Egil's Drápa to Eirik Bloodaxe

Egil Skallagrimsson was born c.910 in Iceland. He grew up to be a viking, a poet and a farmer. At one time he fought for King Athelstan of England, and his feats of arms earned him the King's friendship.

In 948, Egil decided to sail to England to visit Athelstan. The weather turned against him and he was shipwrecked off the coast of Yorkshire, which at that time was ruled by his old enemy, Eirik Bloodaxe. Realising he would be unable to escape, he chose instead to present himself to the King at York. Eirik had previously declared Egil an outlaw, and his wife Gunnhild hated the Icelander, so the King promptly sentenced him to death. That night, hoping to save his head, Egil composed a drápa (a poem having a regular refrain) praising Eirik, and declaimed it before the King the next day. Eirik conceded that the drápa was well done, and in return granted Egil his life, provided he left immediately and was never seen again.

For this reason, the poem is known as the "Head-Ransom". It would originally have been spoken or chanted rather than sung.

Words and music arranged by Robert fitz John.

Tune

1 By sun and moon I journeyed west,
My sea-borne tune from Odin's breast.
My song-ship I pack with poet's art,
With word-keel to crack the frozen heart.
2 These praises, O King, won't cost you dear,
That I shall now sing, if you will hear.
Your praise is my task, my song is your fame;
If you but ask, I'll sound your name.
3 The scream of swords, the clash of shields,
These are true words on battlefields.
A man sees his death frozen in dreams,
But Eirik's brave breath frees battle-streams.
4 The warlord he weaves his web of fear;
Each man receives his fated share.
The edges do swing, blades cut men down,
As Eirik the King earns his renown.
5 Break not the spell, but silent be;
To you I shall tell their bravery.
At clash of kings on carrion-field,
The red blade swings at blue-stained shield.
6 When swords anoint, what man is saved?
Who gets this point is deep engraved.
And men like oak from Odin's tree,
Few words they spoke at that iron-play.
7 The Valkyries keep the warriors awake:
There's no pause for sleep when shield-walls shake,
When arrows do fly the taut bowstring,
To bite or to lie with broken wing.
8 The ravens they dinned at that red fare:
Blood on the wind, death in the air!
The edges do swing, blades cut men down,
And Eirik the King earns his renown.
9 I praise the King throughout his land,
And keenly do sing his generous hand.
Bracelets of gold he breaks in two,
And all uncontrolled pours gifts on you.
10 On his golden arm the bright shield swings:
To his foes, it's harm; to his friends, rings.
His fame is a feast of glorious war.
His name sounds east from shore to shore.
11 So now, my lord, you've listened long,
As word on word I built this song.
My words took wing, and so have I shown
How Eirik the King earned his renown.

Words adapted from Egil's Saga, translated by Hermann Pálsson and Paul Edwards, Penguin Classics, ISBN 0-14-044321-5.

Tune adapted from Gaoth Barra na dTonn by Clannad.

This arrangement ©2000-2005 Trevor Barker. Permission is given to copy this work, provided it is unaltered and this copyright notice remains attached.