Norse Counting Song
| Wyndreth Berginsdottir |
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music/lyrics c. 02/1999 Karen Kahan
One is the World-Tree, Yggdrasil. One is the Allfather's Eye. One is the dart that was Baldur's bane and One is the giant who would not cry. Only our wordfame outlives us all Only our wordfame outlives us all. Two are Freya's smoke-grey cats. Two are Vingthor's sons. Two are Hugin and Munin wise. Two are the ages of man, undone. Only our wordfame outlives us all Only our wordfame outlives us all. Three are the roots of the World-Tree strong. Three are the Realms, the triple 'Gards. Three are the Norns who weave the Wyrd for alf and man and Golden Gods. Only our wordfame outlives us all Only our wordfame outlives us all Four are the Brising's dwarven smiths. Four are the ways that the cold wind blows. Four are the hooves of Frey's gold boar. Four are the songs that the ocean knows. Only our wordfame outlives us all Only our wordfame outlives us all. Many are the colors of the Rainbow Bridge. Many are the War-Maids who choose the slain. Many are the einherjar who fill Valhalla. Many is the number of Odin's names. Only our wordfame outlives us all Only our wordfame outlives us all Many are the ages of Ragnarok raging. Many are the slain Aesir and Van. Many are the number of Fimbulwinter's freezing. Yet, once more, we live again! Only our wordfame outlives us all Only our wordfame outlives us all. Wyndreth's note--Counting songs are found in pretty much every culture we are aware of. I wrote this one because I couldn't find any Viking-Age Norse counting songs, and wanted to sing one anyway, and it was a Bardic Madness challenge besides. Nearly all the images I used find their basis in Norse mythology and/or the Eddas, in keeping with the common theme of counting songs teaching more than numbers. The chorus is deliberately simple to be easily learned and remembered. |
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