LEAVES’ EYES – “Sorhleod” own words and translation by Liv
Dear Fans & Friends,
Here’s my Song of Sorrow, my first song written and sung completely in Old-English. I remember the first time I heard Thorstens instrumental demo version of it: I was filled with great joy, and I got goose-bumps! If I may say so, this is probably my favorite piece of music on Meredead. I just felt that this song required Old-English lyrics, moreover, I feel like I can almost sense the movements of the waves in the chorus rhythm.
The perspective in Sorhleod is seen from a mans point of view. Thematically, it has a certain connection to the title track Meredead, in which the terrible fate of the men, dead by the sea, is seen from a female point of view. In Sorhleod the man explains the harsh and dangerous life, stuck on a drakkar, in ice-cold, raging winter weather, on sea, i.e. a hopeless situation, even for a tough, experienced Viking. As you probably have read, a Viking didnt stop sailing until he found land, i.e. retreat and return to home was out of the question. Thats how Leif Eiriksson ended up discovering America (Vinland), missing out on Greenland due to misty weather. In Sorhleod, the drakkar is still lost on the open sea, and the men fear, that they might not survive. We dont know if his prayers to Mary will be heard, though. His prayers to Mary is of essential importance: Historically, the action in my poem takes place after 1000 AD, as Norway was gradually Christianized in a process starting at approximately 1000 AD by Christian missionaries (which was substantially finished by 1150 AD).
That was your history lesson for today 😉
Sincerely,
Liv/Leaves Eyes
Sorhleod (original)
Hwilum ylfete song
Dyde ic me to gomene
Nu thu miht gehyran
Tha sorhleod
Daeges ond nihtes
Calde gethrungen
Waeron mine fet
Forste gebunden
Hrimcealde sae
Hreo haeglfare
Haelethum on andan
Ic to sothe wat thaet bith
Haelethum on andan
Ic to sothe wat thaet bith
Eall thaet therinne is
Ceare sarra sorga
Ic eom bitter in breosthord
mid sorgum gedrefted
Marian leofa modes milde eallgylden
Is me nu lifes hyht thaet ic haelan mag
Sorhleod (translation)
Sometimes the song of a swan
I had as my entertainment
Now you might hear
This song of sorrow
For days and nights
Piercing cold weather
My feet were
Frost bound
Ice-cold sea
Fierce hailstorms
To the terror of men
I know too truly what that is
All that there is inside
Sorrow, grievious sorrows
I am bitter in my heart
Drenched in sorrow
Mary, beloved, gracious soul, most beautiful
It is now my lifes hope that I might heal