*(Intro - Soft, mournful humming over sparse acoustic guitar)* *(Verse 1)* The ravens circle, black on grey, As fjord winds whisper *"Not today."* Your shield hangs cracked, your sword’s gone cold, But the mead’s still sweet—drink deep, be bold. *(Chorus)* *Ooooooh…* The longship burns, Smoke in the sky where the Valkyries turn. Ash to the waves, iron to rust, Sing loud, brother—*sing till you’re dust.* *(Verse 2)* They’ll tell your name in the hall’s low light, Of how you laughed in the teeth of night. No tears for the dead who die sword-high, Just spill a cup where the embers lie. *(Bridge - Instrumental swell, then sudden silence)* *(Spoken, raw)* *"Do you hear it? The oars in the mist… The old ones calling you home."* *(Verse 3)* No grave to mark you, stone on sand, Just salt and stars and a blood-red brand. Your ghost will walk where the storm winds wail, With a grin for the gods and a curse for the frail. *(Chorus)* *Ooooooh…* The longship burns, Smoke in the sky where the Valkyries turn. Ash to the waves, iron to rust, Sing loud, brother—*sing till you’re dust.* *(Verse 4)* The tide’s your shroud, the waves your pyre, The gods take what the flames require. We’ll meet again where the ale flows black, With a *"Skål!"* on your lips and the wind at your back. *(Bridge - Faster, urgent strumming)* *(Chanted, building intensity)* *"Row! Row! Row till the stars unwind, Row till the world’s left far behind!"* *(Final Chorus - Full ensemble, thunderous)* *OOOOOOH!* The longship burns, Fire in the sky where the Valkyries turn. Ash to the waves, iron to rust, Sing loud, brother—*sing till you’re dust.* *(Outro - Fading to lone guitar, then silence)* *(Whispered)* *"The sail’s full… Go."*
