Viking Child Ghost Song
by @jackketch
Challenge: PUBLIC DOMAINLiner Notes
#viking #ghost #folky #icelandic I read a book about the Icelandic Viking sagas, and it mentioned the Viking practice of leaving unwanted/weak infants out to die in the cold (grim I know). It mentioned that Vikings were terrified of such children becoming wandering spirits though. It mentions a VIking saga which was about such a tale, and a woman who after leaving her child out to die, decides to go out dancing, until she hears the sound of her child speaking to her offering his rags to go dancing in, at which point she went insane. Cheery lot the vikings. The second verse is partly lifted verbatim from a translation of this 1000 year old VIking saga. Something that particularly stayed with me was the idea that you could tell a spirit as they would repeat the last word twice e.g. cold, cold..
Does a 1000 year old VIking saga count as being in the public domain?
I think other people have recorded versions of these lyrics, but this is my take and mostly my lyrics.
Lyrics
You left me out in the cold, cold How could you be so cruel? And now my spirit does roam, roam I'll never stop searching for you
Over the mountains and under the stars My spirit searches for peace Over the wastelands and over the seas I search for my release
Mother mine in the fold, fold You needn't be so sad You can wear my rags, rags So that you can dance etc
Comments
What a great choice of inspiration! And I never knew that spirits repeated the last word; maybe that knowledge will be useful some day. The music seems very apt.
This was not what I was expecting when I saw the title, but was pleasantly surprised! Feels like it could be a great interlude song in the context of an album. Seems like a great track to transition or pivot from! Love the lyrics as well!
Your songs are so interesting! Love your inspiration. Classic ompahpah to deliver it! Love the guitar break. Really good again!
Only Disney would argue with 1000 years still being in copyright. Loving the Tom Waitesesque waltz that really fits the story.
Spooky, nightmare inducing tune! Well done! Sea shanty vibes and it's almost like I can hear the creaking of the ship and the waves...love the solo too. Cheery lot indeed!
Feels like a slow march and the lyric takes you there.