Valkyries Choose the Battle-Dead

Описание: The story of Gunnar's death in the Norse saga "The Story of Burnt Njal" is both historic and epic. This is the story of his appearance as a ghost by his cairn, witnessed by his son Hogni and his friend, Njal's son, Skarp-Heðinn.

The verses of the song are inspired by the 1861 translation by George Webbe Dasent. The lyrics of the song's chorus were translated and interpreted by Fridrikr Tomasson and Michael Dixon.

Available at falconbridge.bandcamp.com.
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-- Valkyries Choose the Battle-Dead --

Full moon shone o’re Gunnar’s mound
Stones and stars glitter’ing white
No shadows were to be found
Though the cold hours of night

From within a song did arise
Which echoed throughout the land
Gunnar’s men focused their eyes
To witness events at hand

Valkyries choose the battle-dead.
Freyja will choose the battle-dead.
Tis better to fall than to falter
Tis better to fall than to falter

Open-earth lit with gold light
Gunnar’s face seemed to be smiling
Countenance merry and bright
He spoke of his own reconciling.

Bell-verse rang over the field:
Ring-giving father with heart,
Now the ghost who grasps the shield,
Amid the red-rain did depart…”

Valkyries choose the battle-dead.
Freyja will choose the battle-dead.
Tis better to fall than to falter
Tis better to fall than to falter

None would believe the true tale
The eve Gunnar shared his intent
Lest they had seen the night pale
And witnessed the spectral event.

His helm shown the silvery moon
Undulled by the wound-spirits old
Gunnar was taken too soon
He fought and unyielding died bold.

Valkyries choose the battle-dead.
Freyja will choose the battle-dead.
Tis better to fall than to falter
Tis better to fall than to falter

No recompense do I crave,
A reckoning of good or ill
Joy-filled I lie in my grave
Like the night, I am now still.

Good men I counted as friends
An honor-filled life I have led
Troubles I had at the end,
But Freyja, she chooses the dead.

Valkyries choose the battle-dead.
Freyja will choose the battle-dead.
Tis better to fall than to falter
Tis better to fall than to falter

Full moon shone o’re Gunnar’s mound
Stones and stars glitter’ing white
No shadows were to be found
Though the cold hours of night

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Credits: released December 14, 2018

Lyrics and music Monique Bouchard, 2018. Additional vocals Alexander Van Ness. Tagelharp, conch horn, and Scandinavian frame drum samples played by Borrs Dobhran. Recorded, engineered, and produced by Dave Piatek at the Bottleworks Recording Compound. November 11, 2018.