Valhöll [English translation]

A hero has fallen, his hand is sore,

his head has been cleaved1to the neck.

Ever since then, scentless mayweed2has grown,

the Rock Ptarmigan3eats berries.

Valkyries fetch the fighting men,

the battlefield is covered in blood.

Einherja4, you will be chosen by Odin5,

my good friend.

Carried into the air, steadily gripped,

taken without any gainsay.

A widespread weapon clash echoes,

we cannot delay now.

Now, he has proven himself,

a hero and a cause of fate.

We say our goodbyes to this good man,

the man I speak of is Baldur6.

Valkyries now discover the chosen one’s,

they’re picking men for the confrontation.

Like that, the Bifröst7awaits us,

Baldur and Thor’s8goats now rise.

Overhead, two ravens are flying,

Huginn and Muninn9are gathering knowledge.

Heimdallr10shall open the gates,

we shall go in, straight to arms.

Einherjar, the chosen one’s now roam,

Valhalla11, the place of all places.

Goodbye Midgard12, now powerless,

confusedly I roam around.

Now, I look down upon

the bulls around my old town…

Life is there around Bæjartjörn13,

the bale is covered in heather.

Around there, little children play,

life moves there in circles.

Over us, the gods are now watching,

glad shall we fill our throats.

Maidens are introduced to the other men,

the mead we drink and the meat we eat…

Both of them, earl Gunnar and Grímur,

the glasses are empty, we are saying rhymes…

We’re now prepared for Ragnarök14,

shove the swords out through the backs.

The wounds they heal and the sorrows they dwindle,

my soul is complete, I thank Odin!

1. strjúpi/strjúpa = (rare, of animals and humans) the neck, especially the trunk that remains after the head has been hewn off2. scentless mayweed = a plant that’s also known as Baldr’s Brow (Icelandic baldursbrár), after the Norse god Baldr (Icelandic Baldur)3. (Rock) Ptarmigan = a medium-sized gamebird in the grouse family (also known as Snow Chicken or Partridge4. Einherja (plural Einherjar) = lone fighter5. Odin = a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard6. Baldr (also Balder, Baldur) = a Norse god7. Bifröst = a burning rainbow bridge that reaches between Midgard (the world) and Asgard (the realm of the gods)8. Thor = a Norse hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, strength, the protection of mankind etc.9. Huginn (from Old Norse "thought") and Muninn (Old Norse "memory" or "mind") are a pair of ravens that fly all over the world, Midgard, and bring information to the god Odin.10. Heimdallr (or Heimdall) = the watchman of the Norse gods, that sits on the edge of heaven to guard the Bifröst bridge from the berg jötnar (berg giants)11. Valhalla = a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, intended for those who fought bravely and have been chosen by Odin12. Midgard = the world inhabited by humans13. Bæjartjörn = central square of Asgard (the world of the gods)14. Ragnarök = a series of future events, including a great battle foretold to ultimately result in the death of a number of major figures