Ballad of St. Halvor
If you go down to Oslo Town
Look well upon its seal
Upon that sign you'll find inscribed
Within its mighty wheel
A maiden slain, a young lord thane
The stone that brought him down
The arrows sharp that felled them both
The light of Heav-en’s crown
What fate befell these blameless two
And by whose hands brought low?
If you’ll abide I’ll sing to you
Their tale as best I know
Upon the shore Halvor stood tall
The winds did rise and quail
When on him fell a maiden thrall
Who begged his leave to sail
As she aboard did swiftly stride
A clan of killers, close, in chase
Hearts aflame with hate they cried
“Return her to her rightful place!”
That moment hung and time stood still
And stretched in endless thought
Eternity on Halvor fell
And bade him cast his lot
As Halvor paused, before his eyes
A shining man appeared
With kindly face and visage wise
Who preached of what he feared:
“All hope is lost, pay not this cost
No refuge can you bestow
Now stand aside, save your own hide
Or follow her below!”
The moment broke upon time’s doors
Like crystal smashed apart
Casting off, he seized the oars
And rowed with all his heart
As Satan speaks his certain truth
“Your task is vain, give in
To quit the quest that none can win
In this there is no sin”
O Halvor brave, upon your grave
Rise up and meet his gaze
Spit in his eye
Prepare to die
And do the right thing anyways
As mob approached the nearing shore
They cursed his name in spite
They bent their bows as he the oars
And loosed their shafts in flight
The arrows fell, a wicked tide
And pierced them, every one
The lad, the lass, her babe inside
The butcher’s deed now done
Upon the prince, a heavy stone
The miller’s weight, they drowned him
“No songs of him, let none intone
No justice wrap around him”
Yet Lord above denied such fate
And raised the boy from water
From death’s cold grip to hallowed state
Hell slain by death’s marauder
And so the prince with naught to gain
Like Christ embraced his slaughter
Scorning to return to chains
A nameless slave and daughter
As Satan speaks his certain truth
“Your task is vain, give in
To quit the quest that none can win
In this there is no sin”
O Halvor brave upon your grave
Rise up and meet his gaze
Spit in his eye
Prepare to die
And do the right thing anyways
If you go down to Oslo Town
Look well upon its seal
Upon that sign you'll find inscribed
Within its mighty wheel
A maiden slain, a young lord thane
The stone that brought him down
The arrows sharp that felled them both
The light of Heav-en’s crown
