the giants sleep
Helluland... where no ravens fly
where dead souls go, where no life blood flows

They sailed right up to the shore and cast anchor, then lowered a boat and landed. There was no grass to be seen, and the hinterland was covered with great glaciers, and between glaciers and shore the land was like one great slab of rock. It seemed to them a worthless country. Then Leif said, 'Now we have done better than Bjarni where this country concerned - we at least have set foot on it.
I shall give this country a name and call it Helluland.'
[- Greenlander's Saga]

2. Crownless

In the darkness where I rule the light
where the sun seeks not to fall
across oceans far from headland home
to rule a frozen land below

I am King... where is my crown?
I am King... where is my crown?

No master shall I trust again
to no other man I'll kneel
where my own sword guides my fate
where my hammer strikes the cross

I seek further lands beyond this world
I seek a name of high renown
to carve my ancient runes on distant shores
where my sons shall gain their fame

I am King... where is my crown?
I am King... where is my Crown?

"The same spring King Olaf also sent Leif Erikson to Greenland to proclaim Christianity there, and Leif went there that summer... He took on the sea a ship's crew who were at the time in great distress and were lying on a completely broken wreck, and on that same voyage he found Vinland the Good... People afterwards called him Leif the Lucky, but his father Erik said that Leif'S having rescued a ship's crew and restored the men to life might be balanced against the fact that he had brought an impostor, as he called the priest, to Greenland.
[-Olaf Trygvason's Saga]

3. Runarmal

I know... the runes that bite the flesh
I know... the runes that heal the wound
I know... the runes that curse the sword
I know... the runes that stay my steed

I know... the runes that calm the waves
I know... the runes that ward the hall
I know... the runes that charm the maid
I know... the runes that birth the child

I know the runes

I know... the runes that that witches weave
I know... the runes that spirits hear
I know... the runes that giants fear
I know... the runes of fire and ice

I know... the runes that bring me wealth
I know... the runes that slay my foes
I know... the runes that guard my tomb
I know... the runes that spell my doom

I know the runes

I know... the runes that break the chains
I know... the runes that blunt the sword
I know... the runes that cool the flames
I know... the runes for the dead to speak

I know... the runes that shield my men
I know... the runes that halt the bow
I know... the runes that Odin won
I know... a secret I will never tell

Erik was reluctant to abandon his old religion, but his wife, Thjodhild, was converted at once, and she had a church built not too close to the farmstead... Thjodhild refused to live with Erik after she was converted, and this annoyed him greatly.
[- Erik the Red's Saga]

Runes wilt through find, and rightly read,
of wondrous weight, of mighty magic,
which that dyed the dread god,
which that made the holy hosts,
and were etched by Odin.
[- Havamal]

4. Markland (The Hammer Fades)

In this land of woods, where the trees stretch far down to the waves
in the coldest of nights, in our darkest dreams, the One-Eye stares
our souls cast down, like fallen stars, lost like rain in the endless sea
we search for meaning long forgotten, its memory, a shadow on our hearts

When our heathen home, turns away from our father's wisdom
when our daughter's eyes, no longer shine like the deep blue skies
when our sons cower, before the dark southern shadow
when our mothers drown their young, lest they become as gods

The northern sun set long ago, the throne has turned to dust
the horn has long since called her song, the battle long since lost

The golden hall no longer shines, the ravens fly no more
the worm poisoned the sky above, the wolf swallowed the sun

Markland... our dream across the waves
The hammer... it fades
the gods they sail away
the hammer... it fades... no...

The inhabitants of Greenland of their own free will abandoned the true faith and Christian religion, havong already forsaken all good ways and virtues, and joined themselves with the folk of America.
[- Bishop Gisli Oddsson of Skailholt (1593-1638)]

5. Skraeling

Branded by the sun, hidden from the moon
blinded by the snow, dreams that must stay untold
stone axes at their side, cast ashore the endless tide
wide-eyed they cry their song, staves raised against the sun

The gods curse you in this windswept land
the northern star led us astray

Smoke rides to the sky, dancing on the wind
stars disappear from sight, to fall in the endless night
skin boats are left ashore, hid from the raven's eyes
Skrealings from the woods, left a thorn in my side

The gods curse you in this windswept land
the northern star led us astray

But then Karlsefni's men saw a huge number of boats coming from the south, pouring in like a torrent. This time all the sticks were being waved anti-clockwise and all the Skrealings were howling loudly, Karlsefni and his men now hoisted red shields and advanced towards them.
When theyclashed there was a fierce battle and a hail of missiles came flying over, for the Skrealings were using catapults. Karlsefni and Snorri saw them hoist a large sphere on a pole; it was dark blue in colour. It came flying in over the heads of Karlsefni's men and made an ugly din when it struck the ground. This terrified Karlsefni and his men so much that their only thought was to flee, and they retreated farther up the river. They did not halt until they reached some cliffs, where they prepared to make a resolute stand.
[- Erik the Red's Saga]

6. Krossanes

With storm and wind, and cast ashore
our ship is smashed, our keel no more
for many days, of toil and rest
erect our keel on Kjalarnes

For days we sailed, then settled in
and found the home of Skraeling men
this place I wished to live my life
is now my tomb, to rest and die

At Krossanes, where my spirit dies
you raise the sign, the sign of foreign lies
my father'S faith, his blood in mine
the northern light, forever shines again

My life is spent, my doom revealed
the arrow'S flight, that pierced my shield
that cursed point, that took my life
will send me far, to Odin's side

Will my kin return, to bring me home
or will I stay, on barren shores
that cursed cross, wheighs on my soul
my people's fate, my people's heart

At Krossanes, where my spirit dies
you raise the sign, the sign of foreign lies
my father's faith, his blood in mine
the northern light, forever shines again

A great swarm of skin-boats was then heading towards them down the fjord... The Skraelings shot at them for a while, and then turned and fled as fast as they could. Thorvald asked his men if any of them were wounded; they all replied that they were unhurt. 'I have a wound in the armpit,' said Thorvald. -'An arrow flew up between the gunwale and my shield, under my arm - here it is. This will lead to my death.
'I advise you now to go back as soon as you can. But first I want you to take me to the headland I thought so suitable for a home, I seem to have hit on the truth when I said that I would settle there for a while. Bury me there and put crosses at my head and feet, and let the place be called Krossanes for ever afterwards.'
[- Greenlander's Saga]

7. Vinland

The old gods forsaken, the old ways abandoned,
the new world shines bright on the waves
the fading sun sets on the cruel seas that ward our homes,
kin's blood spilled wide on the shore

Where are my sons that carry the flame?
Where are my sons that carry my name?

Vinland your time has come
heathen child under the sun
spread your wings and fly
ancient blood cast far and wide

Vinland the Good they say
northern home long gone astray
the crosses' shadow on the waves
your old god's memory fades away

One-Eye guides the cold north winds to our long ship'S sails,
the old cross is left far behind
to forge a new way, with our god's blood within our hearts,
this new world will give all we need

Great are the songs that carry our names
far we sail to eternal fame

Vinland your time has come
heathen child under the sun
spread your wings and fly
ancient blood cast far and wide

Vinland the Good they say
northern home long gone astray
the crosses' shadow on the waves
your old god's memory fades away

People told me when I came
hither all would be so fine
the good Vinland known to fame
rich in fruits and choicest wine
now the water pail they send
to the fountain I must bend
nor from out this land divine
have I quaffed one drop of wine
[- Thorhall the Hunter, Erik the Red's Saga]

8. Northen

The mists of time move onward
reveal the land and skies
the ice recedes far northward
to forge before my eyes

Great kingdoms long forgotten
dead kings who ruled this earth
northern men borne by gods
whose doom the stars decried

Where did they sail? To the sky?
the gods, live again, and never die
fates, tell again, of ancient gods
the rise, the reign, of Northen kind

The north men sail to new lands
far where the ravens fly
abandoned gods sleep restless
rekindle ancient fires

The ice and snow march forward
all that lives shall die
the dead sun sets in twilight
Surt's fires reach the skies

Where, do we sail? To the ice?
Return again, to pay the price
the hammer fades, the cross is nigh
my father's wish, has come to die

Nine ages past when the north kings ruled the earth
nine worlds collapse under the sun
the wolf age comes again, and the frozen throne is raised
the light of the sun shines again... on the Northen
the light of the sun shines on the Northen
the light of sun shines on you

Where, do we sail? To the ice?
Return again, to pay the price
the hammer fades, the cross is nigh
my father's wish, has come to die

One days sail beyond Thule, the sea is frozen... After he had explored the expanse of the Northern Ocean in his ships, there lay before their eyes at length the darksome bounds of a failing world, and by retracing his steps he barely escaped in safety the vast pit of the abyss.
[- Adam of Bremen, Description of the Northern Islands, late 11th Century]

9. Last Ship Sails

Long have we sailed, to this far away land
far have we come, to seek fame
and as the days grow long and cold
we yearn for home again

The cold winds blow, and the ice sets in
where our animals roamed and grazed
the Skraeling men, who killed our kin
did not escape our hate

With timber, wheat, and vines so sweet
filled our ships to sail away
with last words said, we bury our dead
set stones to mark our stay

Years may pass, men come and go
this land, our children may tame
for when the sun sets, and the last ship sails
they will still remember our names

Let our trusty band
haste to Fatherland
let our vessel brave
plough the angry wave
while those few who love
Vinland here may rove
or with idle toil
fetid whales may boil
here on Furdustrand
far from Fatherland
[- Thorhall the Hunter, Erik the Red's Saga]







SIG:AR:TYR LYRICS