Song of the Shield Wall
Words by Malkin Grey
Music by Peregryn Windryder
Hasten, oh sea stead, over the swan road,
Foamy necked ships o'er the froth of the sea.
For Hengest has called us from Gotland and Frisia
To Vortigern's country, his army to be.
We'll take our pay there in sweeter than silver,
We'll take our plunder in richer than gold!
For Hengest has promised us land for the fighting,
Land for the sons of the Saxons to hold!
Hasten, oh fyrds-men, down to the river.
The dragon ships come on the inflowing tide
The linden wood shield and the old spear of ash wood
Are needed again at the cold waterside.
Draw up the shield wall, oh shoulder companions.
Later, whenever our story is told,
They'll say that we died guarding what we hold dearest:
Land for the sons of the Saxons to hold!
Hasten, oh house-carls, north to the Danelaw,
Harald Hardrada's come over the sea!
His longships he's ladened with berserks from Norway
To claim Canute's crown and our master to be!
Bitter he'll find there the bite of our spearpoints,
Hard ruling Northmen too strong to die old.
We'll grant him six feet - plus as much as he's taller -
Of land that the sons of the Saxons will hold!
Make haste, son of Godwin, southward from Stamford.
Triumph is sweet and your men have fought hard.
But William the Bastard has landed at Pevensey,
He's burning the land you have promised to guard.
Draw up the spears on the hilltop at Hastings,
Fight till the sun drops and evening grows cold.
And die with the last of your Saxons around you,
Holding the land you were given to hold!
(Repeat first verse vigorously)
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Last Modified : May 27th, 1998
