Wyrd Designs: Nine Long Nights – A Song

As a child, I recall playing on my swingset and created my own songs and lyrics on the fly. As a teen when I was attending church (when I’d rather be sleeping), the one part of the service I didn’t mind was the songs. I enjoyed singing, even if my own singing skills are less fantabulous than the Glee cast. When I converted into paganism, and later especially the Northern Tradition, I found myself missing the songs the most. Perhaps that why, I have a tendency to start singing my lore at times. From such meandering paths (and notes), comes a song rooted in our lore as seen in the Havamal, where Odin hangs on the world trees Yggdrasil, and this ordeal is how Odin learned the runes.

The song is intended to be sung by a nice deep male voice, but since I can’t hit those registers, you’ll have to tolerate it in mine. I will warn you I might be able to carry a tune, but I’m certainly no professional singer. The lyrics and melody are totally my own creation. I provide this song to the community, who is free to sing it and perform it, but I do stipulate that the song can never be used for profit without clearing the rights via me first. But if other people do make their own versions, I’d love to hear it! (I’d especially love to hear it sung by a man as then the first person nature of the song will work much better!). Click the title of the song below to grab the song.

Nine Long Nights

a song by K. C. Hulsman

For nine long nights, & nine long days

I hung in a gallows of a windswept tree

My blood dripped down, into the ground

Feeding, the Great World Tree.

Fehu, uruz

Thurisaz, ansuz

Raido, Kenaz

Gebo and wunjo

For nine long nights, & nine long days

I lived and died in a thousand ways.

I laughed and cried, in pain I writhed

Oh my tears and blood, fell like rain.

Hagalaz, nauthiz,

Isa, jera

Eihwaz, pertho

Algiz, sowulo

For nine long nights, & nine longs days

The tree became both womb and grave.

Runes I learned and runes I gave

I lived in died in a thousand ways.

Teiwaz, berkana

Ehwaz, Mannaz,

Laguz, Inguz,

Dagaz, othila

I’ll give to you, my last advice:

All great things come with a price

You must learn to sacrifice.

For nine long nights, & nine longs days

The tree became both womb and grave.

Runes I learned and runes I gave

I lived in died in a thousand ways.

Has anyone else made their own songs up? Or have favorite songs that are easy to sing along to that relates back to the Northern Tradition? Please share!

Wyrd Designs: Nine Long Nights – a song

Nine Long Nights