Wardruna - Helvegen Lyrics Nynorsk Norwegian with Old Norse/Norrønt & English Translation

Details

Description

Info on song and some relevant Norse/Viking history below in description
Song: Helvegen
Artist: Wardruna

Sung in Nynorsk Norwegian but I have added a translation in Old Norse/Norrønt(Similar to Icelandic), a language spoken by many Vikings at the time because it was requested by a subscriber. I have also added an English translation.

Some history:
According to historical sources, a Viking funeral consisted of cremation in a ship. Many funerals took place on land with the deceased being cremated on a pyre, (a structure, usually made of wood), in a boat and piles of stone and soil being lain on top of the burnt remains.

Ravens: In Norse religion Huginn and Muninn ("thought" and "memory") are a pair of ravens that fly all over the world, Midgard, and bring information to the god Odin.
Odin was also closely linked to ravens because in Norse myths he received the fallen warriors at Valhalla, and ravens were linked with death and war due to their predilection for carrion. It is consequently likely that they were regarded as manifestations of the Valkyries, goddesses who chose the valiant dead for military service in Valhalla. A further connection between ravens and Valkyries was indicated in the shapeshifting abilities of goddesses and Valkyries, who could appear in the form of birds.
The raven appears in almost every skaldic poem describing warfare. To make war was to feed and please the raven.

Gjallarbrú: ( Gjöll Bridge) is a bridge spanning the river Gjöll in the underworld, which must be crossed in order to reach Hel.

Hel (Place) :In Norse mythology Hel is in the ninth of the Nine Worlds. Hel (Goddess) was cast down into Hel by Odin who "made her ruler over Nine Worlds". Hel is located in Niflheim. Here it is related that she could give out lodging and items to those sent to her that have died of disease or old age.

Hávamál: a group of poems from the book 'Snorra Edda' (Icelandic). They are at least 1000 years old, and have probably begun much earlier, as a part of an oral tradition amongst the Norse. The name Hávamál means the words of the high one, the Norse god Óðinn