When the Longhouse Stands — Ember of Midgard — Nordic Folk Rock

[Immediate Heavy Opening] [Heavy guitars, deep bass, pounding drums, tagelharpa and war horns] Hold the line! Guard the door! We will leave our home no more! [Verse 1] The mountain shakes beneath our feet, Cold iron marches through the sleet. The warning horns have crossed the vale, But still our wooden walls prevail. These beams were raised by weathered hands, These fields were carved from frozen lands. Behind these doors our children sleep, And what we love is ours to keep. [Pre-Chorus] Let every shield be lifted high, Let every voice become the cry. No fear will drive us from this ground, We stand as one when drums resound. [Chorus] When the longhouse stands, we stand together, Stone and blood through any weather. Guard the gate and hold the land, Side by side, we make our stand. When the longhouse stands, our hearts remember, Every name and every ember. Let the whole wide valley understand: We will stand while the longhouse stands! [Viking Choir] Stand! Stand! While the longhouse stands! Stand! Stand! With our shields in hand! [Verse 2] The roof may bend, the night may roar, The enemy may reach our door. But every blow against the wall Will only wake the strength in all. The old ones watch from carved-out stone, Their words still live in flesh and bone: “Protect the place that gave you birth, For roots run deeper than the earth.” [Pre-Chorus] Let heavy hammers meet the shields, Let courage move across the fields. No force will tear our hands apart, The strongest walls are built by heart. [Chorus] When the longhouse stands, we stand together, Stone and blood through any weather. Guard the gate and hold the land, Side by side, we make our stand. When the longhouse stands, our hearts remember, Every name and every ember. Let the whole wide valley understand: We will stand while the longhouse stands! [Instrumental Folk and Guitar Section] [Tagelharpa begins a dark, driving melody] [Nyckelharpa and flutes answer with a rising folk theme] [Heavy melodic guitars join with deep drums and bass] [Horn calls lead into a powerful guitar solo] [Viking choir chants rhythmically] Hold the wall! Guard them all! We are stronger when shadows fall! [Bridge] If the final torch should fade, We will fight in light we made. If the winter takes the field, We will be the living shield. Not for glory, not for gold, But for every hand we hold. For the table, for the door, For the ones who came before. [Choir Build] For our fathers! For our mothers! For our daughters! For our brothers! [Final Chorus] When the longhouse stands, we stand together, Iron souls through any weather. Guard the gate and hold the land, Side by side, we make our stand. When the longhouse stands, our hearts remember, Every oath from every member. Let the mountains carry our command: We will stand while the longhouse stands! When the longhouse stands, no fear can break us, No invading force can take us. Raise the shield and join the band— We will stand while the longhouse stands! [Viking Choir] Stand! Stand! While the longhouse stands! Stand! Stand! With our shields in hand! [Heavy Outro] [Slow crushing guitar riff, pounding drums and deep tagelharpa] Guard the doorway. Hold the land. We remain where our fathers began. [Final horn blast] We will stand… While the longhouse stands.