If this world was a just place, this man would be heralded by the Norwegian government for his dedication in spreading the beautiful Norwegian culture. Alas, the world is not a just place, and Harald Foss is barely known even in Norway. A shame - his music is wonderful.
This song brought me to a spiritual depth I can't explain how, I once hadtried past life medetation, I don't know if it was real or not, but what I saw and felt in dream state that I was a Norse man, a warrior, messenger that had political work, I swear everything on battlefield felt vivid and real,or him standing with viking leaders on top of a fjord looking upon ships sailing their way, I felt his burden and emotions, I had this medetation years ago, but this song reminded me of dear old reincarnation
Fun fact: this song is closely related to harmonically and thematically to A Lyke-Wake Dirge, which is an early, early English/Scottish song about the soul's journey through purgatory. The song's DNA clearly predates the Christianisation of Europe and speaks to the common Germanic past that us English-speakers share with you Norwegians. So glad that we're part of the same family :)
Some of the first "Christian era" songs are heathen songs with new lyrics. So it's actually not that this song is closely related with a Christian song, but the other way around. Cheers, brother.
@Quixote, alot of Christian festivals are based upon/around pagan festivals, Christmas is derived from solstice celebrations, while Hallowe'en is derived from Sambhainn, a Celtic festival.
*I am from the other side of the world, Argentina (South America),but there are many years almost 20 that I feel attraction for the nordic mithology and I love Norway because of the music,culture,economy wonderful places and I would like to visit but due to the current situation I don´t think so* .
Exelente relato de sus antepasados.... Que bueno que aun mantengan sus raices ... Aca en Perú... Nuestras raices incas siguen vivas. Y estamos tan orgullosos de nuestros antepasados , que siento la alegria de a ver nacido en esta hermosa tierra del sol .
There's one song of him, the one that went with the video "Wisdom of the Sagas" --uploaded by Odelsarven, who deleted his channel if anyone knows -- that I can't find at all anymore!
Harald Foss - Hav megin, mikið leynit The video is called "Wisdom of the sagas (ENG)" and can be found here. www.odelsarven.com/kulturvlog?wix-vod-video-id=5b7fd57287b047f8b84a25574b2f91da&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-k24i4dax
Draumkvedet (The Dream Poem) I Vil du meg lyda, eg kveda kan om einkvan nytan drengjen, alt om han Olav Åsteson, som heve sovi so lengje. (Will you hearken to me, I can sing Of one good young man, About Olav Åsteson, Who has been asleep for so long.) Og det var Olav Åsteson, som heve sovi so lengje. (And it was Olav Åsteson, Who has been asleep for so long.) Han la seg ned om joleftan, sterkan svevnen fekk, vakna 'kje fyrr om trettandagjen, då folkjet åt kyrkjun gjekk. (He lay himself down on Christmas Eve, Fell into a strong sleep, Did not awake until Epiphany, When folk were going to church) Han la seg ned om joleftan, no hev han sovi so lengje, vakna 'kje fyrr om trettandagjen, då fuglane skoke vengjir. (He laid himself down on Christmas Eve, Now he has slept for so long, Did not awake until Epiphany, When the birds shook their wings.) Han vakna 'kje fyrr om trettandagjen, då soli rann i lie, då sala han ut fljotan folen, han ville åt kyrkjun ride. (He did not awake until Epiphany, When the sun dawned on the hillside, Then he saddled his quick mount Wanting to ride to church.) Presten stende fyr altare og les upp lestine lange, Olav set seg i kyrkjedynni og tele draumane mange. (The priest stands at the altar, Reading out long passages, Olav seats himself at the church door, And tells of his many dreams.) Gamle mennar og unge dei gjeve etter gaume med han Olav Åsteson tele sine draume. (Old men and young, They give their attention, While Olav Åsteson Tells of his dreams.) II Eg la meg ned om joleftan, sterkan svevnen fekk, vakna 'kje fyrr om trettandagjen, då folkjet åt kyrkjun gjekk. (I laid me down on Christmas Eve, Fell into a strong sleep, Did not awake until Epiphany, When folk were going to church.) For månen skine og vegjine falle so vide. (For the moon shines, And the paths seem to disperse so wide.) Eg hev vori meg upp med sky og ned-att med havet svarte; den som vil mitt fotspor fylgje, lær 'kje av blidom hjarta. (I have been up with the clouds and down to the ocean dark Those who wish to follow my footsteps, Will not laugh lightheartedly.) Eg hev vori meg upp med sky og ned-att med havsens grunne; den som vil mitt fotspor fylgje, lær 'kje av blidom munne. (I have been up with the clouds And down at the ocean floor; Those who wish to follow my footsteps, Will not laugh from merry mouth.) Eg hev vori meg upp med sky og ned-att på svarte dikje; eg hev sétt åt heite helvite og ein del av himmerikje. (I have been up with the clouds And down on the dark moors; I have seen the heat of hell, And a part of the heavenly kingdom.) Eg hev fari yvi vigde vatnet og yvi djupe dalar; høyrer vatn, og ser det inkje, unde jordi so mune det fara. (I have traveled over the hallowed water, And over deep dales; I hear water and see it not, It seems to run under the earth.) Eg er so trøytt og ferde-mod, og inna so mune eg brenne; eg høyrer vatn, og fær det inkje, unde jordi so mune det renne. (I have traveled over the hallowed water, And over deep dales; I hear water and see it not, It seems to run under the earth.) Inkje kneggja soten min, inkje gøydde min hunde, inkje gol dei ottefuglan': det tottest meg vera under. (My horse did not neigh, My hound did not bark, The dawn birds did not chirp; It seemed strange to me.) Eg var meg i auromheime i mange netter og trå, det veit gud i himmerik hosse mang ei naud eg såg. (I was in the Otherworld, For many long nights; God in heaven knows How many miseries I saw.) Eg kan noko av kvòrjom derfyr tykkjest eg frod; eg var longe i moldi mòka, ha eg tott den dauden god. (I know something about many a thing Therefore I am reckoned to be wise; I would be long buried in the soil had I thought that death to be good.) III Fyrste eg var i uteksti, eg fór yvi tynnyr-mog: sunde gjekk mi skarlakskåpe og neglan' av kvòr min fot. (When first I was on my wayfaring I went over a bed of thorns; My scarlet cloak was torn asunder, Likewise the nails on my feet.) For månen skine og vegjine falle so vide. (For the moon shines, And the paths seem to disperse so wide.) So var eg meg i uteksti igjenom den tynnyr-ring: sunde gjekk mi skarlakskåpe og neglan' av kvòr min fing. (As I was out on my wayfaring I went through the ring of thorns; My scarlet cloak was torn asunder, Likewise the nails on my fingers.) Kjem eg meg åt Gjallarbrui, ho henge so hågt i vinde; ho er oll med gulle slengji og saum i kvòrjom tinde. (I got to the Gjallar Bridge; She hangs so high in the air. All the bridge is covered with gold And there are spikes in each end.) Ormen høgge, og bikkja bite, og stuten stend midte på leii: tri er tingji på Gjallarbrui, og alle er gramme og vreide. (The serpent stings and the hound bites, And the ox stands in the middle: Three things are on the Gjallar Bridge, And all are angry and wrathful.) Bikkja bit og ormen sting, og stuten stend og stangar - det slepp ingjen yvi Gjallarbrui som feller domane vrange. (The hound bites, the serpent stings, And the ox stands goring, No one gets over the Gjallar Bridge, Who has judged wrongly.) Eg hev gjengji Gjallarbrui, ho er både bratt og lei; vassa so hev eg dei Våsemyran', no er eg kvitte dei. (I have walked the Gjallar Bridge, It is both steep and hard; I have waded through the Vås moors Now I am past them.) Vai so hev eg dei Våsemyran', der hev 'kje stai meg grunn; no hev eg gjengji Gjallarbrui med rapa mold i munn. (I have waded through the Vås moors, There was no ground to stand; Now have I walked the Gjallar Bridge, With mire soil in my mouth.) Eg hev gjengji Gjallarbrui, og der var krokane på; men eg totte tyngre dei Gaglemyran', gud bære den dei skò gå! (I have walked the Gjallar Bridge, Fastened with hooks; But the moors were harder, God help those who go there!) IV So kom eg meg åt votno dei, der isane brunne blå; gud skaut det i hugjen min: eg vende meg derifrå. (Then I came to those waters Where the ice burned dark blue; 1 God directed my mind, I went away from there.) For månen skine, og vegjine falle so vide. (For the moon shines, And the paths seem to disperse so wide.) Eg var meg i auroheime, ingjen der eg kjende, berre ho sæle gudmor mi med raude gull på hende. (I was in the Otherworld, I knew no one there, Only my blessed godmother With bright gold on her hands.) Sume fór yvi Grimaråsen og sume yvi Skålestrond, men dei som fór yvi Gjallarhylen, dei kome våte fram. (Some went over the Grimar Ridge And some over the Skåle Strand But those who crossed the Gjallar Stream Came out wet on the other shore.) So tok eg av på vetterstig alt på mi høgre hònd; der såg eg meg til Paradis, det lyser yvi vene lònd. (Then I turned onto a winter path On my right hand side; There I saw Paradise Such gleaming fair lands.) Der såg eg atte gudmor mi; meg mune 'kje bete gange: Reis du deg til Brokksvalin, der skò domen stande. (There I again saw my godmother I did not know where to go: "Get yourself to Brokksvalin Where judgment would be pronounced.”) [Part 1/2, see reply]
V Kjem eg meg åt pilegrimskyrkjun, der var meg ingen mann kjende, berre ho gode gudmor mi med raude gull på hende. (When I came to the pilgrims’ church I knew no man there, Only my good godmother With bright gold on her hands.) I Brokksvalin der skò domen stande. (In Brokksvalin, Where judgment would be pronounced.) Der kom ferdi nordantil, og den rei no so kvast; fyre rei Grutte gråskjeggje alt med sitt store brass. (From the north a host came, And it rode on so hard; In front rode the Choleric Graybeard With his great multitude.) Der kom ferdi nordantil, det totte eg vera vesst; fyre rei Grutte Gråskjeggje, han rei på svartan hest. (From the north a host came, I though it to be terrible, In front rode the Choleric Graybeard He rode upon a black horse.) Der kom ferdi sunnantil, det tottest meg vera best; fyre rei sankte såle-Mikkjel, han rei på kvitan hest. (From the south a host came, I though it to be good, In front rode Saint Michael of souls, He rode upon a white horse.) Der kom ferdi sunnantil, og den rei no so tvist; fyre rei sankte såle-Mikkjel, neste Jesum Krist. (From the south a host came, And it rode on so silently, In the front rode Saint Michael of souls, Next to Jesus Christ.) Der kom ferdi sunnantil, ho tottest meg vera trå: fyre rei sankte såle-Mikkjel, og luren unde armen låg. (From the south a host came, It seemed slow to me; In the front rode Saint Michael of souls, And a horn was under his arm.) Det var sankte såle-Mikkjel, han bles i luren lange: Og no skò alle såline fram fyr domen gange! (It was Saint Michael of souls, He blew into the long horn: And now all souls Would receive judgement.) Men då skolv dei synde-såline som ospelauv fyr vinde, og kvòr den, kvòr den sål der var, ho gret fyr syndine sine. (Then the sinning souls shook, Like aspen leaves for wind; And each and every soul there Wept over its sins.) Det var sankte såle-Mikkjel, han vog i skåle-vikt; så vog han alle synde-såline bort til Jesum Krist. (It was Saint Michael of souls , Weighing in his scales, Then he weighed all the sinning souls, Towards Jesus Christ.) VI Eg såg meg einom drengjen, det fyrste eg vart ved, liten småsvein bar han i fangje og gjekk i jordi til knes. (I saw a young man, The first I came by, A little boy he bore in his arms; He was in earth to his knees.) I Brokksvalin der skò domen stande. (In Brokksvalin, Where judgment would be pronounced.) Kjem eg meg åt manne dei, kåpa den var bly: hans arme sål i dessom heime var trong i dyre tid. (I came by a man, His cloak was lead: This poor soul in our world Was greedy in hard times.) Kjem eg meg åt monno dei, dei bar på gloande jord: gud nåde dei fatige såline som flutte deildir i skog! (I came to several men, They carried glowing soil: God have mercy on the poor souls Who moved border-stones in the woods.) Kjem eg meg åt bonno dei, dei stoge so hågt på glo: gud nåde dei synduge såline, ha banna bort far og mor! (I came to several children, They stood there burning: God have mercy on the sinful souls, Who cursed their father and mother.) Kjem eg meg åt podda og ormen dei hoggje kvòrare med tanne: det var synduge syskjeni som ha'e kvòrare banna. (I came to the toad and the serpent, They stung each other with their teeth: They were sinful siblings, Who had cursed each other.) Der møtte eg dei ormane tvei, dei bite kvòrare i sporde: det var dei synduge syskjenbonni som gifte kvòrare på jordi. (There I met two serpents, They bit each other's tails: They were sinful cousins, Who married each other on earth.) Kjem eg meg åt Syslehuset, det var trollkjeringan' inne: dei stod kinna i raude blodet, det var so tung ei vinne. (I came to the witches house There were witches inside: They stood in a pool of blood, So heavy was their work.) Der er heitt i helvite, heitar hell nokon hyggje; der hengde dei 'pivi ein tjørukjetil og brytja ned i ein presterygge. (It is hot in hell, Hotter than anyone thinks; There they hanged up, over a cauldron with tar, And twisted a priest down inside.) VII Sæl er den i fødesheimen fatige gjeve sko: han tarv ikkje berrføtt gange på kvasse heklemog. (He is blessed on earth Who gives shoes to the poor: He need not walk bare-footed On the bed of thorns.) Tunga talar, og sanning svarar på domedag. (The tongue speaks, And truth answers on Judgment Day.) Sæl er den i fødesheimen fatige gjeve ku: han tarv ikkje sumlug gange på håge Gjallarbru. (He is blessed on earth Who gives a cow to the poor: He need not walk dizzily On the high Gjallar Bridge.) Sæl er den i fødesheimen fatige gjeve braud: han tarv ikkje rædast i auromheime fyr horske hundegau. (He is blessed on earth Who gives bread to the poor: He need not fear in the Otherworld The harsh baying of hounds.) Sæl er den i fødesheimen fatige gjeve korn: han tarv ikkje rædast på Gjallarbrui fyr kvasse stutehorn. (He is blessed on earth Who gives grain to the poor: He need not fear upon the Gjallar Bridge The sharp horns of the ox.) Sæl er den i fødesheimen fatige gjeve mat: han tarv ikkje rædast i auromheime anten fyr hæde hell hat. (He is blessed on earth Who gives food to the poor: He need not fear in the Otherworld Neither mockery nor hatred.) Sæl er den i fødesheimen fatige gjeve klæde: han tarv ikkje rædast i auromheime fyr håge kjellar-bræde. (He is blessed on earth Who gives clothes to the poor: He need not fear in the Otherworld High mountains of ice.) VIII Gamle mennar og unge dei gjeve etter gaume det var han Olav Åsteson, no hev han tålt sine draume. (Old men and young Gave their attention; That was Olav Åsteson, Now he has told his dreams.) Statt upp, Olav Åsteson, som heve sovi so lengje. (Stand up, Olav Åsteson, Who was asleep for so long.)
Odin is specifically referred to as an aspect of the Devil in this piece. It's a vision of the Christian doomsday told in church during Christmas, probably from Catholic times. But I mean sure, whether you pray to Odin or Christ makes no difference to me haha
@@sudnoss I can't remember anything from this past advent or Christmastide so either really well or really poorly. I'll try again this year and report back.
As far as I know, I think the laplanders and the Finns, both being Asian in origin, believe in reincarnation. I have not come across this concept in the ancient norse religion though.
@@dlemon7547 Aye, Draumkvedet is steeped in ancient Heathen lore, such as mentioning the "Gjallar Bridge" of Hel, and the name of the devil in it is also "Grutte Greybeard," Greybeard being a name of Odin.
@@TheHeathenCoalition Nice. I'll take your work for it. there are so many stories and songs that were Christianized. too many for my taste. What's with the "Aye" and the "ancient Heathen lore", and should it not be pagan lore? I would see the word Heathen as a insult that the Christians created for all those not of any Abrahamic Religions. (i.e. Judaism, Christianity and Islam.)
@@TheHeathenCoalition yes, but that doesn't mean it dates back to before Christianity was introduced into Norway, only that the old concepts like Gjallarbrui were still culturally (and spiritually) relevant to them hundreds of years later.
If this world was a just place, this man would be heralded by the Norwegian government for his dedication in spreading the beautiful Norwegian culture. Alas, the world is not a just place, and Harald Foss is barely known even in Norway. A shame - his music is wonderful.
health to you, mighty odin
@@tocarryembers It's Svarog, not Odin.
@@Tom_Quixote His icon is Odin
Sad to hear he is not popular in Norway... he is legendary in my eyes.
Harald Foss is a source of inspiration. It truly is a shame that he is not more widely recognized.
this is just too beautiful tak for the wonderful music and may the forefathers be proud !!!
This song brought me to a spiritual depth I can't explain how, I once hadtried past life medetation, I don't know if it was real or not, but what I saw and felt in dream state that I was a Norse man, a warrior, messenger that had political work, I swear everything on battlefield felt vivid and real,or him standing with viking leaders on top of a fjord looking upon ships sailing their way, I felt his burden and emotions, I had this medetation years ago, but this song reminded me of dear old reincarnation
Fun fact: this song is closely related to harmonically and thematically to A Lyke-Wake Dirge, which is an early, early English/Scottish song about the soul's journey through purgatory. The song's DNA clearly predates the Christianisation of Europe and speaks to the common Germanic past that us English-speakers share with you Norwegians. So glad that we're part of the same family :)
And so am I :). Sang the whole song with my class at a school of Rudolf Steiner (Waldorf) many years ago, very beautiful.
Some of the first "Christian era" songs are heathen songs with new lyrics. So it's actually not that this song is closely related with a Christian song, but the other way around. Cheers, brother.
@Quixote, alot of Christian festivals are based upon/around pagan festivals, Christmas is derived from solstice celebrations, while Hallowe'en is derived from Sambhainn, a Celtic festival.
@@Tom_Quixote This is a Christian song.
They sing of christian themes in this song
A song for the ages!
And those of us who understand what ages
Our visionary heritage poem is powerful sung by this young man
Not so young
Harald Foss er ikke ung lol
Harald er 81 nå, men han var rundt 50 da han komponerte denne.
Stumbled into this. I'm awestruck. I love every single minute of it
This is treasure and no one can tell me otherwise
subbed
I've been searching for this particular performance for a very long time. Thank you for sharing.
*I am from the other side of the world, Argentina (South America),but there are many years almost 20 that I feel attraction for the nordic mithology and I love Norway because of the music,culture,economy wonderful places and I would like to visit but due to the current situation I don´t think so* .
Hi )How old are you?
I love this song, long live Harald Foss
Very haunting and lovely.
You ain’t Celtic
Thank you Harold
super schön! grande atmosfera, bellissimo!
Exelente relato de sus antepasados....
Que bueno que aun mantengan sus raices ...
Aca en Perú...
Nuestras raices incas siguen vivas.
Y estamos tan orgullosos de nuestros antepasados , que siento la alegria de a ver nacido en esta hermosa tierra del sol .
Refreashing to hear real music from history as heard by ancestry❤
Så utrolig vakkert..
There's one song of him, the one that went with the video "Wisdom of the Sagas" --uploaded by Odelsarven, who deleted his channel if anyone knows -- that I can't find at all anymore!
Harald Foss - Hav megin, mikið leynit
The video is called "Wisdom of the sagas (ENG)" and can be found here.
www.odelsarven.com/kulturvlog?wix-vod-video-id=5b7fd57287b047f8b84a25574b2f91da&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-k24i4dax
For that, you have my thanks!!!!@@MadRobexe
This goes hard, and I don’t even know wtf he’s saying.
This is not for you, burger boy
Flott musikk!
Draumkvedet
(The Dream Poem)
I
Vil du meg lyda, eg kveda kan
om einkvan nytan drengjen,
alt om han Olav Åsteson,
som heve sovi so lengje.
(Will you hearken to me, I can sing
Of one good young man,
About Olav Åsteson,
Who has been asleep for so long.)
Og det var Olav Åsteson,
som heve sovi so lengje.
(And it was Olav Åsteson,
Who has been asleep for so long.)
Han la seg ned om joleftan,
sterkan svevnen fekk,
vakna 'kje fyrr om trettandagjen,
då folkjet åt kyrkjun gjekk.
(He lay himself down on Christmas Eve,
Fell into a strong sleep,
Did not awake until Epiphany,
When folk were going to church)
Han la seg ned om joleftan,
no hev han sovi so lengje,
vakna 'kje fyrr om trettandagjen,
då fuglane skoke vengjir.
(He laid himself down on Christmas Eve,
Now he has slept for so long,
Did not awake until Epiphany,
When the birds shook their wings.)
Han vakna 'kje fyrr om trettandagjen,
då soli rann i lie,
då sala han ut fljotan folen,
han ville åt kyrkjun ride.
(He did not awake until Epiphany,
When the sun dawned on the hillside,
Then he saddled his quick mount
Wanting to ride to church.)
Presten stende fyr altare
og les upp lestine lange,
Olav set seg i kyrkjedynni
og tele draumane mange.
(The priest stands at the altar,
Reading out long passages,
Olav seats himself at the church door,
And tells of his many dreams.)
Gamle mennar og unge
dei gjeve etter gaume
med han Olav Åsteson
tele sine draume.
(Old men and young,
They give their attention,
While Olav Åsteson
Tells of his dreams.)
II
Eg la meg ned om joleftan,
sterkan svevnen fekk,
vakna 'kje fyrr om trettandagjen,
då folkjet åt kyrkjun gjekk.
(I laid me down on Christmas Eve,
Fell into a strong sleep,
Did not awake until Epiphany,
When folk were going to church.)
For månen skine
og vegjine falle so vide.
(For the moon shines,
And the paths seem to disperse so wide.)
Eg hev vori meg upp med sky
og ned-att med havet svarte;
den som vil mitt fotspor fylgje,
lær 'kje av blidom hjarta.
(I have been up with the clouds
and down to the ocean dark
Those who wish to follow my footsteps,
Will not laugh lightheartedly.)
Eg hev vori meg upp med sky
og ned-att med havsens grunne;
den som vil mitt fotspor fylgje,
lær 'kje av blidom munne.
(I have been up with the clouds
And down at the ocean floor;
Those who wish to follow my footsteps,
Will not laugh from merry mouth.)
Eg hev vori meg upp med sky
og ned-att på svarte dikje;
eg hev sétt åt heite helvite
og ein del av himmerikje.
(I have been up with the clouds
And down on the dark moors;
I have seen the heat of hell,
And a part of the heavenly kingdom.)
Eg hev fari yvi vigde vatnet
og yvi djupe dalar;
høyrer vatn, og ser det inkje,
unde jordi so mune det fara.
(I have traveled over the hallowed water,
And over deep dales;
I hear water and see it not,
It seems to run under the earth.)
Eg er so trøytt og ferde-mod,
og inna so mune eg brenne;
eg høyrer vatn, og fær det inkje,
unde jordi so mune det renne.
(I have traveled over the hallowed water,
And over deep dales;
I hear water and see it not,
It seems to run under the earth.)
Inkje kneggja soten min,
inkje gøydde min hunde,
inkje gol dei ottefuglan':
det tottest meg vera under.
(My horse did not neigh,
My hound did not bark,
The dawn birds did not chirp;
It seemed strange to me.)
Eg var meg i auromheime
i mange netter og trå,
det veit gud i himmerik
hosse mang ei naud eg såg.
(I was in the Otherworld,
For many long nights;
God in heaven knows
How many miseries I saw.)
Eg kan noko av kvòrjom
derfyr tykkjest eg frod;
eg var longe i moldi mòka,
ha eg tott den dauden god.
(I know something about many a thing
Therefore I am reckoned to be wise;
I would be long buried in the soil
had I thought that death to be good.)
III
Fyrste eg var i uteksti,
eg fór yvi tynnyr-mog:
sunde gjekk mi skarlakskåpe
og neglan' av kvòr min fot.
(When first I was on my wayfaring
I went over a bed of thorns;
My scarlet cloak was torn asunder,
Likewise the nails on my feet.)
For månen skine
og vegjine falle so vide.
(For the moon shines,
And the paths seem to disperse so wide.)
So var eg meg i uteksti
igjenom den tynnyr-ring:
sunde gjekk mi skarlakskåpe
og neglan' av kvòr min fing.
(As I was out on my wayfaring
I went through the ring of thorns;
My scarlet cloak was torn asunder,
Likewise the nails on my fingers.)
Kjem eg meg åt Gjallarbrui,
ho henge so hågt i vinde;
ho er oll med gulle slengji
og saum i kvòrjom tinde.
(I got to the Gjallar Bridge;
She hangs so high in the air.
All the bridge is covered with gold
And there are spikes in each end.)
Ormen høgge, og bikkja bite,
og stuten stend midte på leii:
tri er tingji på Gjallarbrui,
og alle er gramme og vreide.
(The serpent stings and the hound bites,
And the ox stands in the middle:
Three things are on the Gjallar Bridge,
And all are angry and wrathful.)
Bikkja bit og ormen sting,
og stuten stend og stangar -
det slepp ingjen yvi Gjallarbrui
som feller domane vrange.
(The hound bites, the serpent stings,
And the ox stands goring,
No one gets over the Gjallar Bridge,
Who has judged wrongly.)
Eg hev gjengji Gjallarbrui,
ho er både bratt og lei;
vassa so hev eg dei Våsemyran',
no er eg kvitte dei.
(I have walked the Gjallar Bridge,
It is both steep and hard;
I have waded through the Vås moors
Now I am past them.)
Vai so hev eg dei Våsemyran',
der hev 'kje stai meg grunn;
no hev eg gjengji Gjallarbrui
med rapa mold i munn.
(I have waded through the Vås moors,
There was no ground to stand;
Now have I walked the Gjallar Bridge,
With mire soil in my mouth.)
Eg hev gjengji Gjallarbrui,
og der var krokane på;
men eg totte tyngre dei Gaglemyran',
gud bære den dei skò gå!
(I have walked the Gjallar Bridge,
Fastened with hooks;
But the moors were harder,
God help those who go there!)
IV
So kom eg meg åt votno dei,
der isane brunne blå;
gud skaut det i hugjen min:
eg vende meg derifrå.
(Then I came to those waters
Where the ice burned dark blue; 1
God directed my mind,
I went away from there.)
For månen skine,
og vegjine falle so vide.
(For the moon shines,
And the paths seem to disperse so wide.)
Eg var meg i auroheime,
ingjen der eg kjende,
berre ho sæle gudmor mi
med raude gull på hende.
(I was in the Otherworld,
I knew no one there,
Only my blessed godmother
With bright gold on her hands.)
Sume fór yvi Grimaråsen
og sume yvi Skålestrond,
men dei som fór yvi Gjallarhylen,
dei kome våte fram.
(Some went over the Grimar Ridge
And some over the Skåle Strand
But those who crossed the Gjallar Stream
Came out wet on the other shore.)
So tok eg av på vetterstig
alt på mi høgre hònd;
der såg eg meg til Paradis,
det lyser yvi vene lònd.
(Then I turned onto a winter path
On my right hand side;
There I saw Paradise
Such gleaming fair lands.)
Der såg eg atte gudmor mi;
meg mune 'kje bete gange:
Reis du deg til Brokksvalin,
der skò domen stande.
(There I again saw my godmother
I did not know where to go:
"Get yourself to Brokksvalin
Where judgment would be pronounced.”)
[Part 1/2, see reply]
V
Kjem eg meg åt pilegrimskyrkjun,
der var meg ingen mann kjende,
berre ho gode gudmor mi
med raude gull på hende.
(When I came to the pilgrims’ church
I knew no man there,
Only my good godmother
With bright gold on her hands.)
I Brokksvalin
der skò domen stande.
(In Brokksvalin,
Where judgment would be pronounced.)
Der kom ferdi nordantil,
og den rei no so kvast;
fyre rei Grutte gråskjeggje
alt med sitt store brass.
(From the north a host came,
And it rode on so hard;
In front rode the Choleric Graybeard
With his great multitude.)
Der kom ferdi nordantil,
det totte eg vera vesst;
fyre rei Grutte Gråskjeggje,
han rei på svartan hest.
(From the north a host came,
I though it to be terrible,
In front rode the Choleric Graybeard
He rode upon a black horse.)
Der kom ferdi sunnantil,
det tottest meg vera best;
fyre rei sankte såle-Mikkjel,
han rei på kvitan hest.
(From the south a host came,
I though it to be good,
In front rode Saint Michael of souls,
He rode upon a white horse.)
Der kom ferdi sunnantil,
og den rei no so tvist;
fyre rei sankte såle-Mikkjel,
neste Jesum Krist.
(From the south a host came,
And it rode on so silently,
In the front rode Saint Michael of souls,
Next to Jesus Christ.)
Der kom ferdi sunnantil,
ho tottest meg vera trå:
fyre rei sankte såle-Mikkjel,
og luren unde armen låg.
(From the south a host came,
It seemed slow to me;
In the front rode Saint Michael of souls,
And a horn was under his arm.)
Det var sankte såle-Mikkjel,
han bles i luren lange:
Og no skò alle såline
fram fyr domen gange!
(It was Saint Michael of souls,
He blew into the long horn:
And now all souls
Would receive judgement.)
Men då skolv dei synde-såline
som ospelauv fyr vinde,
og kvòr den, kvòr den sål der var,
ho gret fyr syndine sine.
(Then the sinning souls shook,
Like aspen leaves for wind;
And each and every soul there
Wept over its sins.)
Det var sankte såle-Mikkjel,
han vog i skåle-vikt;
så vog han alle synde-såline
bort til Jesum Krist.
(It was Saint Michael of souls ,
Weighing in his scales,
Then he weighed all the sinning souls,
Towards Jesus Christ.)
VI
Eg såg meg einom drengjen,
det fyrste eg vart ved,
liten småsvein bar han i fangje
og gjekk i jordi til knes.
(I saw a young man,
The first I came by,
A little boy he bore in his arms;
He was in earth to his knees.)
I Brokksvalin
der skò domen stande.
(In Brokksvalin,
Where judgment would be pronounced.)
Kjem eg meg åt manne dei,
kåpa den var bly:
hans arme sål i dessom heime
var trong i dyre tid.
(I came by a man,
His cloak was lead:
This poor soul in our world
Was greedy in hard times.)
Kjem eg meg åt monno dei,
dei bar på gloande jord:
gud nåde dei fatige såline
som flutte deildir i skog!
(I came to several men,
They carried glowing soil:
God have mercy on the poor souls
Who moved border-stones in the woods.)
Kjem eg meg åt bonno dei,
dei stoge so hågt på glo:
gud nåde dei synduge såline,
ha banna bort far og mor!
(I came to several children,
They stood there burning:
God have mercy on the sinful souls,
Who cursed their father and mother.)
Kjem eg meg åt podda og ormen
dei hoggje kvòrare med tanne:
det var synduge syskjeni
som ha'e kvòrare banna.
(I came to the toad and the serpent,
They stung each other with their teeth:
They were sinful siblings,
Who had cursed each other.)
Der møtte eg dei ormane tvei,
dei bite kvòrare i sporde:
det var dei synduge syskjenbonni
som gifte kvòrare på jordi.
(There I met two serpents,
They bit each other's tails:
They were sinful cousins,
Who married each other on earth.)
Kjem eg meg åt Syslehuset,
det var trollkjeringan' inne:
dei stod kinna i raude blodet,
det var so tung ei vinne.
(I came to the witches house
There were witches inside:
They stood in a pool of blood,
So heavy was their work.)
Der er heitt i helvite,
heitar hell nokon hyggje;
der hengde dei 'pivi ein tjørukjetil
og brytja ned i ein presterygge.
(It is hot in hell,
Hotter than anyone thinks;
There they hanged up, over a cauldron with tar,
And twisted a priest down inside.)
VII
Sæl er den i fødesheimen
fatige gjeve sko:
han tarv ikkje berrføtt gange
på kvasse heklemog.
(He is blessed on earth
Who gives shoes to the poor:
He need not walk bare-footed
On the bed of thorns.)
Tunga talar,
og sanning svarar på domedag.
(The tongue speaks,
And truth answers on Judgment Day.)
Sæl er den i fødesheimen
fatige gjeve ku:
han tarv ikkje sumlug gange
på håge Gjallarbru.
(He is blessed on earth
Who gives a cow to the poor:
He need not walk dizzily
On the high Gjallar Bridge.)
Sæl er den i fødesheimen
fatige gjeve braud:
han tarv ikkje rædast i auromheime
fyr horske hundegau.
(He is blessed on earth
Who gives bread to the poor:
He need not fear in the Otherworld
The harsh baying of hounds.)
Sæl er den i fødesheimen
fatige gjeve korn:
han tarv ikkje rædast på Gjallarbrui
fyr kvasse stutehorn.
(He is blessed on earth
Who gives grain to the poor:
He need not fear upon the Gjallar Bridge
The sharp horns of the ox.)
Sæl er den i fødesheimen
fatige gjeve mat:
han tarv ikkje rædast i auromheime
anten fyr hæde hell hat.
(He is blessed on earth
Who gives food to the poor:
He need not fear in the Otherworld
Neither mockery nor hatred.)
Sæl er den i fødesheimen
fatige gjeve klæde:
han tarv ikkje rædast i auromheime
fyr håge kjellar-bræde.
(He is blessed on earth
Who gives clothes to the poor:
He need not fear in the Otherworld
High mountains of ice.)
VIII
Gamle mennar og unge
dei gjeve etter gaume
det var han Olav Åsteson,
no hev han tålt sine draume.
(Old men and young
Gave their attention;
That was Olav Åsteson,
Now he has told his dreams.)
Statt upp, Olav Åsteson,
som heve sovi so lengje.
(Stand up, Olav Åsteson,
Who was asleep for so long.)
@@alyosha3563 Thank you. It seems you got the Norwegian lyrics quite accurately, but a few mistakes with the English translation.
Is there an English translation online?
Harald and Mari Foss
1:51
Hail the Old Gods Odin on this Wednesday!
Odin is specifically referred to as an aspect of the Devil in this piece. It's a vision of the Christian doomsday told in church during Christmas, probably from Catholic times. But I mean sure, whether you pray to Odin or Christ makes no difference to me haha
Vestlands læfse
He begins singing around 2:00
Anyone know what tuning his lute is in?
I will come
Going to pray and fast and see if I can't hit the dream world this Christmas Eve.
How did it go?
@@sudnoss I can't remember anything from this past advent or Christmastide so either really well or really poorly. I'll try again this year and report back.
@@shane8037 😎👍🏻
As far as I know, I think the laplanders and the Finns, both being Asian in origin, believe in reincarnation. I have not come across this concept in the ancient norse religion though.
What a stupid comment.
Its originaly a heaten song about re-incarnation.
nope
Really?
@@dlemon7547 Aye, Draumkvedet is steeped in ancient Heathen lore, such as mentioning the "Gjallar Bridge" of Hel, and the name of the devil in it is also "Grutte Greybeard," Greybeard being a name of Odin.
@@TheHeathenCoalition Nice. I'll take your work for it. there are so many stories and songs that were Christianized. too many for my taste.
What's with the "Aye" and the "ancient Heathen lore", and should it not be pagan lore? I would see the word Heathen as a insult that the Christians created for all those not of any Abrahamic Religions. (i.e. Judaism, Christianity and Islam.)
@@TheHeathenCoalition yes, but that doesn't mean it dates back to before Christianity was introduced into Norway, only that the old concepts like Gjallarbrui were still culturally (and spiritually) relevant to them hundreds of years later.