I thought it might be fun to make an album-side-length prog epic in the grand tradition of Karn Evil 9, Tarkus, 2112, Hemispheres, Close To The Edge, Echoes, Supper's Ready or one of those. If you're a prog fan you'll know what I mean. But what topic? I've always had a thing for Vikings, so one night I came home and came up with a lyric. The only problem is it pretty much turned out as a retelling of the classic Terry Jones movie "Erik The Viking". Well I could do worse I suppose; at least it's suitably epic and a good bit of fun. However, the task of arranging and recording a twenty minute song is rather daunting; it's as much effort as four or five normal sized songs. So the odds me actually getting around to it any time soon are slim to none. I might do a demo of it someday, but meanwhile I'll share the lyric with you.

Vikings!

I. Overture: Looting and Pillaging
II. Freya and Fenreya (The Age of Ragnorok)
III. Vikings! (including Erik, What Are You Doing? Thorfinn Just Said That Sven's Grandfather Died of Old Age! and Harald the Cleric)
IV. The Voyage (including Sven the Berserk vs. The Dragon of the North Sea and Thorfinn Doesn't Know the Meaning of Fear)
V. Hy-Brasil (including The Tee-Tum Song)
VI. The Horn Resounding
VII. Bifrost Asgaard Valhalla (and Home)

I. Overture: Looting and Pillaging

(instrumental)

II. Freya

Young men care only for fighting and killing
But has it always been that way?
An axe age a storm age an ice age
Brother against brother in hatred and rage
Until the whole world is destroyed

What do you see, Erik?
I see the world, Freya
I see the world

The winter is gone, the summer has come
Yet Fenreya the Wolf still covers the sun
So the old legends they told are true
As a child in a dream the sky was blue
Once it was blue

So this is Ragnorok
What must I do, Freya
What must I do?

And will the dead ever return?

III. Vikings!
(including Erik, What Are You Doing? Thorfinn Just Said That Sven's Grandfather Died of Old Age! and Harald the Cleric)

Erik, What Are You Doing?
Thorfinn just said that Sven's grandfather
Died of old age!
He'll have to kill me! He'll have to kill me!
No he didn't he died in battle!
In a berserker rage
Now he must kill me! Now he must kill me!
He died of old age!
He'll have to kill me! He'll have to kill me!

No wait!
There is another way!
I'm not afraid of anything

...

Harald the Cleric no warrior he
Sandals treading in the snow

Harald the Cleric doesn't believe
In violence and revenge
Asgaard or Valhalla
Cuz he believes in something else
One god or many?
What does it matter?
Seeking serenity transcendence and wisdom
Forgiveness salvation
Yet no one will listen

Harald the Cleric pilgrim missionary
Sandals treading in the snow
He's sure got a long way to go

IV. The Voyage
(including Sven the Berserk vs. The Dragon of the North Sea and Thorfinn Doesn't Know the Meaning of Fear)

Earnestly Erik with Harald the Cleric
And Leif the Lucky too
Sven the Berserk and Sven's Berserker Dad
All join in the crew
Kietel Blacksmith, Thorfinn Skullsplitter
Even Ivar the Boneless and Snorri
Start on their quest in their open long boat
That's the last we shall see of old Norway!

Many cold days pass on rolling waves
Puke, puke, puke, puke, puke
Pursued by Halfdan the Black -
There's no turning back
The dragon attacks!
The long ship cracks!
Frame by frame death by drowning
Down the Devil's doorway

The dreaded black sails are drawing near
But Thorfinn doesn't know the meaning of fear
The battle is joined and Erik brings
The magic from the daughter of the King
Now you see me now you don't ha ha! What's that thing?

Thorfinn falls, Sven rages on
The day is won under the sun, but now
Loki shows his face, has yet to play his hand
What does fate have in store for poor Snorri?

V. Hy-Brasil
(including The Tee-Tum Song)

Welcome, welcome we always welcome friends
Everyone is friends here in Hy-Brasil
Being nice to each other is what it's all about
Here in Hy-Brasil
A thousand years of peace and love
Here in Hy-Brasil

Tee-tum, tee-tum, tee-tum
Tee-tum, tee-tum, tee-tum, tee-tum
Tee-tum, tee-tum, tee-tum

We come from a land where there is no music
Where men live and die by the axe and the sword
Where Fenreya the Wolf covers the sun
Far from Hy-Brasil

Tee-tum, tee-tum, tee-tum, tee-tum
Tee-tum, tee-tum, tee-tum

And so human blood is spilled
And so the land begins to sink beneath the sea
Murder most tragic disenchants the island's magic
The end of Hy-Brasil

Stay calm, stay calm this is not happening
I repeat, this is not happening
Save yourselves! Save yourselves!
Panic mongers! Who do they think they are?

It's all a question of what you want to believe
Tee-tum, tee-tum, tee-tum

VI. The Horn Resounding

You do know how to play the horn d'you?

The first note to take you to Asgaard
The second note to awaken the gods
The third note to bring you home

The first note to take you to Asgaard
Over the edge of the world
Over the edge of the world

Once you're in the spell of the horn
Hatred will destroy you
Hatred will destroy you

And she said,
You don't have to love me but
Do you believe that I love you?
Then let go, let go
Let go

VII. Bifrost Asgaard Valhalla (and Home)

(instrumental)

Bifrost - Asgaard - Valhalla!
Bifrost - Asgaard - Valhalla!

The second note to awaken the gods

Bifrost - Asgaard - Valhalla!
Bifrost - Asgaard - Valhalla!
The gods awake!
Better look out!

Bifrost - Asgaard - Valhalla!
Bifrost - the rainbow bridge
Asgaard - the hall of the gods
Valhalla - the destiny of the great warriors
Yeah they're the lucky ones!

Now Fenreya the wolf is gone
But the fate of man
Is in man's hand

The realm of earth is not for you
You've crossed the rainbow bridge
And will the dead ever return?

...

The third note to bring you home

Harald the Cleric, blows the horn
He doesn't believe but he wants to go home

Look, what do you see?
The sun ... !