The Feast Beyond the Gate — Ember of Midgard — Nordic Folk Rock

[Immediate Opening – Male Vocal] The drums are sounding through the streets, While empty hands count what they need. Behind the walls, the tables bend— Outside the gate, the cold descends. [Verse 1 – Male Vocal] The chieftains dine beneath golden beams, Trading the harvest for numbers and dreams. Their cups overflow while the workers wait, With winter gathering outside the gate. We raised every tower, we carried each stone, Yet sleep in the shadows of halls not our own. The banners are bright, but the foundations shake— How much can a burdened people take? [Pre-Chorus – Female Vocal] No roof will stand When its pillars divide. No shield can guard Those abandoned outside. [Chorus – Duet with Nordic Choir] Open the gate, let the long tables grow, There is room for the hands that have carried us all. Share what was gathered, let dignity show— A kingdom divided is destined to fall. Open the gate, hear the voices unite, No one should hunger beneath the same sky. We are stronger together, when wrong becomes right— Raise every cup, leave no one outside. [Verse 2 – Female Vocal] Blue light flickers on faces alone, A thousand connections, yet no one feels known. We measure our worth by the silver we earn, While forests grow silent and distant lands burn. The merchant grows richer, the healer grows tired, The young lose their future before it is tried. But under the noise, an old rhythm remains— The beat of a people remembering their names. [Pre-Chorus – Male Vocal] No ship will sail When the oars pull apart. No land can heal Without mercy at heart. [Chorus – Duet with Nordic Choir] Open the gate, let the long tables grow, There is room for the hands that have carried us all. Share what was gathered, let dignity show— A kingdom divided is destined to fall. Open the gate, hear the voices unite, No one should hunger beneath the same sky. We are stronger together, when wrong becomes right— Raise every cup, leave no one outside. [Instrumental Section] [Tagelharpa and deep drums begin a dark marching rhythm. Nyckelharpa answers with a hopeful melody. Flutes and horns enter before melodic guitars build toward the bridge.] [Bridge – Female and Male Alternating] [Female] A hall is not wealthy because of its gold. [Male] It lives through the stories and hands that it holds. [Female] A crown has no meaning when children despair. [Male] A future is built when the burden is shared. [Duet] So bring down the barriers, answer the call. The smallest among us gives strength to us all. From tower and harbour, from mountain and field— We gather together, our broken world healed. [Final Chorus – Duet with Full Nordic Choir] Open the gate, let the long tables grow, There is room for the hands that have carried us all. Share what was gathered, let dignity show— Together we stand, and together stand tall. Open the gate, let compassion be heard, Stronger than iron and sharper than swords. Under one heaven, our promise is sworn— No one forgotten, no future forlorn. Open the gate! Let every voice sound! Open the gate! Let hope gather round! We are the builders, the shield and the song— When all take their place, the whole land grows strong. [Outro – Duet with Soft Choir] The drums still echo through every street, But now there are places for strangers to meet. The gate stands open beneath the wide sky— And no one is left in the darkness outside.