[The Blood of Kvasir]

[Lyrics by Grutle Kjellson 1996]
[Music by Ivar Bjrnson & Grutle Kjellson 1996]

A war ruled in ancient times
Between the holy races, the Vanirs and the Aces
When peace came, the deities united
From a bowl filled with spit rose Kvasir

"Wise he becomes, he drinks the holy mead
The blood of Kvasir, but not he who drinks
From the spilled mead that dripped
From the falcon"

Kvasir the father of poets by dwarf hands he died
From the blood of Kvasir they made the mead of poets,
The holy drink
Fjalar and Galar once murdered Gilling the Giant,
The father of Suttung
Enraged, Suttung demanded justice to be fullfilled
The blood of Kvasir became the mead of Suttung

Grimne flew out from Valhalla
In the shape of the falcon
To the home of Giants and to Nitberg
Bauge was decived, and Gunnlod betrayed

Out from Nitberg the falcon flew
Finally Kvasir should return to Aasgard
But when the mead disappeared Suttung became furious
Out, in the shape of the eagle he followed
Sadly, Grimne had to spill from his valuable treasure
Which led to the making of the false poets
The falcon flew home to his domains
And Suttung flew into the flames of Tjalve

[Norwegian]

I gammel tid hersket det en krig
Mellom de hellige slekter, baner og ser
Da freden kom, ble guddommene forent
Opp fra et kar med spytt steg Kvarsir

"Vis blir den som drikker av mjden,
Kvarsis blod, men ei den som drikker
Av den spillte mjd som dryppet fra
Falkens ham"

Kvarsir, hvis skalders far han var,
Ble tatt av dage av dvergehender
Av Kvarsirs blod lagde de skaldemjden deh hellige drikk
Fjalar og Galar myrdet en gang Gilling jotun, Suttungs far
I Sinne krevde Suttung mannebot
Kvarsir blod ble Suttungs mjd

Ut fra Valhall flasket Grimne
Kledd opp i falkens drakt
Til Jotunheimen og Nitberg
Bauge bie narret og Gunnlod sveket

Ut fra Nitberg falken fly
Omsider skulle Kvarsir hjem,
Men da mjden forsvant ble Suttung vred
Ut han styrtet i rneham

Akk, mtte Grimne slippe dyrebar last
Slik ble de falske skalder skapt
Falken fly hjem til sin borg
Og suttung inn i Tjalves flammer