Hamnavoe from Stretching Skyward by Gnoss
HAMNAVOE - Aidan Moodie
One of Aidan’s songs inspired by the Orkneyinga Saga - a mythical and historical account of Orkney’s Earls and conflicts dating between the 9th and 13th centuries.
Orkney didn’t always belong under Scottish rule, it was once briefly owned by the Danish, and of course, ruled over by Norwegian Jarls who were chosen by the then King of Norway. These Jarls sailed huge, Viking-filled ships on epic expeditions across uncharted waters, immortalising their heroisms in poem.
Nowadays, you see Okney’s Viking heritage perhaps most clearly in the names of its islanders; Sweyn, Magnus, Thora, Thorfinn, Senga, Freya, Sigurd.
Tracklist
| 2. | Hamnavoe | 3:07 |
Lyrics
In the grass we burned them
Broken bones and rafters
The moon dancing in our eyes
Sleeping in the longship
Silver coins and riches
A salt wave washed against the hull
And we sing the songs our fathers did
And we carry all their hopes
Landed on a new land
Pushed shields to the castle
The sun danced along my axe
A soothsayer warned us homeward
No good will meet you here
Vultures feathers flood the floor
And we sing the songs our father did
And we carry all their hopes
They’ll write songs of us
The poet / The ravens
They’ll write songs of us
The mountains / The heavens
And we sing the songs our fathers did
Credits
License
All rights reserved.
Glasgow based folk band.
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Gnoss: a dynamic four-piece of fiddle, flute, guitar and bodhran that tackle energetic tune sets and driving folk song with a "maturity of ability many of a greater age will envy" (Living Tradition).