Nordic Folk band Wardruna revealed a beautiful new music video for Lyfjaberg, a single to fill the gap before the release of their upcomimg album, Kvitravn.
Lyfjaberg is an Old Norse word that means Healing-hill or Healing-mountain. It is known from Norse mythology and from the Eddic poem Fjölsvinnsmál as a place of comfort and cure for the sick and sore, as long as they manage to climb the mountain and bring offerings to its shrines, for “a gift demands a gift in return”. The song is already available on all major digital platforms.
Due to the pandemic, Wardruna had to postpone the release of their upcoming album Kvitravn, which was originally supposed to be released today (June 5th). They didn’t want to stay silent during these times of uncertainty, though, and decided to head back into the studio and record the non-album track Lyfjaberg so that they could reveal it to us, the fans, today.
Einar Selvik shared some words about the meaning of Lyfjaberg.
“The song expresses that climbing a tough mountain, both in reality and metaphorically, is a mental as well as a physical effort. I have tried to write this journey up the mountain as one for the mind and spirit as much as the feet and body. Anything of true value, comes at a true cost.”
Lyfjaberg features some singing by Iver Sandøy (Enslaved), who also helped with the parts of the recording. The music video was mainly filmed in the mountains at Tustna in Norway, in early May. At the time, the winter returned with full strength and the band had to endure half a meter of snow for three days and nights.
“On many levels, the process of making of this video reflected the meaning of the song itself. We all had to climb a few of our inner mountains to get it done. Huge thanks to Ragnarok Film and everyone involved for jumping into this project with full force from day one. We hope you will endure the walk and enjoy the song!”
The song is also available as a limited 12″ white vinyl, which can be pre-ordered from June 5th until June 30th. After that period of time, the record will never be sold again, since the label By Norse Music will only press the pre-ordered amount.
This collectors item is a white vinyl with etched B-side, with the original lyrics and English translations printed on the artwork.
You can pre-order the LP from the following links:
- EU/rest of the world: https://wardruna.aisamerch.de/shop-en
- North America: https://wardruna.aisamerch.com/
Lyrics:
Wardruna – Lyfjaberg
Sal din hug og lat den ri og renna
Med blinde augo vil du vegen finna
Djupt du dreg anden inn – let tankar svinna
Langsamt slepp anden fri – i vinden rida
Spinn spindel – tvinn i tankar, kverv i syn
Seidsongen, lint den lokkar hug or ham
Fram gjøno døri, gjøno kongro-sløri
Fram, ber med bare føt, den tunge børi
Ut in ditt indre ventar bratt ein sti
Høgt der på Lyvjarnut stend møyar ni
Ved fyrste stad der stiar krossar, biar du
legg frå deg kleda, alt du eige med
Der du er på veg, er dei til ingen nytte
Børa letnar, framom ventar tyngre veg
Ved andre stad der stiar krossar, biar du
legg frå deg tida, tunge tankar med
Der du er på veg, er dei til ingen nytte
Børa letnar, framom ventar tyngre veg
Ved tridje stad der stiar krossar, biar du
Legg frå deg reidsle, legg di maske ned
Der du er på veg, er dei til ingen nytte
Børa letnar, framom kjem dei tyngste steg
Nakjen der på nuten, kjenner berget deg
Nordre slær si ørnevengje, vinden dreg
Kring deg fær kvendeskuggar dansande
Ramme runar, mæl og manar, yve deg
Sott og sår
or marg og bein
or kjøt og blod
or hold og skinn
i vær og vind
ut du svinn
eg manar deg inn i berget blå
der korkje sol ell måne skin deg på
eg maner til skogen der ingen bur
og til den sjø som ingen ror
djupt under jordfast stein
til ingens mein
gjønom elva renna
havet venda
I vær og vind
ut du svinn
Korkje sol ell måne
skin deg på
Synk i den sjø som
ingen ror
I elva renna,
i havet venda
Lyvjaberg hev alltid stende
til trøyst for sjuk og såra
Kvar og ein som berget kliv
Lækjast for livslang sott
Legg den att på Lyvjaberget
Hødgi der åar alle,
buktar støtt seg nord og nedan
Bergar den som berget maktar
Translation:
Wardruna – Healing-mountain
Saddle your soul and let it ride
With blind eyes, you’ll surely find the way
Draw your breath in – let your thoughts fly
Let it out slowly – on winds you’ll bide
The spindle spins, the thoughts entwine revolving sight
The enchantment song lures the soul from its shape
Out through the door, through the cobweb-veil
Out borne on bare feet, a heavy burden
Out in your innermost, a steep trail ahead
High upon Healing-Peak, nine maidens await
At the first stop where paths cross, you pause
Leave clothes behind and all you own
Where you are heading, they’ll be of no use
The burden lightens, but heavy is the trail ahead
At the second stop where paths cross, you pause
Leave time behind, and weighty thoughts
Where you are headed, they’ll be of no use
The burden lightens, but heavy is the trail ahead
At the third stop where paths cross, you pause
Leave fears behind, let fall all masks
Where you are headed, they’ll be of no use
The burden lightens, but heavy is the trail ahead
Naked at the top, the mountain knows you
North waves an eagle-wing, the wind it draws
The shadow-women dance about you
They sing for you, chanting powerful runes
Wounds and sickness
Of marrow and blood
Of meat and bone
Of flesh and skin
into weather and wind
you fade
I summon you into the mountain blue
Where neither sun nor moonshine can reach you
I summon you into the forest where no one dwells
and out to the sea where no man rows
Deep beneath an earthbound stone
out of harm’s way
Run through the rivers
and roll with the ocean tides
Into weather and wind you fade
Neither sun nor moonshine can reach you
Sink in the sea where no man rows
Run through the rivers
and roll with the ocean tides
Healing-mountain stands for eternity
It comforts the sick and the sore
Each and every one who assails that rock
Will find their lifelong ailment cured
Leave it behind on Healing-Peak
Where the rivers and streams
dance northwards and down
That mountain mends all those who climb
Kvitravn will be released on January 22nd, 2021 by the labels By Norse Music and Sony Music.
