The Ashes of Yggdrasil

dark folk, spoken word, ritual tribal percussion

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(An Epic Norse Saga Song)

(Prologue – The Ginnungagap)
Before the mountains clawed the sky,
Before the oceans learned to roar,
A gaping void in endless night—
Ginnungagap, both dark and hoar.
No star, no seed, no whisper stirred,
Just frost from Niflheim's cold breath,
And Muspelheim's devouring fire,
Where chaos birthed the world from death.
Ymir rose, the frost-giant vast,
His footsteps shook the newborn stone;
Audhumla licked the salty ice,
And Buri woke from sleep of bone.
Odin, Vili, Ve with savage might
Slew Ymir where the giants stood,
And from his corpse they forged the Nine:
His blood the seas, his skull the heavens wide,
His bones the hills, his hair the woods,
His brains the clouds that drift and brood.
From lashes forged Midgard's wall,
Where men would live—and gods would fall.

(Verse I – Odin Wanderer)
The All-Father roamed the worlds alone,
Grey cloak tattered, eye of stone.
Huginn thought and Muninn mind
Flew through the storm his secrets find.
Gungnir sang in his iron fist,
A spear that never spared the missed.
Nine nights he hung on Yggdrasil's bough,
Wounded, screaming wisdom's vow.
The Norns spun fate in Urd's cold well,
Threads of doom no god could quell.
He traded eye for Mimir's draught,
Saw Ragnarok, and laughed.
In Valhalla's golden glow,
Einherjar train for final woe.
Though Fenrir's jaws shall claim his head,
Still Odin feasts among the dead.

(Chorus)
Raise the horns! Strike the shield!
Let thunder crack across the field!
Fate is carved in rune and flame—
No soul escapes the Norns' decree!
From icy fjord to burning sky,
The ravens scream, the heroes cry.
Though Ragnarok devours the sea—
Our saga sings eternally!

(Verse II – Thor the Storm-Born)
Then strode the Thunderer, red of beard,
Mjolnir swinging, lightning feared.
Goat-drawn chariot split the clouds,
Giants trembled at his howls.
He drained the oceans in his cup,
Wrestled Old Age and never gave up.
Lifted Jormungandr from the deep,
The world-serpent coiled in sleep.
With Loki, silver-tongued and sly,
He journeyed where the giants lie.
In Utgard's halls the mocks rang loud,
Yet Thor struck mountains, thunder-proud.
Each triumph carved another scar—
The doom of gods burned like a star.

(Verse III – Loki Bound)
Loki spawned the nightmare kin:
Fenrir wolf with jaws unhinged,
Jormungandr, world-encircler grim,
And Hel, pale queen of shadows dim.
The gods bound Fenrir's rage with thread
Of cat-step, mountain-root, and fish's breath,
The sound of beard from woman's chin—
Dwarven cunning, forged in sin.
Tyr alone dared feed the beast,
Lost his hand for honor's feast.
Then Baldr fell by mistletoe dart,
Loki's whisper pierced Frigg's heart.
All things swore, yet one slipped free—
The tender sprig of destiny.
Hodr's blind hand, guided by guile,
Slew the shining one—end of smile.
The worlds wept blood on winter snow,
And twilight's shadow began to grow.

(Chorus)
Raise the horns! Strike the shield!
Let thunder crack across the field!
Fate is carved in rune and flame—
No king outruns eternity!
The serpent coils, the black wings beat,
The dead rise cold on shuffling feet.
Till Bifrost breaks beneath the sea—
Our saga sings eternally!

(Verse IV – Ragnarok)
Three winters roared with no summer's grace,
Brother slew brother, axe in face.
Skoll and Hati swallowed sun and moon,
Stars bled out in endless gloom.
Naglfar sailed on nails of dead,
Loki at helm, eyes full of red.
Surtur's flame from Muspelheim,
Giants marched to end all time.
Heimdall's Gjallarhorn split the sky,
Gods awoke to fight and die.
Odin charged the Fenris-wolf,
Swallowed whole in one great gulf.
Vidar came in silent wrath,
His shoe of leather scraps held fast—
Ripped the jaws asunder wide,
Avenged the All-Father as he died.
Thor slew the serpent, venom-sick,
Nine paces fell, his hammer thick.
Freyr faced Surtur's flaming blade,
Fell without his golden glaive.
Loki and Heimdall slew as one,
Bifrost shattered, all undone.
The tree groaned deep, the worlds burned black—
Ashes drifting, no way back.

(Bridge – The Burning of the Worlds)
Silent falls the ashen rain,
No halls remain for gods to reign.
Seas swallow fields, stars drown in fen,
Yggdrasil trembles—yet beats again.
Deep beneath the embers' sigh,
A hidden pulse will not die...

(Final Verse – The New Dawn)
From flooded wastes a new world rose,
Green shoots piercing where fire froze.
Baldr walked from Hel once more,
Hodr reconciled on shining shore.
Thor’s sons lifted Mjolnir high,
Guardians under clearer sky.
Lif and Lifthrasir left their cave,
Humanity's spark— the bold and brave.
Odin's ravens cross the blue,
Carrying tales both old and new.
Though gods may fall and ages turn,
The fire in man's heart will ever burn.

(Final Chorus)
Raise the horns! Strike the shield!
Though all the worlds to fire yield!
Courage lives when kingdoms fall—
Fate shall one day claim us all!
From frozen north to battle plain,
The old gods rise in song again.
While Yggdrasil still guards the tree—
Our saga lives eternally!

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(An Epic Norse Saga Song) (Prologue – The Ginnungagap) Before the mountains clawed the sky, Before the oceans learned to roar, A gaping void in endless night— Ginnungagap, both dark and hoar. No star, no seed, no whisper stirred, Just frost from Niflheim's cold breath, And Muspelheim's devouring fire, Where chaos birthed the world from death. Ymir rose, the frost-giant vast, His footsteps shook the newborn stone; Audhumla licked the salty ice, And Buri woke from sleep of bone. Odin, Vili, Ve with savage might Slew Ymir where the giants stood, And from his corpse they forged the Nine: His blood the seas, his skull the heavens wide, His bones the hills, his hair the woods, His brains the clouds that drift and brood. From lashes forged Midgard's wall, Where men would live—and gods would fall. (Verse I – Odin Wanderer) The All-Father roamed the worlds alone, Grey cloak tattered, eye of stone. Huginn thought and Muninn mind Flew through the storm his secrets find. Gungnir sang in his iron fist, A spear that never spared the missed. Nine nights he hung on Yggdrasil's bough, Wounded, screaming wisdom's vow. The Norns spun fate in Urd's cold well, Threads of doom no god could quell. He traded eye for Mimir's draught, Saw Ragnarok, and laughed. In Valhalla's golden glow, Einherjar train for final woe. Though Fenrir's jaws shall claim his head, Still Odin feasts among the dead. (Chorus) Raise the horns! Strike the shield! Let thunder crack across the field! Fate is carved in rune and flame— No soul escapes the Norns' decree! From icy fjord to burning sky, The ravens scream, the heroes cry. Though Ragnarok devours the sea— Our saga sings eternally! (Verse II – Thor the Storm-Born) Then strode the Thunderer, red of beard, Mjolnir swinging, lightning feared. Goat-drawn chariot split the clouds, Giants trembled at his howls. He drained the oceans in his cup, Wrestled Old Age and never gave up. Lifted Jormungandr from the deep, The world-serpent coiled in sleep. With Loki, silver-tongued and sly, He journeyed where the giants lie. In Utgard's halls the mocks rang loud, Yet Thor struck mountains, thunder-proud. Each triumph carved another scar— The doom of gods burned like a star. (Verse III – Loki Bound) Loki spawned the nightmare kin: Fenrir wolf with jaws unhinged, Jormungandr, world-encircler grim, And Hel, pale queen of shadows dim. The gods bound Fenrir's rage with thread Of cat-step, mountain-root, and fish's breath, The sound of beard from woman's chin— Dwarven cunning, forged in sin. Tyr alone dared feed the beast, Lost his hand for honor's feast. Then Baldr fell by mistletoe dart, Loki's whisper pierced Frigg's heart. All things swore, yet one slipped free— The tender sprig of destiny. Hodr's blind hand, guided by guile, Slew the shining one—end of smile. The worlds wept blood on winter snow, And twilight's shadow began to grow. (Chorus) Raise the horns! Strike the shield! Let thunder crack across the field! Fate is carved in rune and flame— No king outruns eternity! The serpent coils, the black wings beat, The dead rise cold on shuffling feet. Till Bifrost breaks beneath the sea— Our saga sings eternally! (Verse IV – Ragnarok) Three winters roared with no summer's grace, Brother slew brother, axe in face. Skoll and Hati swallowed sun and moon, Stars bled out in endless gloom. Naglfar sailed on nails of dead, Loki at helm, eyes full of red. Surtur's flame from Muspelheim, Giants marched to end all time. Heimdall's Gjallarhorn split the sky, Gods awoke to fight and die. Odin charged the Fenris-wolf, Swallowed whole in one great gulf. Vidar came in silent wrath, His shoe of leather scraps held fast— Ripped the jaws asunder wide, Avenged the All-Father as he died. Thor slew the serpent, venom-sick, Nine paces fell, his hammer thick. Freyr faced Surtur's flaming blade, Fell without his golden glaive. Loki and Heimdall slew as one, Bifrost shattered, all undone. The tree groaned deep, the worlds burned black— Ashes drifting, no way back. (Bridge – The Burning of the Worlds) Silent falls the ashen rain, No halls remain for gods to reign. Seas swallow fields, stars drown in fen, Yggdrasil trembles—yet beats again. Deep beneath the embers' sigh, A hidden pulse will not die... (Final Verse – The New Dawn) From flooded wastes a new world rose, Green shoots piercing where fire froze. Baldr walked from Hel once more, Hodr reconciled on shining shore. Thor’s sons lifted Mjolnir high, Guardians under clearer sky. Lif and Lifthrasir left their cave, Humanity's spark— the bold and brave. Odin's ravens cross the blue, Carrying tales both old and new. Though gods may fall and ages turn, The fire in man's heart will ever burn. (Final Chorus) Raise the horns! Strike the shield! Though all the worlds to fire yield! Courage lives when kingdoms fall— Fate shall one day claim us all! From frozen north to battle plain, The old gods rise in song again. While Yggdrasil still guards the tree— Our saga lives eternally!

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