Bjarkamál is perhaps the most historically significant title in our collection. It is an original composition inspired by the legendary Old Norse poem of the same name, which was famously recited to wake Viking armies before the clash of shields.
This track is not just a song; it is a reconstruction of the warrior’s morning ritual. Combining tribal war drums, dark strings, and a deep masculine voice, it evokes the dawn of battle—the moment between sleep and slaughter—channeling the spirit of the legendary hero Bodvar Bjarki.
The Legend of Bodvar Bjarki: The Spirit Bear
The title Bjarkamál literally means “The Lay of Bjarki.” It is named after Bodvar Bjarki (Bodvar Little-Bear), one of the twelve berserkers of the legendary King Hrólfr Kraki.
In the Saga of King Hrolf Kraki, Bodvar fights in a unique way during the final battle. While his human body sits motionless in the hall, a massive spirit bear fights outside in his place, swatting down enemies with its paws. This song captures that duality: the human warrior (“Awake, brothers”) and the beast within (“The bear roars”). It is an invocation to let the Hamr (shape/spirit) loose.
The Reveille of Stiklestad
The Bjarkamál holds a special place in history because of the Battle of Stiklestad (1030 AD). According to the Heimskringla (written by Snorri Sturluson), King Olaf II (Saint Olaf) asked his skald, Thormod Kolbrunarskald, to sing something to wake the sleeping army before the sun rose. Thormod sang the Bjarkamál so loudly that the entire host awoke. The lyrics of the original poem (of which only fragments remain) began with:
“The day has come up, the cock’s feathers flap, / it is time for the thralls to go to their work. / Wake up, wake up, friends and kinsmen…”
Our version honors this tradition with the opening line “Vaknið, brœðr” (Awake, brothers), serving as a modern call to action for the battles of daily life.
Sonic Composition: The Dawn of War
The soundscape is built to reflect the transition from night to day, from calm to fury.
- The Awakening: The track begins with deep, slow drums—the heartbeat of the sleeping army.
- The Call: The vocals are commanding and rhythmic. In the oral tradition, poetry was designed to be memorized and chanted to keep the marching rhythm.
- The Climax: As the song progresses, the instrumentation swells, representing the “Bear” waking up and the adrenaline flooding the veins as the shield wall forms.
When to Sing the Bjarkamál
This track is grounded, historical, and deeply masculine. It is ideal for:
- Morning Routines: Just as it was used 1000 years ago, it is the perfect alarm clock. Listen to it first thing in the morning to attack the day with discipline.
- Heavy Strength Training: The slow, stomping rhythm is perfect for heavy compound movements (Deadlifts, Squats) where focus is key.
- Historical Reenactment: Essential for groups recreating the camps of the Viking Age. It sets the perfect tone for the beginning of a combat demonstration.
Bjarkamál Lyrics & Translation
The lyrics are a call to the brotherhood to wake up, take up their steel, and fight with the ferocity of the bear, knowing that Odin is watching the fallen.
Vaknið, brœðr, dǫgr stríðs er hér, Bjǫrninn ruðr, vér berjask enn. Óðinn kallar í stálit’s gný, Vér deyjum, en aldri kný.
Bjarkamál, forn kveðja há, Rís þú bjǫrn, lát þrumu ljá. Bjarkamál, í blóði, í bál, Vér hǫggum ørlǫg, vǫrum mál.
Fjǫllin skelfa, skjǫldr ljóma, Spjót sem ár, í jǫrðit stinga. Hlið við hlið sem ætt vér stǫndum, Guðs hamarr leiðir vára hǫnd.
Bjarkamál, stríðs kvæði stórt, Eldrinn brennr, ok himinn sortn. Bjarkamál, bjarnar boð, Vér berjask ætt, blóð ok lǫnd.
Jǫrðr rennr rauð, himinn sortn, En enn vér göngum, engi hvǫrn. Óðins auga á fallna menn, Æru bundnir, sár vér enn.
Bjarkamál, goðin heyri, Rǫdd manna, ógn ok leysi. Bjarkamál, eldr eilífr, Bjǫrninn vaknar, vér syngjum nafn.
Bjarkamál… í eldi stǫndum… Bjarkamál… bjǫrninn, várt hand. Bjarkamál… ævinlig styrkr… Í dauða, í nátt, kvæðit lifir.
English Translation
Awake, brothers, the dawn of war is here, The bear roars, we fight again. Odin calls in the clash of steel, We may die, but never yield.
Bjarkamál, ancient high chant, Rise, O bear, let thunder grant. Bjarkamál, in blood, in flame, We carve our fate, we speak our name.
Mountains tremble, shields shine bright, Spears like rivers pierce the night. Side by side as kin we stand, The god’s hammer guides our hand.
Bjarkamál, great battle song, The fire burns, the sky turns wrong. Bjarkamál, the bear’s command, We fight for kin, for blood, for land.
The earth runs red, the sky grows dark, Yet still we march, none left stark. Odin’s eye upon the slain, Honor binds, though wounds remain.
Bjarkamál, let gods now hear, The voice of men, of wrath and fear. Bjarkamál, eternal flame, The bear awakens, we sing its name.
Bjarkamál… in fire we stand… Bjarkamál… the bear, our hand. Bjarkamál… eternal might… In death, in night, the song survives.
Who wrote the original Bjarkamál?
The original author is unknown, as it stems from oral tradition. However, in the Heimskringla, it is Thormod Kolbrunarskald who recites it before Stiklestad. Thormod himself died in that battle, pulling an arrow from his own heart while composing a final poem.
Is Bodvar Bjarki a Berserker?
Yes, he is the archetype of the Berserker. In Hrolf Kraki’s Saga, his ability to project a spirit bear (fylgja) while his body remains in a trance is the ultimate expression of the “Bear-Shirt” (Berserkr) fighting style—fighting with the frenzy of an animal.
What happened to the original poem?
Most of the original Bjarkamál is lost. Only a few stanzas survive in Snorri’s Edda and Heimskringla. However, a Latin paraphrase of the poem exists in Saxo Grammaticus’ Gesta Danorum, which gives us the general themes of loyalty to the king and waking up for battle.
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