Nostalgia
03-11-2007, 10:04 PM
Now, everyone should know the roots that go along with their music, and there are specific albums by bands that helped pioneer a genre's origin. Bathory's contribution to both Black Metal and Folk Metal was phenomenal. However, this series was and is not intended for the artist's history; here we focus on something that is often forgotten: lyrics.
Blood Fire Death - "A Fine Day to Die"
Orgy of silence
Conspiracy of peace
Only the sound
Of the cold northern breeze
Twin sun sink fading
Behind the black lake
Asleep is the mountains
Yet the night is awake
Strange is the night
Now black stars rise
And many moons circle
Through silent the night
Along the black mountainside scattered
By the campfires awaiting the dawn
Two times a hundred men in battles
Tried by the steel in the arrow axe and the sword
By battle worn hunger torn awaiting
For the sun to break through the cold haze
And for the banners of Ebal to appear
On the hill in the suns first warm rays
The elder among the men looked deep into
The fire and spoke loud with pride
Tomorrow is a fine day to die
Now the morning advance from Far East
Now the sun breaks through dust clouds and haze
Now a forest of spears appears on the hill
And steel shines bright in the suns first rays
There're usually a set scene for the majority of lyrics, especially war-oriented lyrics that resemble or tell a tale of a certain battle. Now, this song sticks out, because there is no indication of a certain battle Quorthon is trying to explain, but instead he is painting the terrain of an epic, heroic battle.
One thing that Quorthon does point out is the location of the battle:
And for the banners of Ebal to appear
On the hill in the suns first warm rays
Ebal is a mountain range that is in Nablus, a city in Palestine. This short passage here paints an image of where these men are, and eventually where this war is going to be placed.
This album was released in 1988, and to many people these lyrics will be perceived as somewhat generic because of a vast multitude of bands basically repeating similar themes. Quorthon spat out many themes in his music that eventually created lyrical paths for many bands to follow, and this trait of his writing lives on in the writing technique of many Folk/Viking and Black Metal bands.
Blood Fire Death - "For All Those Who Died"
For all those who cried aloud
But whose tears were never heard
For questioning one almighty father
Of a heavenly distanced world
Beloved thee who submit
The holy writings assured
The golden cross-stained with innocent blood
But stand yet a thousand heavenward
Burning naked but smiling
Not full of fear but pride
Knowing death alone could cleanse them
Of the reasons for which they all die
For all those who died
For all those whose great beauty
Stirred their tortures to rage
And for all those whose great ugliness
Did the same
For all those who cried aloud in vain
For mercy on the rack
But whom of dying naked in scorn
Not ashamed
Burning naked but smiling
Not full of fear but pride
Knowing death alone could cleanse them
Of the reasons for which they all died
For all those who died
Pleas for mercy signs of guilt
Naked bodies broken on the wheel
Tears sign the confession
With crusted blood lips sealed
You can justify these lyrics any way you choose, as there are a lot of possibilities to their meanings. With that being said, though, I have a pretty solid interpretation of what these lyrics are trying to convey.
Christianization.
Now, it's rather obvious that this word spoke of conversion, value loss, and true petrifaction of all Germanic peoples. Quorthon is, however, very vague when it comes to his true intention on these lyrics, but he does leave some information regarding them:
For all those who cried aloud
But whose tears were never heard
For questioning one almighty father
Of a heavenly distanced world
I think everyone can see that these lyrics can be taken anyway you want them to, but once you understand the majority of Bathory's lyrical themes, you'll start reaching a more familiar grasp. Any religious conversion usually is dealt with violence and death, and there wasn't much voluntary conversion running through the blood of Pagans.
Quorthon harshly emphasizes the fictional realm of Christian dogma, as he reveals the line "of a heavenly distanced world". Lines like this further state my interpretation for the loss of Paganism.
Hammerheart - "Father to Son"
(Father to Son
Father to Son
Father to Son
From Father to Son)
Now born my son I name thee
After the sound of my Hammer's
Beat upon the anvil
On this chilly springtime day
The Hammerchild of my flesh
Of my blood to carry on
When I have reached Oden's end
Of my glorious warrior's trail
(From Father to Son
From Father to Son)
Call upon the spirits of our fathers
Long time gone with thunder
Ask them for truth and courage
When trouble is in your way
Learn to read and understand
The signs to few can clearly vision
Listen carefully to what
The Ravens have to say
Oh, hear the Thunder's roar
Greetings from our fathers long time gone
Tell so that no one ever will forget
What is in heart goes from Father to Son
(From Father to Son
From Father to Son)
Oh, watch the lightning strike
Feel the powers of the Hammer's pounding on
Take it to your heart and understand
What must live on from Father to Son
(From Father to Son
From Father to...)
Promise me, my son, to always
Cherish what is home to you
What is the truth and to
Defend all of your race
Never lose the values
I have taught to you
Always keep your moral and ideals
Do never bring your flag disgrace
(From Father to Son
From Father to Son)
Promise me my son before my corps
Is turning pale to
Grab my sword hold it to the sky
And call out my hail
Listen for the bronze horns
Watch the lightning strike then
You know I have reached Oden's end
Of my warrior's trail
Oh, my child please take heed
Through you I am granted to live on
These words more worth than you will ever know
Make them live on from Father to Son
This album is known as the so-called creation of the genre that many call Folk Metal now. Quorthon did all clean vocals on this album, which also created a more positive feeling to the album. But enough with that.
In basically any culture, the idea of your son passing on the families' name is crucial, and Quorthon created Hammerheart in a way that it covered the most critical aspects of the Nordic point of life.
Promise me, my son, to always
Cherish what is home to you
What is the truth and to
Defend all of your race
To give a more descriptive outline of what I'm talking about, this song is supposed to be taken more as a story than the lyrics to a song. In Norse mythology, family is created as the sole purpose of one's ideals and guidelines, and these lyrics are to portray the correct relationship a father should have to his son.
Oh, hear the Thunder's roar
Greetings from our fathers long time gone
Tell so that no one ever will forget
What is in heart goes from Father to Son
I hope everyone enjoyed this addition, and I also am wishing I can create another one in the next couple weeks.
Thanks a lot for reading!
Blood Fire Death - "A Fine Day to Die"
Orgy of silence
Conspiracy of peace
Only the sound
Of the cold northern breeze
Twin sun sink fading
Behind the black lake
Asleep is the mountains
Yet the night is awake
Strange is the night
Now black stars rise
And many moons circle
Through silent the night
Along the black mountainside scattered
By the campfires awaiting the dawn
Two times a hundred men in battles
Tried by the steel in the arrow axe and the sword
By battle worn hunger torn awaiting
For the sun to break through the cold haze
And for the banners of Ebal to appear
On the hill in the suns first warm rays
The elder among the men looked deep into
The fire and spoke loud with pride
Tomorrow is a fine day to die
Now the morning advance from Far East
Now the sun breaks through dust clouds and haze
Now a forest of spears appears on the hill
And steel shines bright in the suns first rays
There're usually a set scene for the majority of lyrics, especially war-oriented lyrics that resemble or tell a tale of a certain battle. Now, this song sticks out, because there is no indication of a certain battle Quorthon is trying to explain, but instead he is painting the terrain of an epic, heroic battle.
One thing that Quorthon does point out is the location of the battle:
And for the banners of Ebal to appear
On the hill in the suns first warm rays
Ebal is a mountain range that is in Nablus, a city in Palestine. This short passage here paints an image of where these men are, and eventually where this war is going to be placed.
This album was released in 1988, and to many people these lyrics will be perceived as somewhat generic because of a vast multitude of bands basically repeating similar themes. Quorthon spat out many themes in his music that eventually created lyrical paths for many bands to follow, and this trait of his writing lives on in the writing technique of many Folk/Viking and Black Metal bands.
Blood Fire Death - "For All Those Who Died"
For all those who cried aloud
But whose tears were never heard
For questioning one almighty father
Of a heavenly distanced world
Beloved thee who submit
The holy writings assured
The golden cross-stained with innocent blood
But stand yet a thousand heavenward
Burning naked but smiling
Not full of fear but pride
Knowing death alone could cleanse them
Of the reasons for which they all die
For all those who died
For all those whose great beauty
Stirred their tortures to rage
And for all those whose great ugliness
Did the same
For all those who cried aloud in vain
For mercy on the rack
But whom of dying naked in scorn
Not ashamed
Burning naked but smiling
Not full of fear but pride
Knowing death alone could cleanse them
Of the reasons for which they all died
For all those who died
Pleas for mercy signs of guilt
Naked bodies broken on the wheel
Tears sign the confession
With crusted blood lips sealed
You can justify these lyrics any way you choose, as there are a lot of possibilities to their meanings. With that being said, though, I have a pretty solid interpretation of what these lyrics are trying to convey.
Christianization.
Now, it's rather obvious that this word spoke of conversion, value loss, and true petrifaction of all Germanic peoples. Quorthon is, however, very vague when it comes to his true intention on these lyrics, but he does leave some information regarding them:
For all those who cried aloud
But whose tears were never heard
For questioning one almighty father
Of a heavenly distanced world
I think everyone can see that these lyrics can be taken anyway you want them to, but once you understand the majority of Bathory's lyrical themes, you'll start reaching a more familiar grasp. Any religious conversion usually is dealt with violence and death, and there wasn't much voluntary conversion running through the blood of Pagans.
Quorthon harshly emphasizes the fictional realm of Christian dogma, as he reveals the line "of a heavenly distanced world". Lines like this further state my interpretation for the loss of Paganism.
Hammerheart - "Father to Son"
(Father to Son
Father to Son
Father to Son
From Father to Son)
Now born my son I name thee
After the sound of my Hammer's
Beat upon the anvil
On this chilly springtime day
The Hammerchild of my flesh
Of my blood to carry on
When I have reached Oden's end
Of my glorious warrior's trail
(From Father to Son
From Father to Son)
Call upon the spirits of our fathers
Long time gone with thunder
Ask them for truth and courage
When trouble is in your way
Learn to read and understand
The signs to few can clearly vision
Listen carefully to what
The Ravens have to say
Oh, hear the Thunder's roar
Greetings from our fathers long time gone
Tell so that no one ever will forget
What is in heart goes from Father to Son
(From Father to Son
From Father to Son)
Oh, watch the lightning strike
Feel the powers of the Hammer's pounding on
Take it to your heart and understand
What must live on from Father to Son
(From Father to Son
From Father to...)
Promise me, my son, to always
Cherish what is home to you
What is the truth and to
Defend all of your race
Never lose the values
I have taught to you
Always keep your moral and ideals
Do never bring your flag disgrace
(From Father to Son
From Father to Son)
Promise me my son before my corps
Is turning pale to
Grab my sword hold it to the sky
And call out my hail
Listen for the bronze horns
Watch the lightning strike then
You know I have reached Oden's end
Of my warrior's trail
Oh, my child please take heed
Through you I am granted to live on
These words more worth than you will ever know
Make them live on from Father to Son
This album is known as the so-called creation of the genre that many call Folk Metal now. Quorthon did all clean vocals on this album, which also created a more positive feeling to the album. But enough with that.
In basically any culture, the idea of your son passing on the families' name is crucial, and Quorthon created Hammerheart in a way that it covered the most critical aspects of the Nordic point of life.
Promise me, my son, to always
Cherish what is home to you
What is the truth and to
Defend all of your race
To give a more descriptive outline of what I'm talking about, this song is supposed to be taken more as a story than the lyrics to a song. In Norse mythology, family is created as the sole purpose of one's ideals and guidelines, and these lyrics are to portray the correct relationship a father should have to his son.
Oh, hear the Thunder's roar
Greetings from our fathers long time gone
Tell so that no one ever will forget
What is in heart goes from Father to Son
I hope everyone enjoyed this addition, and I also am wishing I can create another one in the next couple weeks.
Thanks a lot for reading!