Standing in the shield wall

Watching the enemy come

Many times our number

Marching all as one

They’re clad in king-given iron

Bear sword and axe and spear

Our own make do with leather

And seldom more than spears

I stand beside my neighbours

Where I expect to fall

Behind me march my good wife

Women and children all

No retreat will save them

No life for me without

The rage it burns inside me

Til Woden’s name I shout

In rage I lunge full forward

Against their iron line

No thought but bright red slaughter

And not alone I come

Neighbors all beside me

I will not fall alone

My chieftain’s son before me

Ever at the van

A people meet an army

The raven’s feast is served

Wolves will fill their bellies

Blood will wash the spears

Few enough will tell it

The glories of the dead

Freedom loving farmers

The field they watered red

The army line was broken

Our chieftain’s son won through

A dozen spears they pierced him,

But his fury won us through

One for one they cost us

Until their courage broke

Then a mighty slaughter

We worked upon their backs

Freedom loving farmers

And the minions of the king

Laid the raven’s feasting

To win a season’s peace