Wardruna

Helvegen → English translation

43 translations
English #1
+43 more
, #2, #3, Basque (Modern, Batua), Bulgarian #1, #2, #3, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish #1, #2, Dutch, Faroese, Finnish, French, Friulian, German, Greek, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian #1, #2, #3, Korean, Norwegian, Old Norse, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian #1, #2, #3, #4, Spanish, Swedish #1, #2, Transliteration, Turkish #1, #2, Ukrainian #1, #2
•
3 translations of covers
English, Italian, Swedish

Translation

Norwegian, Old Norse (Original)

The Way to Hel

Click to see the original lyrics (Norwegian, Old Norse)

Who shall sing of me?

Or carry me to eternal sleep

When I head down Hel's1 long roads

And the paths that I tread

are cold, oh

so cold

I sought out the songs then

I sent out the songs, then

Whilst the deepest of wells2

brought me the harshest of tears

from the Slain-father's3 pledge

I know all, Odin,

Like where you hid your eye4

Who shall sing of me?

Or carry me to eternal sleep

When I head down Hel's long roads

and the paths that I tread

are cold, oh

so cold

Early or at evening's call

Still the raven knows if I fall5

When you stand by Hel's open gates

and you must tear yourself free

I shall follow you

over the Gjallabrú6 with my song

You are freed from the bonds that bind you

You are free from the bonds that bound you7

Cattle die,

Friends die,

So, too, must you die.

Though one thing

Never dies;

The fair fame one has earned.

Cattle die,

Friends die,

So, too, must you die.

I know one,

That never dies;

Judgement of a dead man's life.8

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hel_(location)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hel_(being)
Where dead go in Norse mythology if they do not die in a particular way i.e. in battle, in which case half go to Valhalla (Odin's hall) and half to Fólkvangr (Freya's hall) in preparation for the final battle of Ragnarok. Those that drown at sea go to Rán's hall.
Hel is also the name of the being that rules over Hel. Half of her is dead and coloured blue and the other half is alive and flesh coloured.
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%ADmisbrunnr
Referring to Mimir's Well. Odin sacrificed one of his eyes in exchange for a drink in order to gain great wisdom.
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_names_of_Odin
One of Odin's innumerous names ('Valfǫðr'), as he held dominion over those slain in battle.
4. Again, referring to Mimir's well.
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huginn_and_Muninn
Ravens in Norse mythology are associated with Odin -- who has two ravens, Huginn ('Thought') and Muninn ('Mind') which fly all over the world and bring him information -- as well as gathering over battlefields to feed on the dead to the point that one of the figures of speech for 'warrior' in old Norse was 'Feeder of Ravens' [Þorbjǫrn Hornklofi, Glymdrápa 6]
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gjallarbr%C3%BA
Bridge over the river Gjöll that must be crossed to reach Hel.
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norns
In Norse mythology one's fate in life is believed to be woven by the Norns, hence, 'cutting free' here.
8. Hávamál 76-77

poetic

rhyming

singable

Thanks! ❤
thanked 54 times

User	Time ago
Floppylou	8 months 2 weeks
Dr. J Pace	3 years 8 months
Almitra	3 years 10 months
Lunky	3 years 10 months
Guest	3 years 10 months

This is a poetic translation - deviations from the meaning of the original are present (extra words, extra or omitted information, substituted concepts).

Submitted by

malicei on 2020-06-14

Last edited by

malicei on 2023-11-23

Original lyrics

Helvegen

Click to see the original lyrics (Norwegian, Old Norse)

Collections with "Helvegen"

1.	Wardruna \| Runaljod – Yggdrasil (2013)
2.	Viking inspired songs (part 1)

Wardruna: Top 3

1.	Helvegen
2.	Lyfjaberg
3.	Völuspá (Skaldic version)

Comments

Drüsi Hörbar

Sun, 14/06/2020 - 10:37

Is there a mythological place called "hel", or is it simply a typo and you forgot one L ? I do not know anything about Norwegian language, so, if I am wrong, please forgive me!

Lobolyrix

Sun, 14/06/2020 - 10:41

Hel ist in der nordischen Mythologie die Herrscherin der gleichnamigen Unterwelt, auch Helheim genannt.
> https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hel_(Mythologie)

Drüsi Hörbar

Sun, 14/06/2020 - 10:42

Dankeschön - wieder was gelernt!

malicei

Sun, 14/06/2020 - 10:54

There is, actually! It's where the dead go after they die in Norse mythology if they don't die in battle - in which case half go to Valhalla (Odin's hall) or Fólkvangr (Freya's hall) or if they drown at sea and go to Rán's hall.

Hel is also the name of the being that rules over Hel. Half of her is dead and coloured blue and the other half is alive and flesh coloured. Mythology is pretty cool, no? :)

Drüsi Hörbar

Sun, 14/06/2020 - 15:52

Drüsi Hörbar

Sun, 14/06/2020 - 15:59

It actually is, and it shows that mankind has always, since millenniums, searched for cosolation and hope, facing death.
Thank you for your efforts when posting these informative links. 🙂

silenced

Sun, 14/06/2020 - 15:54

Beautiful English. A pleasure to read.

Wardruna

Helvegen → English translation

The Way to Hel

Helvegen

Click to see the original lyrics (Norwegian, Old Norse)