Dödskvädet

 

“Dödskvädet (The death song) is based on different stanzas of Ragnar Lodbroks death song (Krákumál). A poem of 29 verses, probably derived from the 1200 century. The poem has never been translated into Swedish; however, the lyric poetry in Dödskvädet is based on several different verses that are assembled.

Krákumál is about Ragnar Lodbroks many deeds, but the most interesting thing about the poem is perhaps its ending where Lodbrok mentions that he wants to die laughing – an ideal among the great warriors and followers of Odin.”

 

Lyric :

Svärd svingats har och spjutens ting jag utkämpat

Kämpat har, stridit har

Som ung jag färgat spjut och mången segrar jag vunnit

Blodat mark, stridigt stark.

 

Asar bjuder mig hem,

döden är ej av sorg

Oden välkomnar mig

och skrattande vill jag dö.

 

Diserna sända hit

från Härjafaderns eviga hall

Oden väljkomnar mig.

Med Asar jag bälgar mitt öl.

 

Svärd svingats har, och spjutens ting jag utkämpat

Skrattande vill jag dö

 

English translation :

Swords have been wielded, and the spears

assembly I have fought

Fought I have, waged war I did

As a young man I dyed spears,

and many victories I won

Blooded soils, fought strong.

 

Aesir invites me home,

Death is not of sorrow

Oden welcomes me

And laughing I want to die.

 

The dísir have been sent here

From Odin’s great hall

Odin welcomes me.

With aesir I bellows my beer.

 

Swords have been wielded,

and the spears assembly I have fought

Laughing shall I die.

 

Source : Månegarm

Illustration by Kris Verwimp