Haakon the Good - Old Norse Saga Song

[@SkaldBard]

Here’s another song I wrote and performed in Old Norse about the Saga of Haakon the Good (Hákonar saga góða), which was requested by a viewer. It’s an epic saga, and so many things happen that it’s hard to condense it into one song! That said, I tried to pick out some of the highlights to give you a gist of the saga in 7:30 minutes. :-) I hope you enjoy. If you’d like to see more, please consider subscribing! If you'd like to support my work, you can do so here: www.buymeacoffee.com/theskaldicbard. Many thanks!

[@meusisto]

Can we have the lyrics?

[@SkaldBard]

@@meusisto Sure thing, they're below: Hákon Haraldsson, hann óx upp á Englalandi. Aðalsteinn Englakonungr Hákon fóstraði, er var Noregskonungs Haralds Hárfagrs vinr ok gaf Hákoni sverð þat, er heitir Kvernbítr. Eiríkr Blóðøx réð í þann tíma Noregi. Var bróðir Hákons ok grimmúðigr í skapi. Þeir Sigurðr Hlaðajarl ok bœndr á Þingi til konungs valdu Hákon þá, er hann þar mælti. Hákon dró saman her ok rák Eirík ór landi, en þóttisk ógn af honum standa í Noregi. En fór hann til orrostu her enskra manna við, er hann lǫgðu norðr á því landi at velli. Heill sé konungr Hákon góði, Aðalsteinsfóstri, Vit hans Aðalsteins, styrk Haralds átti. Noregshilmir fróði, var dýrð í hans blóði. Hann rak Eiríkssyni ok Dani ór Noregi Hákon konungr þá undir sik Noreg lagði, en synir Eiríks leituðu eptir hans blóði. Sigldi konungr til orrostu á Jótlandi ok hann barðisk fast þar við sína bróðursyni. Svá djarfliga barðisk Hákon konungr góði, at hann var fyrir framan sitt merki ok drengi. Hann Hákon góði hvárki hjálm né brynju hafði ok þá rak hann flótta langt á land upp í ríki. Hann fór til Selundar ok víkinga leitaði. Hitti ellifu víkingasnekkjur ok lagði til orrostu ok lauk svá, at hann sigr hafði. Mannliga barðisk ok hrauð hann víkingaskipin. Styrkr ok spakr var Hákon góði, Aðalsteinsfóstri, Vit hans Aðalsteins, styrk Haralds átti. Noregshilmir fróði, var dýrð í hans blóði, Hann rak Eiríkssyni ok Dani ór Noregi Hákon konungr víða um Danmǫrk herjaði. Haraldi Blátǫnn þetta stórilla líkaði. Danakonungr gaf Eiríkssonum í ríki veizlur miklar ok þeir norðr fór Víkina í. Meðan svá vildi Hákon samlaga sitt ríki. Var kristinn maðr, en stundum til blóta sótti. Tók ráð þat, at fara leyniliga með kristni. Hann fyrst at festa sik í landinu ætlaði. Hann lét vígja kirkjur ok presta þar til setti, en þá er hann Hákon tók til orða á Þingi neitaði margr bóndi kristni, en á blóti gerði hann Hákon krossmark yfir Óðinsfulli. Hann bað Norðmenn friðar, hann Hákon góði, Aðalsteinsfóstri, Vit hans Aðalsteins, styrk Haralds átti. Noregshilmir fróði, var dýrð í hans blóði, Hann rak Eiríkssyni ok Dani ór Noregi Komu Hákoni tíðendi sunnan ór landi. Váru þá komnir af Danmǫrk þeir Eiríkssynir. Sendi Hákon þá orð Sigurði Hlaðajarli. Hann kom til konungs ok hafði mikit Þrænda lið. Sigldu suðr, fjándr komu á Norðr-Agðir. Varð þá orrosta mikil þar á Ǫgvaldsnesi. Hann Hákon Kvernbíti sverði fór at Guthormi. Fell Guthormr ok var hǫggvit niðr hans merki. Kominn var í lið þeira Eiríksona flótti. Þeir fóru austr, vildu bjarga sínu lífi. Eiríksonum sigldi Hákon konungr eptir, en þeir flýðu ok dvǫlðusk í Danmǫrk langa hríð. Hann var máttugi, hann Hákon góði, Aðalsteinsfóstri, Vit hans Aðalsteins, styrk Haralds átti. Noregshilmir fróði, var dýrð í hans blóði, Hann rak Eiríkssyni ok Dani ór Noregi Þá er Hákon verit Noregskonungr hafði tuttugu vetr komu aptr Eiríkssynir. Hann Hákon konungr undir Fræðarberg lagðisk Eiríkssynir fóru til, hǫfðu tuttugu skip. Þeir gengu af skipum fram á Rastarkálf allir, Hákon konungr sagði “Hǫfum langa fylking, svá at þeir Eiríkssynir eigi um oss kringi.” Varð þá orrosta in snarpasta ok mjǫk mikil. Hákon lét tíu merki ganga upp á vǫllinn á bak þeim Eírikssonum þar undir brekkunni, svá at hugðu, at þar myndi fylgja lið mikit. Þeir flýðu en Hákon sótti fram ok felldi lið. Hann var spaki, hann Hákon góði, Aðalsteinsfóstri, Vit hans Aðalsteins, styrk Haralds átti. Noregshilmir fróði, var dýrð í hans blóði, Hann rak Eiríkssyni ok Dani ór Noregi Þá sex vetrum eptir bardaga Fræðarberg við, vildu hefnask Eiríkssynir, er váru eptir. Í Storð spurði Hákon þat, at þeir váru komnir. Hann gyrðir sik með brynju ok sverðinu Kvernbít. Hákon skipar þá hirðinni í eina fylking ok bóndum þar með ok hann setti upp merki sín. En Hákon var reiddr, steypði af sér brynjunni. Norðmanna styrk Dǫnum sýna hann Hákon vildi. Konungr valði menn í hirð með sér at afli. Þórálfr inn sterki Skólmsson gekk á konungs hlið. Hann gyrði sik með sverði, er Fetbreiðr heitir. Fylkingar gengu saman, varð orrosta mikil. Hann Hákon ok Þórálfr gengu fram um merkit. Konungr var auðkenndr, af hjálminum lýsti. Konungsmaðr hǫtt yfir gúllhjálm konungs setti. Eyvindr kallaði, “Norðmannakonungr leynisk!” Hann Hákon konungr mælti hátt Eyvindar til. “Ef þú vilt finna mik, haltu svá fram stefnunni!” Eyvindr reiddi upp sverðit ok hjó konungs til. Hann konungr klauf hǫfuðit í herðar niðr. Gerði Þórálfr sverðshǫgg Álfi Eiríkssyni. Eptir fall þeira bræðra slær mikinn felmt í lið. Þeir flýðu, Hákon konungr var í ǫndverðri, þá flaug ǫr, er kom í hǫnd Hákoni konungi. Þar rann blóð svá ór hendi, at fekk stǫðvat eigi. Hann gekk út á skeið sína, en konung ómætti. Vildi fara til kristinna manna af landi, en hann dó þar, ok þeir veittu honum grǫft heiðinn. Hann var konungr Hákon góði, Aðalsteinsfóstri, Vit hans Aðalsteins, styrk Haralds átti. Noregshilmir fróði, var dýrð í hans blóði, Hann rak Eiríkssyni ok Dani ór Noregi.

[@benedgington2773]

Any chance of this coming to spotify?

[@alexisvogel2112]

Impressive how it has the same flow for 7 minutes

[@Quadraxis]

Fun fact: The current Norwegian royal family can supposedly trace their bloodline all the way back to King Harald Fairhair, who, according to legend, was of the Ynglingeætt (bloodline of the Ynglins) who were, according to the ancient sagas, direct descendants of the Norse gods themselves.

[@iberius9937]

Excellent tune! Brings back what seems to be a now mostly lost tradition not heard since the first Icelandic sagas were first written, or even before that. Not that I would know much, of course. My specialty is the southern side of things, not so much the north. 😉

[@meusisto]

Absolutelly great work. Just subscribed.

[@iberius9937]

And in reconstructed Old Norse pronunciation! Nice. Great melody, vocals and instrumentation! Very skaldic, indeed.

[@Sylrha_Takahva]

Perfect for some high intensity rowing! Especially with how it calms from time to time.

[@Briselance]

Once again, good bard, you did some great work.

[@emanuels.pezente1899]

Amazing job, man! Really nice song and story!!

[@BasedTeutonicLeon]

Beautiful 😍

[@langskeppet9887]

you are a treasure, you deserve 1000000 times more subscribers for these awesome songs, thanks alot man!

[@SkaldBard]

Thanks for the support, my friend!

[@user-zk5uj3wh5h]

You did great turning the saga into song. Amazing.

[@SkaldBard]

Thanks a lot, Anton!

[@harelkalifa2451]

700th Like! Found your channel as part of research about Scandinavian crusaders. Amazing music, and thank you for keeping this tradition alive!

[@umbralobserver]

I love how you emphasize the Christianity of these Norsemen of renown, but still tell the facts.

[@vikinglife3983]

God chooses only the greatest men to rule

[@Bjorn_Algiz]

Very interesting tone and instruments implemented.

[@Vilhjalmr]

Ek em svá glaðr at finna stǫrfin þitt, þú ert skáld mikill. Kveðjur frá Norðmandi !

[@SkaldBard]

Ek þakka góðu orð þín! Ek em feginn því, at þér líkaði kvæðit :-)

[@meateatingparrot8139]

Great song, and congratulations on getting 1,000 subs!

[@SkaldBard]

Thank you, sir Parrot

[@silesianpatriot.]

I dont understand how you can make a song by one person sound so badass haha. Keep it up

[@lopakacooper1668]

Yeah, he really is the master of his craft/trade. Masterful quality…

[@sirnilsolav6646]

I love Håkon the Good, one of my personal favourite kings of Norway. A good Christian king who made new laws and reforms to strengthen his kingdom, building fire beacons to signal across the country in case of a foreign invasion and created the leidang so that Norwegians across the country would stand together and fight to defend their country and king. As Eyvindr Skáldaspillir says "‘The sole slayer of jarls called on the Háleygir just as on the Hólmrygir; he went into battle. The munificent terrifier of Island-Danes had the good support of the Norwegians" ({Einbani jarla} hét á Háleygi sems á Holmrygi; fór til orrostu. {Inn gjǫfli œgir Eydana} hafði gótt gengi Norðmanna; stóð und árhjalmi.) He worked in cooperation with the population and although his Christian missionary work did not get very far, it planted the mustard seed that would bloom into Norway becoming a strong and independent Christian kingdom. He died, defending the country against the Danes and was fondly remembered as one of Norway's greatest kings, both Heathens and Christians mourned him.

[@Juan-qu4oj]

May Norway reject liberalism and return to Christ

[@lopakacooper1668]

@@Juan-qu4oj Not just Norway, all of Europe just resist the red plague… God willing, of course…..

[@ImperiumRomanum476]

​@lopakacooper1668 The Nords introduced a lot of systems from the "Red Plague" and look how well they're doing.

[@notme9816]

As a Christian and a Nationalist I love and endorse these songs.

[@MasterArtur]

Great Song! I'd like to see a song about Cnut the Great. Or something from ,,Saga of Erik the Red"

[@SkaldBard]

Nice ideas! Got something coming for Erik the Red at some point too

[@samuelflorenciooliveira]

Linda música

[@silesianpatriot.]

Just one Idea for Another Song: Maybe about the Livonian War where sweden Participated

[@SkaldBard]

That's a cool idea, thanks for the tip

[@RomaCatholica]

Amazing song. Could you write a song about Leif Erikson?

[@SkaldBard]

On the agenda! Thanks very much

[@lopakacooper1668]

You know it’s real when a song about Leif Erikson is made…

[@marvelloustraveller3559]

​@@SkaldBard can you write one on Eric bloodaxe?

[@ImperiumRomanum476]

​@lopakacooper1668 I will honour my ancestor by writing one about him.

[@notme9816]

Thank you for, as another commenter wrote that you emphasise the strong Christian belief these Kings and Kongsemner had. I was born in Sarpsborg, eststablished by St. Olav in 1016: It lost its prominence, was burnt by the Swedes three times, then we kinda gave up and moved downriver to a more defensible position ( Fredrikstad ). Aaand a mudslide in the 1700s sent the rests of St. Olavs town and forts and thwall etc. down the falls and the raging river ( Norways greatest river by the way ). The area I was born is rich in petroglyphs, stonecircles and stoneships. My Father share his love of historie with us when we were kids.

[@arthurs4093]

0:30 That's what happens when you mess with Egill

[@notme9816]

Don’t EVER mess with Skallagrimson,

[@georgosdidymus2023]

I think Old norse had a huge influence on Old Saxon (Old English) and that middle english is a by product of that. between Old English and Old Norse saga songs, old Norse sounds more akin to modern english.

[@lopakacooper1668]

I suppose even a modern English speaker could somewhat understand Old Norse even without a untrained ear. Mayybbeee…..

[@КарпетМаслов]

Красавчик просто Лучший!

[@FrankishMelchite]

I love the line, “Many Chieftains denied Christianity, but at the blót, Hakon made the sign of the cross over Odin’s chalice” Ah, Christian Vikings were the best of the Norsemen.

[@JaspervanDijk-ri7uu]

Is that a sign of respect or something?

[@njord-krakenarnesson5096]

That is a question or statement on perspective, my friend.

[@Codreanu_Prezent]

👏🏼🎊 God bless!