Amorphis
Halo
1. Northwards
Ice it shattered into shards
Gave away under our feet
Many men did lose their lives
Taken by Tuonela's river
In the blue frost of the night
In the icy waters of death
Stifled were both wail and whisper
Frozen were the living hearts
The days they followed each other
Nights defended our dreams
With the seasons grew our circle
And we knew we'd found our place
We would start from the beginning
Make it with our meager means
Crouching, cowering companions
Journeying ever northwards
Waking in the dead of night
My eyes opened in the darkness
I saw the sign of the red hand
Marking the mouth of a cave
On the sordid, stony ground
On a field of frozen grass
I found my spirit kith and kindred
My sisters and my brothers
Game is good and plentiful here
Happy is the life, the life of man
It was not in vain we came
Strayed from the silent waters
The days they followed each other
Nights defended our dreams
With the seasons grew our circle
And we knew we'd found our place
We would start from the beginning
Make it with our meager means
Crouching, cowering companions
Journeying ever northwards
2. On The Dark Waters
On the dark waters of Tuonela
Sailed a ship hewn out of bone
Clambering against the current
Swiftly sailing the black waters
No water gushed around its fore
No trail left behind its aft
No oars there were to be seen
No sail hoisted on its mast
Who did sail that boat of bone
Steer the silent ship of death?
As it flew and dove
And made its way upstream?
Waiting at the dark headwaters
Were a people sullen, silent
Baying for that ship to take
Their dead downstream
A ship of bone rose from the river
Called the dead aboard its deck
Through the fiery gates of life
It took its silent passengers
The black waters of that river
Turned to blood, bubbled and boiled
As the boat of bone was blazing
Dead, dry veins ran red with life
Who did sail that boat of bone
Steer the silent ship of death?
As it flew and dove
And made its way upstream?
Waiting at the dark headwaters
Were a people sullen, silent
Baying for that ship to take
Their dead downstream
Into a dark bend of the river
Were cast the nameless unborn
On top of a barren outcrop
Naked bodies of the elders
The dead were squinting their eyes
As they once more saw their shadow
They were born to a life of tears
In the light of a forgotten sun
Swiftly on the sable waters
Sailed back the boat of bone
To the dark waters of Tuonela
And the people woke astounded
To the dawn of their new life
(Tuonela's dark water)
Saw the day once more a-breaking
(Tuonela's dark water)
Knew the night would be descending
3. The Moon
On a rock like a tree
The one-eyed figure stands
Dauntlessly time and again
Breaking the salty wave
I guard this mountain
You circle me in the night
If you bow to the eye of stone
You'll hear a distant song
A story carried by the restless wind
Forevermore
The subdued silence of your lips
It commands only me
Unwavering my sinewy frame
The cold night it will endure
On this towering mountain
Your love even higher above
If you bow to the eye of stone
You'll hear a distant song
A story carried by the restless wind
Forevermore
If you bow to the eye of stone
You'll hear a distant song
A story carried by the restless wind
Forevermore
If you bow to the eye of stone
You'll hear a distant song
A story carried by the restless wind
Forevermore
You're the moon
You are my light
You're the moon
My guiding light
I guard this mountain
On a rock like a tree
I guard this mountain
4. Windmane
I roamed too far with heavy burden
Darkness swallowed the road behind me
Light ahead faded, I stumbled down
Only to loose my heart and give in
I took a tin bell from my treasure-pouch
Summoned the one blacker than night
Fire and calm in its eyes
Its mane was flying its fire and spirit
Rider, messenger
Hurry, go like the wind
On the misty meadows of spring
On the parched roads of summer
On the chequered paths of autumn
On winter's snowy trails
Its mind the tongue of burning flame
Swiftly carries its heavy burden
Under its hooves stony ground
Touching my heart, its timid strength
Its speed the sister of storm and wind
Its fearsome might it bestows upon me
It takes me home from lands of night
From killing fields it delivers me
Rider, messenger
Hurry, go like the wind
On the misty meadows of spring
On the parched roads of summer
On the chequered paths of autumn
On winter's snowy trails
Rider, messenger
Hurry, go like the wind
On the misty meadows of spring
On the parched roads of summer
On the chequered paths of autumn
On winter's snowy trails
Its mind the tongue of burning flame
Carry me across
Its mind the tongue of burning flame
The lonely lives of night
5. A New Land
We wandered through strange lands
Traveling ever northwards
Crossing valleys, over mountains
To the shores of distant seas
As the world grew frozen and pale
Flowers withered, grass was dying
The thickest trees has lost their leaves
Wind brought in the scent of winter
In the cold night of the north
Our life was lodged by the pole star
Showing us the path to follow
Hammering down destiny
Forever
And as dawn shone over the ice
The morning star showed us the way
To our new homeland
Deer were wailing in the woodland
Grunting fiercely in their fervor
Bears clambered back to their caves
Grouses slept under the snow
Blackened was the sea a-storming
Raging white flew freezing foam
As the day sank to the west
Moon came out and froze the waters
In the cold night of the north
Our life was lodged by the pole star
Showing us the path to follow
Hammering down destiny
Forever
And as dawn shone over the ice
The morning star showed us the way
To our new homeland
The black-throat divers and the swallows
Dove deep down into the waters
In the cold night of the north
Our life was lodged by the pole star
Showing us the path to follow
Hammering down destiny
Forever
And as dawn shone over the ice
The morning star showed us the way
To our new homeland
And as dawn shone over the ice
The morning star showed us the way
To our new homeland
To out new homeland
6. When The Gods Came
As worms upon the forest floor
Swarming were they and a-stirring
Twisting upwards and a-swirling
As eagles soaring to the sky
With the eyes of dragonflies
Ears of eager leather wings
On the wings of black-throat divers
By the honeyed paws of bears
Telling us what it means to be
Chanting us into being
Came the Gods to our people
Told us how a man should be
They taught us how to live our lives
Came the Gods to our people
Chanting us into the world
They taught us how to live our lives
They lead us to a woodland spring
To show us our shining reflection
There they attuned our senses
And fit us with ability
In the winds of the unknown
We heard the swan being to sing
The stars were our sure guides
Dreams showed us the way to go
Telling us what it means to be
Chanting us into being
Came the Gods to our people
Told us how a man should be
They taught us how to live our lives
Came the Gods to our people
Chanting us into the world
They taught us how to live our lives
In the daze of the unknown
By the winds of distant heavens
Beckoned by the unknown skies
By the winds of distant heavens
Beckoned by the unknown skies
7. Seven Roads Come Together
Stepping out in to the open
From the dark paths of the forest
You will know why you have traveled
Squinting your eyes in the light
When the sky arches above you
And the wood rustles and sighs
You are born into another place
Arrive in another time
Place your gifts on that stone
With a drop of your blood
Where seven roads come together
Offer a gift of honey
Give the fruits of your ghost
Where seven roads come together
You will see the silent meadow
Where seven roads come together
Shining calmly like a distant star
Where seven roads come together
You will see in the crossroads
A stone carried by ice
Rolled by waters of the past
Set in its place by time
Place your gifts on that stone
With a drop of your blood
Where seven roads come together
Offer a gift of honey
Give the fruits of your ghost
Where seven roads come together
When the shadows of the forest
Have led you astray
Remember that you've been in this place
When the shadows of the forest
Have led you astray
Remember that you've been in this place
When the sky arches above you
And the woods rustle and sighs
You are born into another plane
Arrive in another time
Place your gifts on that stone
Where seven roads come together
Offer a gift of honey
Where seven roads come together
Come together
Where seven roads come together
8. War
Come to me my spirit bird
Pull the hair out from my head
Peck the eyes from shiny skull
Tear the tongue from my mouth
Carry me up to the crag
Shove me down into the sea
Sink me in the swirling eddies
Down into the deepest depth
Black is my hearth and my home
Ravaged my abode
All my hopes burnt to cinder
Burnt to cinder
Black is my hearth and my home
Ruined my abode
Everything I built in ashes
Come as raven, death descending
Rob my mind and steal my soul
In my best clothing dress yourself
Take my place and what is mine
Go and fly to lightless lands
Soar the skies beneath the ground
There you can be as I once were
Take my place and what is mine
Rambling, rowing, upside down
Soar the skies beneath the ground
Black is my hearth and my home
Ravaged my abode
All my hopes burnt to cinder
Burnt to cinder
Black is my hearth and my home
Ruined my abode
Everything I build in ashes
Black is my hearth
Ravaged my abode
Black is my hearth
Ruined my abode
Come as raven, death descending
Rob my mind and steal my soul
In my best clothing dress yourself
Take my place and what is mine
Go and fly to lightless lands
Soar the skies beneath the ground
Black is my hearth and my home
Ravaged my abode
All my hopes burnt to cinder
Burnt to cinder
Black is my hearth and my home
Ruined my abode
Everything I built in ashes
9. Halo
The sea rose and fell
The waves were crashing
Thrashing a piece of wood
Against the rocks
The surf took it ashore
A strange stick I found
To pick up and ponder
And turn in my hands
A white raven's skull
Fashioned by time and tide
And its gnarly lines
Furrowed by stone
I put together a halo
Out of pieces of amber
Carved my own marks
With a knife of bone
In the middle of the halo
I placed the raven's skull
Drew wings with charcoal
Painted a bird in ash
The bird took wing and flew
A raven cried in the wind
The images washed away by the sea
Drawn by daylight's quill
Embraced by the woods
In the shadow of the twilight
A sign lingered in my mind
Halo behind my eyes
Picture of amber bright
Glowing with bronze
I put together a halo
Out of pieces of amber
Carved my own marks
With a knife of bone
In the middle of the halo
I placed the raven's skull
Drew wings with charcoal
Painted a bird in ash
I put together a halo
Out of pieces of amber
Carved my own marks
With a knife of bone
In the middle of the halo
I placed the raven's skull
Drew wings with charcoal
Painted a bird in ash
10. The Wolf
We wandered with the wolves in pursuit
The hunger hot on our heels
Scenting our bloody tracks
The fear that fails not to smell fear
Seemed we had the same direction
Following the fleeing deer
With fiery eyes watching each other
Cautiously circling and stalking
Winter's wind it howled and hollered
Gently blew the breeze of summer
Scudding were the storms of autumn
But southerly saw hope a-stirring
And howling in the haunted night
Sang the wolves of the wild
Shadows scurrying in the moonlight
Circling us in the darkness
Searing fire in our torches
With the cold light of the day
Fighting them time and again
We drove the wolves away
Winter's wind it howled and hollered
Gently blew the breeze of summer
Scudding were the storms of autumn
But southerly saw hope a-stirring
Bunt came the spring and misty morning
Through grey borders of sleep
I saw a wolf lie by our cave
Seeking me night after night
Winter's wind it howled and hollered
Gently blew the breeze of summer
Scudding were the storms of autumn
But southerly saw hope a-stirring
We drove the wolves away
We drove the wolves away
11. My Name Is Night
As the sun is turning crimson
I'm closing my eyes
I lay down my sword
My spear, bow and arrow
I lay my head on red earth
On dark twigs of spruce
On golden grass of meadow
On heather and rosemary
My name is night
My sword has been bent and broken
My story's burned to cinder
And my life's been sung away
My name is night
I will roam these mounds
I will take care of my own
For I'm sent on a journey
With my trestles to Tuonela
Dressed in my best clothes
Lifted on the pyre
The sun beyond the sea
Sets in wings of fire
Stones on top of the hill
A pile over high ashes
My name is night
My sword has been bent and broken
My story is burned to cinder
My life's been sung away
My name is night
I will roam these mounds
I will take care of my own
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