Therion – Secrets Of The Runes
[The Black hole]
[In the beginning there was a void, a big gap of darkness, filled with the primal forces of creation. The heat of Muspel and the ice of Nifel made the essence of life come forth from the void. The first living being, The Giant Ymer, was born out of darkness and he is the ancestor of the creatures of the universe. The world was formed from his slaughtered body. Ginnungagap is the black hole from which everything came out and into which everything will return in the end.]
Fall deep into Void
(in the) black hole of Nothing
[Soprano:]
Hail, Flow of Vergelmar
Hail, Flow of Vergelmar
Hail, Flow of Vergelmar
Hail, Old Void!
[Alto:]
Hail, Flow of Vergelmar
Heat of creation
Hail, Flow of Vergelmar
Hail, Old Void!
[Tenor&bass:]
Spark in the Nothingness
Heat of creation
Make the ice start to melt
life wake up in the void.
Ymer is born, fire and ice
Chaos will form, Megin will rise
Fader Ymer drack fran urkon
En strom av mjolk som gav oss liv.
Oppna gapet i ryndend mitt
Floda av blod fran Ymers kropt
Varldar skapas utav hans kott
Nio (till) antal pa Yggorasil.
Ymers gap – Ymers runa
Ymers ond – Ymers urlag
2. Midgard
[Old Midgard]
[In the middle of the universe you will find the world of man. Some say that Midgard bears the most beautiful leaves on the worldtree Yggdrasil, but the world of man is a very fragile world and it is under a permanent threat. The sophisticated balance between polarities which is the fundament of Midgard, could easily be disturbed. If that would happen the forces of chaos will inundate the earth and the end will be the only future for mankind.]
Behind the depth, before the height,
surrounded by the serpent Jormundgand,
(the) world of Man in the middle
of heat and ice, built by the Ymer brow.
World of Man – hot and cool – high and low
In between extremities rises Midgard, mighty as the stem of the tree.
Ash and Elm, the human pair living of its precious fruits. But soon it may end.
Middle Earth, Old Midgard (we) wish the tree will burst into leaf!
Will someday your balance reach an end and you`ll start to fade!
Mannaheim, old Midgard all your walls start to tumble down.
May the tree be reborn from the ash it will grow again.
Let`s defend Midgard, we Call the High One
Sow upon the field the rune of Jara
Middle Earth, Old Midgard (we) wish the tree will burst into leaf!
Will someday your balance reach an end and you`ll start to fade!
Mannaheim, old Midgard all your walls start to tumble down.
May the tree be reborn from the ash it will grow again.
Let`s defend Midgard, we Call the High One
Sow upon the field the rune of Jara
In between extremities rises Midgard, mighty as the stem of the tree.
Ash and Elm, the human pair living of its precious fruits. But soon it may end.
3. Asgard
[The Bifrost Bridge]
[Upon a mountain in the middle of the universe, high above the world of man, rises the abode of gods. The shining halls of the gods circle in the sky like the stars and the twelve signs of the zodiac. Only those who are brave and pure of heart will be brought up in the air to the palaces of Asgard. They will ride upon the rainbow and fight side by side with the gods on the end of days.]
Riding on the rainbow and they`ll pass the gate of Heimdal.
Open up Gladheim and the Walhall!
In the house of Odin the fallen one is standing
With all Einherjar, ready for war.
When the seal is broken up in the midwinter sky,
all the dead will follow Odin and they`re coming by the storm
In the middle of the world the rock of Gods stand high.
On the dark yule-night
The gods will descend with the dead of the brave.
Take us to Walhalla
when we`ll pass the gate of Heimdal.
Let us meet gods (and) follow their ride.
If you watch the nightsky you will find their dwelling
in the stars they live (as the) zodiac signs.
When the bridge will make a way for all the northern gods
all the dead will ride on Bifrost and they`re coming by the storm
Sagas from the ancient days are written in the sky
When you read the runes again Walhalla and Asgard are reborn.
4. Jotunheim
[Call of Jotunheim]
[Somewhere behind the border of the known world you may hear the drumming and the heavy steps of the giants. They are born out of the primeval forces of nature and descend from the time when not even the gods were born. Their brutal power is only surpassed by their wisdom, since the old age of the giants have made them see what neither gods nor men ever will.]
Jotunheim, Call the Giants
of Chaos, all the wolves of
Jarnveden, all the darkness of Utgard!
Call of Jotunheim!
Beware the Giants, the Thurizas,
beyond the border of everything.
In Utgard the ancient live
and they bear old memories
You can hear them cry beyond Eli waves.
Angerboda, call her name in the dark.
Hail!
Jotunheim, Call the Giants
of Chaos, all the wolves of
Jarnveden, all the darkness of Utgard!
Call of Jotunheim!
Listen to Mimer, come to his well,
you watch the water of memory.
If you listen to the Old,
they will take you to the past.
you may hear
Manegarm howl again.
Angerboda, watch her
call on the wolves.
Hail!
Thursar! Jotunheimr!
Resar! Jotunheimr!
Jotnar! Jotunheimr!
5. Schwarzalbenheim
[Gold Der Underwelt]
[The dwarves and the black elves live below the ground and in stumps and stones. Among all creatures in the universe they are the foremost blacksmiths. Deep down in the underworld they forge the treasures of gods. They use the metals from the veins of earth to create the most precious things. It has been said that this folk may be able to teach you the secret of alchemy and the knowledge of making gold out of earth.]
Höret ihr der Hämmer Hall?
Hör der Hämmer Hall!
Ivaldens Söhne sind es, hör
Sie schmieden den gleissend` Schatz
Der Götter Göttlichkeit
Schwarzalbenheims Gewürm
Schmiedet solch schimmerndes Gold
Der Götter Glorie gestaltend
Aus der Erde Geäder
Tief unten drunter Stein und Wurz
Findest Du dieses selten` Volk
Der Tiefe und lass den eifr`gen Schmied
Schweissen shlau deines Wunschses Bild
Unter unterdes Fjorgyn Haut
In der Erde verborg nem Herzen
Arbeiten Zwerge der Unterwelt
Mit der Götter gar glänzendem Gold
Draupnir, Mjölnir und Gullburste
Kunst des Schwarzalben
Brokk da Eitre und Sindre
Lass den Hammer schlagem nochmals
Schwarzalbenheims Gewürm
Schmiedet solch schimmerndes Gold
Der Götter Glorie gestaltend
Aus der Erde Geäder
In den Tunneln und den Höhlen
Gleich `nem Myzelium im Untergrund
Treiben sie voran die Alchemie
Die der Erde Früchte Schein verleihn
Erinnerungen erschaffend
Aus weiter Ferne zu Goldene
Träume des Morgen zu schaffen
Götter Runen aus der Erde Tiefe
Sonn` erblühn!
6. Ljusalfheim
[The Shining Ones]
[The shining ones, the elves and the fairies, are beings of enchanting beauty. They act as a thought or a fantasy and it could be easy for you to be lead astray by their splendid light. You may be lifted on their wings to the highest of skies, but beware…in the next moment they may let you fall.]
Solar glare from Lord Frej,
the Shining One,
in Ljusalfheim he`s King of elves.
High above the rainbow
and in the tarn deep in the wood
you`ll find the elves.
Follow their light
it`s brighter than the sun
it makes you fly…
In the realm of Alfheim
you never know what you have seen.
A pale mirage?
Beauty make you sunblind
it fills your mind
you fly away and lose your hug.
Fly with their wings
they make you feel so free
but you may fall…
Flee from their light
they`ll maybe drag you down
or make you fly…
7. Muspelheim
[Gudaskymning]
[From the south comes the forces of chaos and destruction. The ultimate heat from the world of Muspel will very soon burn the world and turn it into ashes. The firegiant Surt rides with his hords to meet the gods in the final battle of Ragnarok. But the whell of fate will turn once again and from the ash a new world will rise.]
Kaun
Gudaskymning faller på glöden
börjar flamma (Ur) ödets eld i Muspelheim
Ragnarök härstamma.
Muspilli flammor över Jord,
snart kommer Surt att härja,
Jättarna tända Ragnarök
(och) runor av eld besvärja.
Muspel öppnat sig
Surt som i syd med draget svärd
kallar på Muspels söner,
kommer till kamp på Vigrid slätt,
då hjälper inga böner.
Från syd kommer kaos.
Makter av eld här stormar fram
nu skola världen brinna.
Jättarna dräper guden Frej då
kommer ödets timma.
Frukta Muspelheim!
8. Nifelheim
[Dimmornas varld]
[The world of ice in the distant north is a very mysterious place. Among its fog and inside its ice, the seed of life is buried. When the heat of Muspel turn the ice of Nifel into a stream of water, the creation begins to take place. Even though the frozen water of Nifel conceal a spark of life, this is first of all a place of death and the world fear the lethal strength of the icegiants who were born here in the beginning of time.]
Nifel i nord [Bass]
Nifel i nord [Tenor]
Nifel i nord [Alto]
Nifel i nord [Soprano]
Jättar i norden vandrar fram skapta av rimfrost, tunga dimmors ljus
ur Vergelmers vatten stiger de, tunga i kroppen, med bestämda steg.
[Tenor:]
Dimmornas värld under Helheim
Dödens boning under Helheim
Dimmornas värld under Helheim
Dödens boning under Helheim
[Alto&soprano:]
Draken Nidhögg
här gnager på vårt träd
Elva floder
av köld här rinner fram
Hell Nifel!
[Bass&Alto:]
Nastrand, Nastrand
Nastrand, Nastrand
[Tenor:]
Nifelheim, Nifelheim
Nifelheim, Nifelheim
[Soprano:]
Den bistra kylan vi gör till vår vän, ja
dimmor i norden som sveper vår kropp
Jörmundgang! Nidhögg!
Nifel i nord [Bass]
Nifel i nord [Tenor]
Nifel i nord [Alto]
Nifel i nord [Soprano]
Hell Nifel!
[Bass&Alto:]
Nastrand, Nastrand
Nastrand, Nastrand
[Tenor:]
Nifelheim, Nifelheim
Nifelheim, Nifelheim
[Soprano:]
Den bistra kylan vi gör till vår vän, ja
dimmor i norden som sveper vår kropp
Jörmundgang! Nidhögg!
9. Vanaheim
[Seed of Ing]
[There are two races of gods. The Vanir-gods of Vanaheim belong to an old stock of gods, maybe even older than the Asir. They live on fertile fields and near the sea. They are known for their power over life and happiness and the seed is their symbol. The lord and lady, Frej and Freja, are the rulers of Vanaheim and they are united in the sacred marriage which brings life to the arable and pasture lands. Not known to everyone is the secret lore of witchcraft which the Vanir – gods teach the chosen ones.]
Take the seed of Frej
Put it in the sacred soil
make it come alive
And fertility will rise.
Enter Vanaheim
Where dead will come alive.
Magic of Freja
Take you to another world
By the trance of sejd
(The) sibyl see into your soul.
Enter Vanaheim
And you will know thy self.
Vana-king and queen,
Lord and Lady of the gods
If you sacrifice
They`ll release your fylgia.
Enter Vanaheim
And find your totem-beast.
By the seed of Ing
(Your) fylgia will take you high
Find it in your blood
From the days of Vanir war.
Enter Vanaheim
And you will fly in the fair fields
With the gods, forever.
10. Helheim
[Den dimholjda]
[Hel, the goddess of death is also the goddess of fulfilment. Her name means both “hole” and “whole” and she governs not only death but also the process of birth and rebirth. Hel was hurled down to the world of ice in the beginning of time and there she created nine dark worlds. The bright god Balder and the power of the sun descend into her misty realm, but in the future Balder will be reborn and rise from the womb of Hel like the sun in the springtime.]
Heldrasil, O Heldrasil
Den dimhöljda gudinnan Hel
i nio världar styr.
På Gjallarbron, i älven Gjöll
de döda söker Dig.
Allt för många inför Dig förtvivla,
O stora gudinna i Hel,
Ditt sköte är moder till tiden
hos Dig tager döden sin del.
Se nornorna spinna vår tråd,
vårt öde styra de
Till Gnipahålan går vår färd
likt Balder då vi dö.
Vi till Helheim likt Hermod ska resa
hos Döden vi finna vårt guld,
när Balder en gång kommer ålter
från Utrid, Verdandi och Skuld.
När Helgrinden ska öppna sig
då stiger solen upp
nu återfödd ur vinterns djup
tillsammans med Höder.
Som en skugga fanns Loke hos Höder
när Balder blev dödad med list.
och alla försvann ner till Helheim
med Misteltens magiska kvist.
Se Helgrinden som öppnar sig
och guden stiger upp
nu återfödd ur vinterns djup
med solen som sitt svärd.
Den fördolda gudinnan i Helheim
bedriver med livet sitt spel.
Ditt sköte är moder till tiden
O stora gudinna i Hel!
11. Secrets Of The Runes
[The runes are the secrets of the universe. Their inner meaning is hidden and concealed to the uninitiated. When you learn the secret of the runes your eyes shall open and you will become a god. By ancient techniques of ecstasy Odin enterd into the dark spheres of runic wisdom. He sacrificed himself to himself in his search for knowledge. If you follow his example and enter the way of Odin you might be told the true secret of runes.]
Hangatyr, Your whisper told me the secret of the runes.
I follow you to become immortal.
I take a ride on the worldtree, offer me to myself.
I hear the song
I carve the runes of the Irmin.
I pick the leaves of the worldtree, Yggdrasil my stallion
Eighteen I find (when I) sing the song of Odin.
I eat the fruits of the Futhark
Yggdrasil my stallion
I take a ride (and fly) with the wings of Odin
Seek it low you go to find them glow
By the well of Mimameid
Eighteen runes will come to you
Take the gand of Hangatyr
You will feel the serpent rise
12. Crying Days
[Originally performed by Scorpions]
Force yourself to use your brain,
The only way to gain,
A lot of things are just a lie
This world we love comes down in pain
With hate and bloody games
A question-mark up in the sky
Look, you can`t keep away
And you can`t hide
Tomorrow, yesterday, today…
Some people say, we`ll do it better
Some people say, everything`s good
Some people sing, let`s come together
But nobody has ever brought it through
Maybe you and me…
13. Summer Night City
Waiting for the sunrise
Soul dancing in the dark
Summer night city
Walking in the moonlight
Love-making in a park
Summer night city
In the sun I feel like sleeping
I can`t take it for too long
My impatience slowly creeping
Up my spine and growing strong
I know what`s waiting there for me
Tonight I`m loose and fancy-free
When the night comes with the action
I just know it`s time to go
Can`t resist the strange attraction
From that giant dynamo
Lots to take and lots to give
Time to breath and time to live
Waiting for the sunrise
Soul dancing in the dark
Summer night city
Walking in the moonlight
Love-making in a park
Summer night city
It`s elusive
Call it glitter
Somehow something turns me on
Some folks only see the litter
We don`t miss them when they`re gone
I love the feeling in the air
My kind of people everywhere
When the night comes with the action
I just know it`s time to go
Can`t resist the strange attraction
From that giant dynamo
And tomorrow
When it`s dawning
And the first birds start to sing
In the pale light of the morning
Nothing`s worth remembering
It`s a dream
It`s out of reach
Scattered driftwood on the beach
Waiting for the sunrise
Soul dancing in the dark
Summer night city
Walking in the moonlight
Love-making in a park
Summer night city
