King Edmund Ironside - Old English & Old Norse Song | The Skaldic Bard

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Here is another original song I wrote in Old English and Old Norse. Music, lyrics and performance by The Skaldic Bard.

This time, it’s about the glorious King Edmund Ironside.

Edmund inherited a kingdom in disarray with the Danish threat looming large. Against grave odds, he took victory in battle against Cnut the Great’s Danes multiple times. The final showdown between the two kingdoms was at the Battle of Assandun on October 18th, 1016. The fight was faring decently well for the English until the troublesome Ealdorman of Mercia, Eadric Streona, betrayed his people by withdrawing his troops from the battle. The Danes were then able to overwhelm and slaughter the resisting English army, but Edmund Ironside fought alongside his men regardless. He fought with the legendary sword, Steadfast, inherited from King Offa who ruled hundreds of years before him.

Edmund actually survived the battle, but his kingdom was divided in two, and he died under somewhat mysterious circumstances a month later. After Cnut the Dane ascended the throne of England, Edmund’s family was exiled.

The song features a Norse verse lauding the king, as it is they who gave Edmund the moniker Ironside—Járnsíða—so they clearly held him in high esteem for his bravery. The Danes raised a church on the anniversary of the battle in 1032 to honour the fallen on both sides.

In making this, I have tried to do justice to one of my favourite Englishmen, so I hope you enjoy it. Please like the video and leave a comment if you did (I love reading them).

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Lyrics:
[Old English]
Oferlange drēorfāh, mǣste þearfe þis land āh
on sċēadwīsum gūþfrēan, þe ofercume þā fān.
Lǣwendas mīnra landa ādrifne bēon æt mīnre handa.
Þēah iċ fō tō lāðrīċe, Denum wiþstande iċ stranglīċe.
On Westseaxum iċ samniġe fyrd tō gōdienne Lundene wyrd.
On felde bere iċ Stedefæst; hēo is sċīreċġ trēowfæst.

Uton ealle ārian hine, Ēadmund cyning Engla Īsensīdan!
Nis nǣnig swā glēaw and æsċrōf swā ūre godfyrhta wealdend!
Æt handa swican ġefēoll his rīċe, þǣrbiġ swealt fela Engla þrīstra,
ac mid Stedefæste on handa Īsensīde feoht for Englalande.

[Old Norse]
Sitr þar verðr fjándi vestr at Englandi.
Svá djarfr er hilmir sá, at hann kallask Járnsíða.
Fjórum sinnum sigr hafði ok at velli marga Dani lagði.
Í heiðri hǫldum prýði hans, þvít engi hugr fylgir hægð.
En Danir valdir erum vér! Er engum manni líkr várr herr!
Játmundr, heyrðu nú! Vér látum ryðga Járnsíðu!

[Old English]
Uton ealle ārian hine, Ēadmund cyning Engla Īsensīdan!
Nis nǣnig swā glēaw and æsċrōf swā ūre godfyrhta wealdend!
Æt handa swican ġefēoll his rīċe, þǣrbiġ swealt fela Engla þrīstra,
ac mid Stedefæste on handa Īsensīde feoht for Englalande.

Wē on fyrde maniġe slēaþ, Dena hyġas ġefyllde cwealmþrēa,
feohtende for ēðle and ċildrum, and for hāmum and wīfum.
Ac Ēadrīc Strēona sē lǣwa wile unþwǣrnesse sǣwan.
Cnutes hwelp beadwe abūgeþ and Dena here ūs bebūgeþ.
Flēoþ, ġē swican Englalandes, ac wē lēoraþ ēstum on ēðelsande!
Ġefeallaþ wē, Drihten, ġif þū wilt, ac ūre gōda hlīsa ne swilt!

Uton ealle ārian hine, Ēadmund cyning Engla Īsensīdan!
Nis nǣnig swā glēaw and æsċrōf swā ūre godfyrhta wealdend!
Æt handa swican ġefēoll his rīċe, þǣrbiġ swealt fela Engla þrīstra,
ac mid Stedefæste on handa Īsensīde feoht for Englalande.