Runaljod - Yggdrasil

Runaljod - Yggdrasil is the second album by Norwegian Nordic folk Wardruna. It is an interpretation of the Elder Futhark and is sung in Norwegian, Old Norse and Proto-Norse. The lyrics center around Norse spiritual themes.^[1]

Lyrical content and themes

The song "Fehu", used in the first season of TV series Vikings during a raiding scene, tells of the dangers of gold and wealth and how greed takes over the hearts of men.

The title of the opening song, "Rotlaust Tre Fell", meaning "a rootless tree falls", is based on the philosophy of the band. The song is an invocation of the Allfather Odin and "my mother Frigg" and "wise Vanir", "ancient Thurs" and the Norns. "Rotlaust Tre Fell" was used in the third season of Vikings during preparation for an attack on Paris.

The final track, "Helvegen" ("the Road to Hel") is essentially a funeral song. The song (and album) closes with the famous stanza from Hávamál: "Cattle die, kinsmen die, You yourself will also die, but the word about you will never die, if you win a good reputation. Cattle die, kinsmen die, You yourself will also die, I know one that never dies: the judgement of those who died".^[2]

Track listing

^[3]

Personnel

• Kvitrafn – Vocals and instruments
• Gaahl – Vocals
• Lindy Fay Hella – Vocals

References

• http://www.wardruna.com/