At the Battle of Maldon - Michael Kelly - (Rosalind Jehanne cover)

My cover of another of Mistress Rosalind's wonderful pieces about great historical events and the famous literary works that describe them.
The song references the battle of Maldon (near the River Blackwater in Essex, England), in which an Anglo-Saxon force under the command of Byrhtnoth (an ealdorman in the service of King Æthelred the Unready) suffered a crushing defeat by a group of several thousand viking invaders on August 11th in the year 991. The viking army is thought to have been led by Olaf Tryggvason, who was to become the king of Norway only 4 years later.
A famous Middle English poem titled "The Battle of Maldon" describes the event. Apparently the vikings landed and offered peace in exchange for tribute, but Byrhtnoth refused.. and in his 'ofermode' (translated by some to mean pride, recklessness, or excess of courage), he allowed them access to the mainland to properly do battle rather than fighting them at the more easily defensible causeway which led to the small island midriver where they had beached their ships. Byrhtnoth was slain in battle, and rather than surrender, the majority of his men fought to the death - despite some confusion surrounding one of his men fleeing the battle on Byrhtnoth's horse.
After the defeat at Maldon, King Æthelred paid the vikings a tribute of 10,000 roman pounds (3,300 kg) of silver to end the bloodshed, the first example of Danegeld in England.
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"AT THE BATTLE OF MALDON" - written by Mistress Rosalind Jehanne (m.k.a. Jonna Bernstein)
Here must we hold
So hearken to my counsel
Felled is our lord
Slain by foemen on the field
Now we must honor
The oaths we made in mead-hall
Now we must shoulder
The burden of his shield
Great were his gifts
Of gold and noble gemstones
High were the halls
Where the heroes boasted so
He was our lord and
Loathe am I to leave him
Vow to avenge him
By vanquishing the foe
For our hands shall be the harder, and our will shall be the wiser
And our hearts shall be bolder as our strength must end
Come and follow me to glory, so that when they tell the story
We shall not be forgotten in the halls of men
I will not flee, but
farther will I follow
Boldly to battle
With broadsword in my hand
More than my life
Was the love I bore for Bryhtnoth
Fierce will I fight now
And so defend this land
Come I from kindred
Of honor and of courage
Ne'er shall they say
That I nothing was at war
Stand with me steadfast
Staunch against the Vikings
Wield ye your weapons
Like warriors of yore
For our hands shall be the harder, and our will shall be the wiser
And our hearts shall be bolder as our strength must end
Come and follow me to glory, so that when they tell the story
We shall not be forgotten in the halls of men
We stand undaunted
The last of the defenders
Stout-hearted men
Who can strike a mighty blow
We will encourage
Each other in the war-play
Let them advance now
For we shall lay them low
Death is our doom
But let us die with honor
All that lives after
Is what the bards do say
Fight to be worthy
Of fame in the future
Let them remember
The deeds we do today
For our hands shall be the harder, and our will shall be the wiser
And our hearts shall be bolder as our strength must end
Come and follow me to glory, so that when they tell the story
We shall not be forgotten in the halls of men
We shall not be forgotten in the halls of men

[@philippetersen5687]

Second only to 'The Song of Roland'!

[@foxfriends8072]

Just listened to that one!

[@rhondareed3002]

I rank this one ahead of Roland!

[@snubbles9991]

Yea I know, he does a great job with these songs.

[@imtired9395]

Any man who is not moved by the act of charging into certain death in defense of a virtuous ideal you truly love is no true man.

[@maritesmacapagal101]

This is so underrated

[@oldboy977]

Such a Noble song that you have imbued with great spirit! Well done!! I hope you continue to make such songs.

[@BardMichaelKelly]

Thanks so much :) The lion's share of the credit must go to Rosalind Jehanne, the talented lady that wrote the song. But I'm pleased to have done it some justice.

[@oldboy977]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iImagHWHl9d6mrc Have you considered covering this song also? Another Saxon epic from one of the people on the Shavasue channel. I think you could do a great job at it!

[@Tom_Quixote]

Beautiful. I feel there's a lot of the spirit of the British Isles in this song. In addition to the lyrics, I definitely 'sense' this story is not told from the viewpoint of the Vikings. "Ofermode" is readily understood in Danish even today.

[@lordofshadows9645]

Aye this is a song of the Saxons of mercia! Fighting the sons of ragnar at maldon.

[@Skylarynn]

Over the song you can really hear his ardor build as he starts to growl some of the lyrics - this song is so good!

[@tomcroteau6034]

I love this song. Good job. I have been listening to it on repeat the past few days.

[@LLO227]

OMG!!! I never wanna hear another song ever again!!! This song shall remain on Repeat 🔄🔄🔄🔄 until thine words are embedded to memory 🎶!!!

[@afc85]

Haha I'm so addicted to this tune. My mates think I'm a bit strange when I'm blasting your epic voice 🤣🤣🤣👌👌👌👌

[@LLO227]

Who else is ready to for the Battlefield after hearing this masterpiece!!!! Courage restored!!!

[@sergeyandriets2966]

Masterpiece

[@athanasiosfoteinos7082]

Epic, Heroic and Inspiring. It touches the heart of people with soul and guts.

[@lordofshadows9645]

The lord of maldon led a charge against the danish forses led by jarl sigurd Ragnarson. However when the lord of maldon an individual named byrhtnoth was struck down by a spear. Hus theghns and raised fyrd rather than flee charged the Danish in an effort to avenge their liege. It was an unfortunate saxon defeat that day.

[@ScotchLizardman]

I thoroughly enjoy songs like this. Well done

[@GregoriusTheBrown]

This is fantastic. Just a note on your description, though: The Battle of Maldon, the poem, was originally in Old English, not Middle English. If it were Middle English, that translation I had to do in grad school would not have been anywhere near as grueling. That being said, this interpretation really captures the spirit of Anglo-Saxon culture and the Old English poem. Anyway, awesome song. Subscribed.

[@psalm91rdwlkfpgrl]

Thank you for including lyrics in the description

[@Flybabyfish]

Makes me feel like I'm in a tavern sipping on something warm, or around a blazing magnificent fire with a great crowd of people!

[@Asriksrava]

Gods this is amazing. Bought your CDs a while ago and as soon as I can afford I'll sign up for your patreon

[@winkleried]

DAYUM !!!!

[@FromThePurpleHouse]

What an exquisite voice!

[@saraferreira9607]

Gave me goosebumps! Loved it

[@angelocraft7241]

👏👏👏

[@mmcaog]

Brilliant :)

[@erikf1255]

If I were to fight and die in a battle I'd want you to tell my story.

[@CasperTheRamKnight]

Amazing

[@Kyo-gca]

Amazing.

[@BardMichaelKelly]

Thank you so much! :)

[@dominiquepemberton3935]

*Buckles swordbelt with Anglo-Saxon intentions*

[@Anglisc1682]

Hot

[@Flybabyfish]

This is an absolute masterpiece!!!

[@LLO227]

So soothing 😌 😴 ☺ ✨!!! Well done Sir!!! A Trillion Thank yous and all honors 🎖 given.

[@BoiseG]

That was awesome. Loved it!

[@weronikapatena2569]

Amazing performance, thank you!!

[@joaquindominguezarduengo7298]

Loved it!

[@MagicalReflectionPondCamera]

Love it!!

[@alizaellner3696]

I keep expecting the refrain to turn into Queen of Argyle 😆 Rousing song!

[@rhondareed3002]

This is my favorite song and rendition :)

[@WildCar13]

Hope this and Song of Roland eventually make it on to an album.

[@thegreatselkie6009]

❤❤❤

[@rhondareed3002]

Michael, I love that drum. What is it called?

[@BardMichaelKelly]

It's a bodhran (pronounced 'bow-rawn' - like the bow of a ship), though a bit of an odd design for one. If a bodhran is tunable, usually the screws/pegs are on the inside of the drum rim, rather than on the outside like this one has.

[@nykolairifo8612]

briilliant

[@nykolairifo8612]

THIS. this is the voice the Nord hear walking to sovngarde

[@Sobieski_IV_Emperor_Gods_mercy]

The Moment is counting.

[@februus6460]

cool

[@cthulhu1797]

Story time: I was playing for honor as a warden, with another random warden by my side. The other team was full of vikings. Our team was breaking and we were the only ones left, and yet we fought their team off twice before we died. Rest in peace, GrImReApEr77. You were the best damn soldier I've had the honor of fighting beside.

[@TtvGreyDracoKing]

You're welcome buddy

[@cthulhu1797]

@Jared Larkin The dead don't care, douchebag. Why do you?

[@cthulhu1797]

@Jared Larkin And I'm 16, so you just insulted a kid. Good job, Jackass.

[@cthulhu1797]

@Jared Larkin Really? What the fuck is wrong with you? I give you my age and you continue on with your BS. Are you a troll or are you just that much of an insecure POS that you have to talk shit about a 16 yo online. This is the world we live in, huh? An (I'm assuming) adult insulting a minor. Wow.

[@cthulhu1797]

@Jared Larkin Or do you just have nothing better to do with your time than go into the comment section and type some bullshit to random people? Is that what you find fun?

[@LLO227]

One day we'll be able to Tattoo this song on our Celestial mp3s...oh wait ✋ 🎶 💕 done!!! October 1st 2021

[@Thorston_the_Just]

I've been practicing this. I wanted to make it my own, but I keep finding myself mimicking your timbre without meaning to.

[@demonxkiller1]

Would you sing songs like Jenny of Oldstone or the Rains of Castamere from Game of Thrones?

[@BardMichaelKelly]

Not familiar with Jenny of Oldstone, but I've already covered the Rains of Castamere. It was one of the earlier ones that I did for the channel, back before I upgraded my equipment. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoGqg2qYZbtrkMk

[@centurion7993]

@@BardMichaelKellyJenny of oldstones is a song from GoT about the summerhall tragedy if I recall, it is quite good

[@TheHugSlug]

I wish he’d come to the Ohio Renaissance Festival

[@positrondecay4784]

Michael Kelly Race: human Class: Level 20 Bard

[@Flybabyfish]

XD

[@jawersneiderrojasalvarez2692]

Hi, could someone share with me this the song lyrics ?

[@BardMichaelKelly]

The lyrics are in the video info. Click on 'SHOW MORE', and scroll down. :)

[@jacquelinecadwgan4633]

Not sure how I got here.... but what Kingdom are you from?

[@BardMichaelKelly]

Kingdom of An Tir, specifically in the principality of Tir Righ (An Tir is a pretty big place).

[@jacquelinecadwgan4633]

@@BardMichaelKelly Thanks - I was looking at your workmens songs and then others , after this I found more easily identified SCA stuff you have released. I am in Lochac. If you ever make it down this way, let me know :-), I am loving your opus

[@pastnastification69]

Damn that opening drum I just can't fuckin get it DAMNIT I SHALL INVADE ALL OF EUROPE!

[@Sobieski_IV_Emperor_Gods_mercy]

Fight, a Price is there. Friends, Comrades, People, Brothers and Sisters. ☝️☺

[@ricobaganz4285]

Could you do a Version of this for the brave defenders of Ukrain?

[@centurion7993]

This is a song of the Anglo-saxons which he is covering, rather than original, though I reckon that sounds like a great song idea P.S. this song was originally written in old English and then translated, so it is quite old

[@ricobaganz4285]

@@centurion7993 i know but i am a bad writer - otherwise i would do it on my own

[@Sobieski_IV_Emperor_Gods_mercy]

Sing with You

[@jazminhanes6547]

It's soo disappointing to know that the Saxons lost

[@foundationofBritain]

'English' not 'Saxon', the Battle of Maldon was, what?, six decades and four years or there abouts, after the unification of England in 927... So they were English, not 'Saxon', also modern spoken English is from the old Mercian dialect, not west Saxon... so, if any thing, 'Anglian' would be more better name to call the English than 'Saxon'.

[@centurion7993]

@@foundationofBritainthe men at the battle were Anglo-Saxons of Mercia, both Anglo-Saxon and English apply to this period as it is pre 1066

[@MagicalReflectionPondCamera]

Bardcore!

[@Sobieski_IV_Emperor_Gods_mercy]

Bin jetzt auch auf Twitter. Morgen kommt da ein mega guter Tweet. ☝🙂 Könnt also gespannt sein. Hehe, super.

[@Sobieski_IV_Emperor_Gods_mercy]

Die(se) (that) Musik ist wunderschön. ☺

[@tomcroteau6034]

Also, have you ever tried standing up when you sing? I think it might open up your diaphragm a little bit and encourage a little more liveliness in your performance. I hope that doesn't sound like I'm nagging. I've just noticed that a bit of an "active body" can tend to lead to a more active performance. Again, sorry if that is an unwanted criticism. It's just something that I was thinking about as I listened to your song.

[@Sobieski_IV_Emperor_Gods_mercy]

This is yet. Still underrated. Yeah.

[@Sobieski_IV_Emperor_Gods_mercy]

1000 Years Friends, and Comrades. Original all

[@Sobieski_IV_Emperor_Gods_mercy]

🇩🇪 Sehr gut, 👍

[@huejjasol8080]

I've heard the original this version was better

[@centurion7993]

Old English do hit different

[@YeomanLocksly]

Most of the Saxons fled, can you blame them? Only that dolt's personal retinue faught to the death.

[@centurion7993]

They still charged in an attempt to avenge their lord, they only broke and routed after giving the Vikings a good thrashing

[@Sobieski_IV_Emperor_Gods_mercy]

Saxon, Saxon, Saxon ! ! !

[@Sobieski_IV_Emperor_Gods_mercy]

🇩🇪 The traitors of Europe managed to get all of you, to leave us. But I will never give up and fight for Europe to be the country of Europeans and for you to be there again. 🇪🇺

[@alexmag342]

Silence indoctrinate, europe is not a country, and Britain and all European nations are sovereign and owe no loyalty to the parasitic Judas controled EU bureucrats. Death to the globalist EU

[@Sobieski_IV_Emperor_Gods_mercy]

Am also "the king of kings", Mohammed, the messanger of God. Am, were als Merlin, many ather livetimes, in eternity. The last war comes.

[@Sobieski_IV_Emperor_Gods_mercy]

Versuche die Kontrolle, über dich selbst zu behalten.