Svolder's Battle

1. Would you like to hear my song?
Would you believe my words?
About king Olaf Tryggvason,
the subject of this song.

Refrain: Dance resounds in the halls,
Dance! – Form a ring.
Brave Norwegians ride
to Hildur’s thing.

2. The king had a vessel built
on the level sand.
The Serpent was the largest ship
built on Norwegian lands.

Refrain

40. Eric left the sandy beach,
ran down to the pier:
“Be prepared to leave the beach
the Serpent is now here!”

Refrain

41. They all saw the Serpent come
sailing proud and bold.
The rigging was a sail of silk,
the bows were made of gold.

Refrain

45. Wolf the Red stood in the bows,
he never got it wrong:
“Don’t shoot the ship to much ahead,
the Serpent is too long”.

Refrain

49. King Olaf stood up in the stern
staring back and forth:
“Who owns all these mighty ships
steering at our port?”

Refrain

54. Herning looks out on the ships,
answers to his call:
“They belong to Eric the Earl,
the bravest of them all”

Refrain

59. The king of Denmark stormed ahead
convinced that he could win.
Norwegians, they fought so hard!
the Danish lines were thin.

Refrain

60. Smoke raised from fighting men,
blood poured in the sea.
It turned out that all the Danes
had to back and flee.

Refrain

76. Eric jumped onboard the Serpent
with his sword in hand.
Herning rushed down from the stern,
med him with his brand.

Refrain

83. The king shouted from the stern,
through the noise and rattle:
“Jump into the sea, my men!
We have lost this battle”

Refrain

84. Then the king and all his men,
-although brave and bold-
jumped into the salty sea,
they did as they were told.

Refrain