The Day Odin Stood Still

Night time fell black over Odin's great hall
Mimir back crying by Hlidskjalf the stout
"What kind of sorrow echoes over the bay?"
The crows answered not, blank over Asgård sky
Fear struck Huginn's eye and Odin stood still

Down below the mighty fjords of sacred Norway
Wading the waters across, hundreds of long ships
One full winter they sailed under the white cross
The old gods laid astray, hail the word of a new god
Mead were no more brewed, and Odin stood still

Nordheim
Home of those who once were brave
Nordheim
Your heathen pride grieves in far off caves
Nordheim
Welcome the light of foreign cross
The white god has come over Nordheim

Wise once were the men, if they wise for us were
For ropes of sand they seek other man to wind
And break the oath toward the ancient gods
Wiser than all those who once were brave
Olav del Hellige cast his eye to the heavens
Mismatching Thor's sight: and Odin stood still

In Valland he was, northwards he sailed
Barns he destroyed and peace he brought less
The nobles who fell in the fight for the gods
Had their wrecked by the rite of bloodørn
Though on mark of Christianity, and Odin stood still

Driven by bloodlust his folk he did crush
To refuse it was death, to fare far out hope
A while to the stock a while to the stone
Town after town his men fell apart
Come springtime Nordland had one god, and Odin stood still

Rabid wolves they were like across the norther coast
Troms og Finnmark fell by hit of a stake
The last good men to the white doors did bow
The blood stained banners roaring tall in the wind
Till Hammerfest bent conquered alone and Odin did speak:

"In the god's name, glorious Norway did well
Since the fires of Muspell moulded its first stone
Fast its legends unfold, thousands of wolves of the sea

Much I have taught to the ears of brave men
Mighty Fimbulwinter has come
Yet the old golds stand proud, a new god live within"