Alternative Lyrics to Well Known Songs 28 - Sacred Hymns

(These lyrics is based on the song 'Broken Wings' by Mr Mister)

This is a dialogue between a, ahem, Jonah-like (i.e. whinging) follower of Odin who struggles to emulate, be like, his chosen God.  The follower speaks during the verses (in plain font), spending his time whining and lamenting about his own in-adequecies.  Odin speaks during the Choruses (in italic font), encouraging his lamenting follower to sing sacred hymns as a means of behaving, acting and thinking as an Odinist ought to do.  i.e. as one that does.  (Odin looks down on those who just think/theorise and do nothing).  Odin also encourages his follower to look up during thunder storms.  After all, thunder and lightning are signs of Odin - in his role as 'Thunderer'.  (Odin has many names which can be found HERE.)  It also mentions that Odin is the source of 'Holy Fire', which generally points towards his place at the centre of the pantheon, where all things originate, where all things grow from, where all things gain power from, where all things arise from, etc.

It's a song that exhorts confident action rather than procrastinating and dwelling on inadequecies.  Whether you believe in Odin, gods, the spirit realm etc, or not, having confidence and a pro-active attitude will be better for you than having the opposite.

Play the song in the video above and sing along with the alternative lyrics given below.


#Sacred Hymns#Odin,
I don't understand,
why we can't hang on to each others minds.
This time might be the last I fear
unless I make it all too clear I need you so.
Ooh oh oh oh.

"Sing these sacred hymns
learn to fury again
to set your soul free;
and when you sense
thunder 'n' lightning
you'll know to look up heaven-ward
and blaze with me.
Sing these sacred hymns."

Odin.
'bout last night
I cannot apologise enough
for what I said.
Oooh.

Odin!
I now know
that you are the primal source of all holy fire.
I need it so.

"Sing these sacred hymns
learn to fury again
to set your soul free;
and when you sense
thunder 'n' lightning
you'll know to look up heaven-ward
and blaze with me."

"Sing these sacred hymns.
You're going to learn to live
like a true son of thee;
and when you sense
thunder 'n' lightning
you'll know to look up heaven-ward
and blaze with me.
Yeah yeah.
Yeah yeah."

"And blaze with me."

"And blaze with me."

Odin,
It's all I know,
that you are the primal source of 'all' holy fire.
Yeah yeah yeah.
Yeah yeah.

"Sing these sacred hymns
learn to fury again
to set your soul free;
and when you sense
thunder 'n' lightning
you'll know to look up heaven-ward
and blaze with me."

"Sing these sacred hymns.
You're going to learn to live
like a true son of thee;
and when you sense
thunder 'n' lightning
you'll know to look up heaven-ward
and blaze with me.
Yeah yeah."
"Yeah yeah."

Ooh ooh.


[End of lyrics.]


 

Alternative Lyrics to Well Known Songs 24 - Fighter in bare-skin

This weeks alternative lyrics series deals with the topic of berskerkers [1], or more accurately with the state of mind that berserkers experience following their fury/frenzy.  The principle characteristic of a berserker is well known, it's the reason that the word 'berserk' or the phrase 'going berserk' is in the English language.  It's a state of mind which is associated with intense rage-like emotions which cause the individual to 'see red' and attack any obstacle that blocks their path.  Unfortunately the emotions that the berserker experiences following their 'rage' are less well known.  If people knew more about these emotions then perhaps they would see berserkers in a different light.  As individuals with attributes which can be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on the situation, rather than as 'mentally unstable' or 'thugs' or other derogatory terms.  The emotional weakness that berserkers experience following is described in the wikipedia entry given below.  (emphasis added):

This fury, which was called berserkergang, occurred not only in the heat of battle, but also during laborious work. Men who were thus seized performed things which otherwise seemed impossible for human power. This condition is said to have begun with shivering, chattering of the teeth, and chill in the body, and then the face swelled and changed its colour. With this was connected a great hot-headedness, which at last gave over into a great rage, under which they howled as wild animals, bit the edge of their shields, and cut down everything they met without discriminating between friend or foe. When this condition ceased, a great dulling of the mind and feebleness followed, which could last for one or several days.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berserker#Theories

It's this weakness, this emotional fragility that the song lyrics given below are about.  For every day their must be a night, for every up their must be a down and so on, so for the berserker they must experience the ontological opposite of what they experienced during their rage: coldness, loneliness, despair, acute awareness of self and other unpleasant emotions.

Odin is also mentioned in the song, and Odin's love for the berserker.  This may seem odd, saying that Odin loves the berserker knowing what we do that berserkers experience explicit loneliness.  One may think "What type of God would do this?" or "What kind of person would value a God that treats them this way, that makes them feel this kind of feebleness?".  Which is a perfectly reasonable question.  The only response that I can give is that most Gods in the Indo-European pantheon (which includes the Norse Gods) are dualistic, i.e. they have traits which lay on both sides of the proverbial see-saw, road, tree, or whatever.  In the case of Odin, his rage in the berserker period is balanced by the weakness following the berserker period.  This means that if you or anyone wants to experience something that a God has to offer (like the berserker rage), then you must experience the other half of the God (like the berserker weakness).  This is the only way that balance can be maintained.  It also explains why Odin loves berserkers even though he causes them to experience weakness, because at the end of the day, he is weakness as well as rage, so he loves them as much as himself.

Play the song in the music video above and sing along with the alternative lyrics given below.

# Fighter in bare-skin # 
Fighter in bare-skin
is-now are reaching the end.
His frenzy has ended
world turned on it's head
Anguish approaching
and also regret.
The might of these feelings
he cannot express.
Odin loves him.
Odin loves him.
Oh, Odin loves him.

Laying in darkness
as cold as the void.
His rage is all burned now,
it has left him behind.
No sort of comfort
anywhere can be found.
The rage that bought him here
has left him for dead.
 
Odin loves him.
Yes Odin loves him.
Oh, Odin loves him.
Odin loves him.
 
Fighter in bare-skin
has now pass-ed the end.
Regaining composure
regaining his mind.
Regaining some semblance
of his former self.
Why does he do this?
Experience this life?
 
'cause Odin loves him
Yes Odin loves him.
Oh, Odin loves him.
Oh, Odin loves him.

'cause Odin loves him
Yes Odin loves him.
Oh, Odin loves him.
Oh, Odin loves him.




Footnote
[1] Hence the name of the song 'fighters in bare-skin'.  You could change it to 'fighters in bear-skin' if you like.  Both names 'bare skin' and 'bear skin' seem valid explanations of the etymology of the name 'berserker' for different reasons: 'bare-skin' because the berserker is a manifestation of an extremely masculine trait, the trait of scrutinising or subjecting other things to scrutiny (the berserker is extremely assertive and so attacks and does nothing but attack).  Hence the berserker will be extremely sensitive to any thing that scrutinises him, including clothing because if something scrutinises him then it means that he is not being masculine/assertive enough.  Masculine is active and imposes it's will on others, feminine is passive and is imposed on by others.  Schopenhaur pointed this out when he said that male and female 'Will' is most clearly expressed in the reproductive organs.  'Bear-skin' is also legitimate because objects like bear skins are often used by shamans and other to induce a particular state of mind.  In the case of the berserker the individual uses a 'bear skin' to induce a bear state of mind.


[End.]

Alternative Lyrics to Well Known Songs 22 - Rousing Feelings

This song is about the rousing feelings, the inner-fire, that a father gives to his son by BEING a positive example himself. By having a ‘sparkle’ in his eye and a ‘warm heart’ does he give encouragement to his son.

Their are three characters in this song from the Norse Pantheon (including one who you all know): Thor, Magni (one of Thor’s sons), and Nidhoggr (the most wicked serpent who lives at the bottom of The World Tree, Yggdrasil).

In this song, Magni feelings are roused by looking into the face of his father as Magni battles with the evil serpent (Nidhoggr) who dwells at the bottom-most of The World Tree. Nidhoggr desires to end the world, this world, your world, my world, because he is evil and hates goodness, and it is Magni (which translates as ‘Great’, like in the word ‘magnificent’) who will destroy Nidhoggr with his mighty hammer.

It’s a curious thing: that on this occasion evil trickery is ‘not’ destroyed by a mighty brain, but is instead destroyed by a mighty arm. It’s reminiscent of Alexander the Great solving the puzzle of the Gordian Knot by using a strong arm wielding his sword. If you find yourself confonted by the forked silver-tongue of a woman, politician or whoever, and feel like they are over-whelming you with lies then you might consider using the Magni approach: physical prowess, be it prowess in your arms or in your prowess in your voice.

Play the song in the music video above and sing along with the alternative lyrics given below.

# Rousing Feelings #Well Nidhoggrs forked tongue,
Makes my heart hurt.
And Nidhoggrs forked tongue,
Makes my heart, makes my heart hurt.

The sparkle in Thor's eyes,
Keeps me alive.
And the sparkle in Thor's eyes,
Keeps me alive, keeps a me alive.

Nidhoggr.
And Nidhoggr wants me down.
Nidhoggr and Nidhoggr yeah,
Nidhoggr wants me down.

Nidhoggr's forked tongue,
Makes my heart hurt.
And Nidhoggr's forked tongue,
Makes my heart, makes my heart hurt.

Yeah-hey...
(Yeah-yay-yeah-heaa)
(Yeah-yay-yeah-heaa)

The fire in Thor's heart,
Keeps me alive.
And the fire in Thor's heart,
Keeps me alive.
And still in Thor I find,
Rousing feelings.
And still in Thor I find,
Rousing feelings.

And Nidhoggr.
And Nidhoggr wants me down.
And Nidhoggr and Nidhoggr.
Nidhoggr wants me down.
And Nidhoggr and Nidhoggr and Nidhoggr.
Nidhoggr wants me down.
And Nidhoggr and Nidhoggr and Nidhoggr and Nidhoggr.
Nidhoggr wants me down.

Ah...

Hey-yeah...
Hey-yeah...

And Nidhoggr.
And Nidhoggr wants me down.
Nidhoggr and Nidhoggr wants me down.
Yeah Nidhoggr wants me down.
And Nidhoggr.
Yeah Nidhoggr wants me down.
And Nidhoggr and Nidhoggr wants me down.
Nidhoggr wants me down.

(Hey-yeah)
(Hey-yeah)
(Rousing feelings)
(Rousing feelings)


[End of Lyrics]

Alternative Lyrics to Well Known Songs 21 - Hodur

The Song: Hodur (based on 'Sandman' by Metallica)
Hodur is the Norse God of war.  He is known the blind god, because he is a God who lives in the midst of action, in his case, in the midst of battle.  This means that he has an over-abundance of single-mindedness, and almost no self-awareness.  His abundance of single-mindedness means that he can excel at the thing that he does (in his case fighting), but has no self-awareness thus has no ability to change what he can excel at, or even change what he does.  He is so dedicated to doing one thing that he is blind to everything else.  This includes other Gods.

Hodur's blindness to other God's is one of the main contributing factors to the Norse end-times scenario called Ragnarok ('the Twilight of the Gods').  Hodur ends up being exploited by Loki (aka the Trickster) into killing his brother and a God whom everyone loves - Baldur.  One day Loki redirects Hodurs war-bow to point at Hodur, and replaces the arrow (which is harmless to Baldur) with mistletoe (which is lethal to Baldur), and gets Hodur to fire the mistletoe at Baldur, killing him.  This act, plus others, which are also instigated by Loki, lead to the end of the Cosmos as we know it.

But there is a happy ending to this tale.  Following Ragnarok and the destruction of the Cosmos, some of the Gods remain, along with a pair of humans who have taken refuge somewhere, the Gods rebuild the Cosmos and establish their own order, and two of the Gods whom rule in this new Cosmos are Hodur and Baldur.  Thus despite the fact that one brother killed the other, they make peace and end up living in harmony.

The story of the blind God Hodur killing Baldur is one that has an analog in real life.  The analog being that young soldiers (who are predominantly young men who are blind to the ways of the world) are often exploited by other people (politicians, officers etc) whose intentions are quite often malevolent.

Finally, some of the lyrics in the song itself describe a few actions that some Odinists use when they wish to induce a Berserker state of mind: biting the shield, hitting themselves etc.  These actions are designed to bring on a physical and violent reaction in the mind of the Berserker, and cause him to become more single-minded & focused, like Hodur.

Play the music video above and sing along, in your head or out loud, with the alternative lyrics given below.

 

 

# Hodur #
I am fight.
I am rage.
I invite everyone,
to join me Hodur.
To feel the burn,
feel the speed,
feel the action,
feel the engrossing.
Fight with skin as armour,
killing is all I know.
 
Exit light.
Enter fright.
Hear me roar.
I am Hodur God of War.
 
Beat me up.
Beat me up.
Get my blood right up.
'till I'm pumped as fuck.
Bite my shield,
strike my chest,
and then turn to my left,
and scream at the Rekkr!
Yeah!
Fight with skin as armour,
killing is all I know.
 
Exit light.
Enter fright.
Hear me roar.
I am Hodur God of War.
 
Yeah-heh.
 
Now I whirl around in a fit,
(Now I whirl around in a fit,)
of bleeding madness and have the need,
(of bleeding madness and have the need,)
to taste the blood of enemies,
(to taste the blood of enemies,)
and hear them shriek in terror.
(and hear them shriek in terror.)
 
Hear me speak: I am war God,
and I completely scare the fuck,
out of verminous enemy,
and the filthy race traitors.
 
Exit light.
Enter fright.
Hear me roar.
 
Exit light.
Enter fright.
Hear me roar.
I am Hodur God of War.
 
Yeah.
 
War.
Yeah yeah!
 
Yo-oh.
 
I am Hodur God of War.
(Fate is in my hands).
 
I am Hodur God of War.
(Fate is in my hands).
 
I am Hodur God of War.
(Fate is in my hands).
 
I am Hodur God of War.
(Fate is in my hands).


[End of lyrics.]
 

Alternative Lyrics to Well Known Songs 19 - Odinian Rhapsody

Introduction:
This edition of ‘Alternative Lyrics’ has a re-written song from the decade that brought us cultural-clobber like platform shoes, long hair and psychedelic colours.

If you’re interested in re-writing lyrics to songs then you might want to try using one or more of the following techniques:
a) Work with songs that you’re familiar with and that you enjoy listening to. It’s a lot quicker than familiarising yourself with new songs and then coming up with some alternative lyrics.
b) Write down any lyrics that just pop into your head when you first hear the song.
c) Find a copy of the original lyrics on-line, then read them and note how many syllables each line has. Then when you write your own lyrics, you can make sure that each line has the same number of syllables in it as the original. Doing this helps the alternative lyrics to sound ‘right’ when sung over the original.
d) Occasionally use words that are phonetically similar to the original lyrics.  This makes the alternative lyrics sound better when sung over the original song track.


The Song: Odinian Rhapsody (based on Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen)
This is a song from the first-person perspective about how one mans struggle to liberate himself from the Big Mother state. A state which denies him his freedom to think and behave and travel where he pleases. In this case the man is one of Odin’s own, and so the man uses ‘Wod’ (which is a kind of fury, a rage, that is used to destroy anything tyrannical) to liberate himself by destroying Big Mother. The squiggly parenthesis { } are used whenever Big Mother is speaking.

‘Big Mother’ is a more accurate term for the commonly used ‘Big Brother‘ (originally coined by George Orwell as a name for a totalitarian government). Credit to Ryu for first coining the phrase.

The lyrics include seven Norse-Pagan terms: Odin is a God you’ve all heard of, Hod and Hermod are two of Odins sons, Sleipnir is Odin's horse, Wod is a kind of righteous rage/fury, Valknut is a three-triangle symbol of Odin, and ‘Crooked-Cross’ is a Swastika (as used by many cultures around the world including Celts, Greeks, Buddhists).

Lean forward, play the music and sing along (if only in your head)

# Odinian Rhapsody #
This isn’t real life.
This is a fantasy.
Caught in a labrynth.
With no escape from th’ evil tyranny.
So, open your mind.
Look up to the Gods and see.
I’m just a Wod boy, I need my liberty.
Because I need to come, need to go,
in my mind and in my boots.
Any way Odin blows, his will really matters to me, to me.

Big Mother, just killed a man.
Put ritalin in his head.
Screwed his mind up, now it’s dead.
Big Mother, his life had just begun.
But now you’ve gone and thrown it all away.
Big Mother, ooo.
You need to let me go.
If I’m not allowed to go by this time tomorrow,
I will Wod, I will Wod, because Odin really matters.

Too late, your time has come.
As you will not let me be.
I will destroy you totally.
So goodbye Big Mother, you’ve got to go.
So I can wander on out there and find the truth.
Big Mother, ooo {any way Odin blows}.
You’ve just gotta die.
I sometimes wish you’d never been born at all.

I see some little Nordic symbols on the wall,
Crooked cross, crooked cross, Valk-knot and two white pine trees.
{Odin riding Sleipnir very, very frightening for me.}
Hod and Hermod,
{Hod and Hermod}.
Hod and Hermod,
{Hod and Hermod}.
Hod and Hermod, will hear my call.
{will hear his call}

I’m just a Wod boy, Big Mother hates me.
{He’s just a Wod boy one of Odin’s family.}
{We won’t let him live his life as Odin intended he.}
The Wod it comes, the Wod it goes, will you let me Wod?
{Big Mother: No! We will not let you Wod}
Let me Wod!
{Big Mother: We will not let you Wod}
Let me Wod!
{Big Mother: We will not let you Wod}
Let me Wod!
{Will not let you Wod}
Let me Wod!
{Never let you Wod}
Let me Wod!
{Never let you Wod}
Let me Wod!
{No, no, no, no, no, no, no -}
B-Big Mother, B-Big Mother, Big Mother let me Wod.
{Big Mother is completely terrified of thee,}
{of thee,}
{of thee!}

So you think you can tame me and milk me dry.
So you think you can fuck me and leave me to die.
Big Mother – I’ve destroyed you Big Mother.
Now I can get out, now I can get right outta here.

Ooh yeah, ooh yeah.
Odin really matters,
anyone can see.
Odin really matters.
Odin really matters to me.

Any way Odin blows.


[End of Lyrics]

Alternative Lyrics to Well Known Songs 15 - Faithful to Thee

[Pre-amble: This is one in a series of posts which includes an alternative set of lyrics to a well known song.  Each post will also contain a short introduction to the topic at hand, and a brief explanation of the song itself.  A video of the original song will be included so that the reader can listen to the original song while reciting the alternative lyrics at the same time.]

 

The Song: Faithful to Thee (based on 'Set you Free' by N-Trance)

This time around we have a song about one of the females from the Norse Pantheon, Sigyn.  Sigyn is the wife of the Trickster Loki and her name translates as 'Faithful', because that is what she is.  She remains faithful to her husband Loki even when he is bound down in the deepest recesses of Hel(not to be confused with the Christian Hell, which itself is a perversion of one particular realm of the Indo-European afterlife), where he is being punished by the Gods for something he did.  Loki is bound in a stone chair and has a giant snake over him dripping poison onto him.  Sigyn stops the poison from falling on Loki by collecting it in a cup.  This is a true sign of faithfulness: sticking by a husband even when he is an outcast from the community, and even when he is in Hel, and she is doing an awful job (collecting poison).

 

An image by Collingwood of Loki being punished in Hel.  Sigyn lovingly stays beside him, capturing the poison that a snake continually drips on him.

 

The ability to endure, to persevere and suffer, and to keep doing her job is a sign of her strength of character.  Sigyn is not 'A fair weather friend' or 'A fair weather wife'.  She sticks by her man, her husband, to the bitter end.  That is true faithfulness.  And faithfulness is not something we here much of in the modern world, a world with high divorce rates, which is why I thought it was worth writing about.

Play the song in the music video above and sing along with the alternative lyrics below.

# Faithful to Thee #
Oh ho-uh yeah.
When I hold you Loki,
Feel your heart beat close to me.
Gonna stand by you forever.
I will be faithful to thee.
 
While I stand here right beside you,
In the deep recesses of Hel.
You must know that I will never leave you.
I will be faithful to thee.
 
Faithful to thee.
Faithful to thee.
Faithful to thee.
Faithful to thee.
 
Oh ho-uh yeah.
I collect this venomous poison.
Before it drips right down on you.
'cause I can't stand to hear you hurting.
I will be faithful to thee.
 
Faithful to thee.
Faithful to thee.
Faithful to thee.
Faithful to thee.

Oh ho-uh yeah.

Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
 
Faithful to thee.
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
Faithful to thee.
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
Faithful to thee

Oh ho-uh yeah.

Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
Faithful to thee.
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
 
Oh ho yeah.
When I hold you Loki,
Feel your heart beat close to me.
Gonna stand by you forever.
I will be faithful to thee.
 
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.

 

Faithful to thee.
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
Faithful to thee.
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
Faithful to thee.
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.
Faithful to thee.
Oh ho-uh yeah.
Uh uh ho-oh yeah.

 

 

[End of lyrics.]

Alternative Lyrics to Well Known Songs 9 - Tyr's the God of Law

[Pre-amble: This is one in a series of posts which includes an alternative set of lyrics to a well known song.  Each post will also contain a short introduction to the topic at hand, and a brief explanation of the song itself.  A video of the original song will be included so that the reader can listen to the original song while reciting the alternative lyrics at the same time.]



The Song: Tyr's The God of Law (based on 'Wonderwall' by Oasis)
Living a life that is built in harmony with a set of principles and structure is going to be more productive than one which is lived without any kind of order at all.  It's a myth that world beating innovators are the kinds of people who are 'chaotic' and bohemian drunkards who wear dishevelled clothing.  Look at the great innovators and inventors throughout history and it becomes clear that these men had ordered lives that had a solid structure, routine, that they lived by.  Philo Farnsworth was well dressed, Arthur Schopenhauer was well known for following a rigid daily schedule (walking in the afternoon regardless of the weather), and Copernicus tested his results a phenomenal 77 times each(!) to ensure that they were accurate.  That shows dedication to a particular way of living and thinking: an ordered/structured way of living that allowed them to exercise their freedom within a particular framework.  Their discoveries are evidence of the kind of benefits that anyone can gain by having a little structure in their lives, a little self-created law and order.

The Norse God of (amongst other things) Social Order is Tyr.

This is called the Tiwaz rune.  It is the rune which represents Tyr.  It represents single-mindedness, drive, focussing on 'one thing' to the point where all other options either side are excluded.  Remember it whenever you are driving and see a similar road sign.

Here is a sound summary of Tyr's nature from a follower & practitioner of the Norse belief system:

'He is a god of martial skill, moral rectitude, honor, law, social order, bravery, and absolute justice. As shown in the story of how he lost his hand, he is a god who values the letter of one's word as the heart of honor (as opposed to the more Odinic view of the spirit of one's word as central to honor).

[..]The advantages of Tyr's approach to life are many. His unyielding, inflexible nature gives him great power and skill in battle. It gives him high standing in society, honor, and renown. It enables him to effect the binding of the Fenris wolf, and so save the worlds of gods and men from certain destruction. There are disdvantages to this approach as well, though. As mentioned in the section on wunjo, that which cannot bend can be broken. Great, unswerving focus can bring great strength, but it can bring many missed opportunities. To see only the road ahead is to not see those to the side. How the athling relates to, what the athling learns from the mysteries of Tyr is a matter of individual decision. But it is a decision the athling must face, for in making it the athling gains greater control over his own effectiveness in the world.'
(Source: http://www.uppsalaonline.com/uppsala/runes.htm)

Order and stability are great attributes that Tyr enables us to have.  Can you imagine what it would be like living in a chaotic world where there was no civil law, or social law, it would be like Somalia or Detroit, madness!  Then just think what life would be like without biological, or physical laws, or even logical laws, it would be a world of chaos, of madness, and of uncertainty.  Tyrs laws enable us to live a stable life, a structured life that unburdens us of chaos and madness, in which we can do Our Will.  That's what a little law, a little structure does to a life, it allows it to grow.  That's what Tyr gives us.

So whether it's a weekly routine for exercises, or a monthly routine for sorting your financial accounts, or a yearly routine for your allotments & wild-fruit picking (blackberries during August in the UK), or whatever it is, have a little order in your life; and importantly, make sure that 'you' choose them, that they are 'your' laws that you will stand by, just like Tyr did when he said he would give his right hand if Fenrir broke free of his bonds.

Tyr puts his hand in the mouth of the giant, ever-growing wolf Fenrir.

Play the music video above and sing along with the alternative lyrics given beneath.


# Tyr's The God of Law #
To day is gonna be the day that Tyr's laws will enable you,
to act how you wanna act now but you're deficient in the laws that will,
give you the rigid stability to live your life as you wanna do.
Gladly you take his book of laws and then go and regiment your life.This day and every other day you live your life so stoicly.
The growth of your life is proof that the rigid laws of Tyr have bettered thee.
And all the laws that Tyr did give are obliging.
And all the laws that Tyr did give are binding.
There are things that you could not have done without with Tyr and his book of laws.In all certainty,
it's Tyr's rigid laws that bettered thee.
So 'member y'all,
Tyr's The God of Law.

To day is gonna be the day that Tyr's laws will enable you,
to act how you wanna act now but you're deficient in the laws that will,
give you the rigid stability to live your life as you wanna do.
And all the laws that Tyr did give are obliging.
And all the laws that Tyr did give are binding.
There are things that you could not have done without with Tyr and his book of laws.In all certainty,
it's Tyr's rigid laws that bettered thee.
So 'member y'all,
Tyr's The God of Law.
In all certainty,
it's Tyr's rigid laws bettered thee.
So 'member y'all,
Tyr's The God of Law,
In all certainty,
it's Tyr's rigid laws bettered thee.
It's Tyr's rigid laws bettered thee.
It's Tyr's rigid laws bettered thee.
[End of lyrics.]

Alternative Lyrics to Well Known Songs: 7 - Knows the Future

[Pre-amble: This is one in a series of posts which includes an alternative set of lyrics to a well known song.  Each post will also contain a short introduction to the topic at hand, and a brief explanation of the song itself.  A video of the original song will be included so that the reader can listen to the original song while reciting the alternative lyrics at the same time.]

The Song: Knows the Future (based on 'Show me Heaven' by Maria McKee)

I'd intended to write a love song this week, so I chose a fairly well known hit love song from the eighties, loaded it up on Winamp, played it a couple of times to re-familiarise myself with it, and typed down the words that popped into my head.  This song is the result of what came out.  It's not what you'd call a, um, [cough] typical love song...  It mentions prognostication, Ragnarok (the end part of a cycle, like a solar year), and also reincarnation!  Not your usual run-of-the-mill love song themes!  Yet it's best to run with these things when they run with you.  That's the way inspiration goes sometimes, it's waay out of your control!

This is a song with lyrics oriented around two well known Gods from the Norse religion: Odin and his wife Frigga.

One-eyed Odin.

Odin has one eye because he cast the other one into the Well of Mimir (from the root word 'meme', as in 'memory') in order to gain knowledge of the future.  His remaining eye 'blazes like the sun'.  Because he knows about the future, he is able to change it according to his will.  His will is that Yggdrasil (the World Tree which contains all of existence) lives on.  To this end he 'schemes' and plots and battles with whatever tools he has at hand to preserve Yggdrasil as long as he can.

The four Norse terms in the song might need explaining, though it's not essential to know them to understand/enjoy the song. 

- 'Gripped' is a modified version of 'engrippened'[LINK] (which is to do with being possessed, gripped, by a particular spirit). 

- 'The Way' is one of Odin's names ('Way Tamer'[LINK]) which hints at his motive nature. 

- 'Ragnarok'[LINK] is 'End Times', though it doesn't mean that the 'end of the world is imminent' rather that one period/phase is coming to an end.  Like a day comes to an end, or a year, or a human life, or whatever.  All things must eventually die, but Odin wants life to continue, for the 'World Tree' to continue to grow, hence he schemes to make sure that the enemies of the World Tree are not victorious.

- 'World Tree' is Yggdrasil[LINK], which is like an Ontological tree that includes all of the various branches of existence (e.g. mental and physical, male and female, up and down, and the other mundane opposites that we deal with every day).

Finally, it should be noted that scheming and thinking about the future is one of Odins many, many attributes and they are used for a good cause.  It is an attribute that we might want to reproduce in our own lives.

Play the song in the video and sing along with the lyrics below.

# Knows the Future #

There he goes.

Blazing sun-light

From his eye.

Frig-ga,

Summons him,

And holds him tight.

She knows what's coming.

It's Ragnarok, end of-the world.

She's terrified,

And needs to know,

That she will be ok-aay,

because Odin knows the Way.

O-o-din

Knows what's coming,

Yes he does.

He-knows the future.

O-o-din,

Knows what's coming.

Yeah.

There he goes.

He's scheming to save World Tree.

Frig-ga,

Needs his mind,

To steady hers.

She knows what's coming.

It's Ragnarok, end of-the world.

Many will perish, even some good.

But the world will be reborn.

Like a new Golden Dawn.

O-o-din

Knows what's coming,

Yes he does.

He-knows the future.

O-o-din

Knows what's coming.

Yeah.

Odin'll tell what it's like,

to be reborn.

He will Grip you tight,

And lead you on.

O-o-din.

Knoweth.

Yes he does.

He-knows the future.

O-o-din,

Knows what's coming.

Yeah.

He knows the future.

He knows the future.

Yes he does.

Oh yeah.

He-knows the future.

O-o-din.

[End of lyrics.]

Alternative Lyrics to Well Known Songs: 4 - Shine On

[Pre-amble: This is one in a series of posts which includes an alternative set of lyrics to a well known song.  Each post will also contain a short introduction to the topic at hand, and a brief explanation of the song itself.  A video of the original song will be included so that the reader can listen to the original song while reciting the alternative lyrics at the same time.]

The Song: Shine On (Based on Shine On by House of Love)

This is a song about a story from Norse mythology, and involves just three characters (one of whom you know): Thor, Sif (a fertilitity goddess who is married to Thor, and is known for her golden hair), and Loki (a fire giant who is known as 'The Trickster' because, well, that's what he is!).

The story goes that one night, Loki, in a mischievous mood, decides to creep into Sifs house and cut her golden hair off.  When Thor comes back home and finds out what has transgressed, he threatens to bash Loki with his hammer (Mjolnir) if Loki doesn't put the situation right.  Loki listens to Thor and so pays a visit to some Dwarves (who are well known for being excellent craftsmen) who make a replacement wig for Sif, made of pure gold.  Loki gives the wig to Sif, who takes it and puts it on.  The wig then fuses with her head and becomes like her original hair, only golder and brighter.  (A full re-telling can be found HERE.)

Loki from the Uppsala site.  A fire-haired Loki displays his fire-minded ways.  He is very much like fire: chaotic, on-edge, unpredictable, impetuous, dangerous yet also necessary.  It's never a dull moment with Loki around!

I don't know what the moral of this story is.  It depends whether you see Loki as 'a loveable rogue whose impetuousness gets him into sticky-situations', or as a 'cunning soul with far-sightedness that helps everyone'.  If you see him as a 'loveable rogue' then his Mischief-Making is only childish fun.  But if you see him as 'cunning' then you see his Mischief-Making in a completely different light.



Play the song and sing along with the lyrics given below.

# Shine On #

Sleeping sound on a goose-feather bed,

Sif was peaceful and deep in dream-land,

When Loki crept in her private-quarters,

Intent on mischief,

On this day.

He saw Sif's hair and he saw it shine.

It shined so bright because it was divine.

Loki took it and he chopped it off,

The Trickster,

Just for fun.

Sif,

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

Thor came home and he saw Sif's head,

He saw the evil that Loki had done.

Thor threatened to bash Loki,

with Mjolnir,

for his deeds.

Sif,

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

It transpi-ired that Loki heeded Thor.

He went to a Dwarf,

Who made replacement golden hair.

It was bright, so bright as the summers day.

It was golden.

It will last,

For eternity.

Sleeping sound on a goosefeather bed,

Sif was peaceful and deep in dream-land,

When Loki crept in her private-quarters,

Intent on mischief,

On this day.

Sif,

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

Oh Sif,

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

Oh Sif,

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

Sif, Sif, Sif, shine on.

And on.

And on.

Shine.

Shine on.

Shine.

Shine.

[End of lyrics.]