The original title (in Norwegian) is: Nattens Madrigal - Aatte Hymne Til Ulven I Manden.
Wolf & Fear
Ulver Lyrics
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Om Fuldmaanens Vee & Grue
Naar det klagede op mod hendes Skiaer
Fra Vintrens kolde Eensomhed
Da frycktede de at Vargen vaer n¦r
Vakt vaer dends gamle Mayestet
Der vaer Dègn da nogen meenede at hafve seet
I hendes Lius, som han splidder med dend
Skygge som han spreer,
Skyggen aff een ukiend Mackt
Der dend hylede mod sin Gud i infernaldsk Prackt
Dende Diefvels Herold, han herjede
Fra Kandt til Kandt, & mange aff Mande¦t forsvandt
Paa dend hun lyser, han binder; oc Helveds Ulv,
Han dr¦ber, medens Afgrunden brager
Forbandelsen er her visseligen
Aff Diefvlen han bleff ski¦nked een Gave
Der ved Troldom favned han til Ulv
Ey vaer han l¦nger een Guds Slave
Der ved Midnat vandred ofver hule Grave
Amongst men words went
Of the Full Moone's woe.
When a dirge did rise to Her skylit eye
From the lone winter's colde
They fear'd that the wolf was nigh
Awakened its Majestie of olde
Nights did pass when men claim'd the saw
In Her light that he splits
with the shadow he casts
The shadow of a force unknown
Howling at its God in splendoure infernall
This Devil's Herolde, he hunted the land
And many a man disappear'd
Where She shines, he binds; the Wolf of Hell
He kills o'ver the rumbling Abyss
The Curse is certayne
The Beast below bestowed on him a gift
And by Magick he to wolf was bound
No more was he a slave to God
At midnight treading on hollow grave
The lyrics of Ulver's song "Wolf & Fear" tells the tale of a community that fears the coming of a wolf. The lyrics describe the people talking about the full moon's woe and the anxiety that comes with it. When they hear a lament rising to the sky, they assume it's a sign that the wolf is close. They reference the awakened majesty of the wolf, which could be interpreted as a nod to the power and strength of wild animals. They describe a shadow that splits and casts an unknown force, presumably the wolf. They mention the howling of the wolf, which is directed toward its god in splendor infernal. They personify the wolf as a devil's herald that hunts the land, binding humans and killing over the abyss. In the end, the lyrics suggest that the wolf bestows a gift on a human, which turns them into a wolf and frees them from being a slave to God.
Line by Line Meaning
Amongst men words went
People were talking amongst each other
Of the Full Moone's woe.
They were discussing the challenges of the full moon
When a dirge did rise to Her skylit eye
When a mournful song was heard under the moonlit sky
From the lone winter's colde
From the cold and desolate winter
They fear'd that the wolf was nigh
They were afraid that the wolf was near
Awakened its Majestie of olde
The majesty of the wolf of old was revived
Nights did pass when men claim'd the saw
Nights passed when people claimed they saw
In Her light that he splits
A figure was seen splitting in Her light
with the shadow he casts
The figure casted a shadow
The shadow of a force unknown
The shadow belonged to an unknown force
Howling at its God in splendoure infernall
The force was howling at its god in infernal splendor
This Devil's Herolde, he hunted the land
The devil's herald hunted the land
And many a man disappear'd
Many men disappeared
Where She shines, he binds; the Wolf of Hell
The wolf of Hell binds where the moon shines
He kills o'ver the rumbling Abyss
He kills over the rumbling abyss
The Curse is certayne
The curse is certainly present
The Beast below bestowed on him a gift
The beast below gave him a gift
And by Magick he to wolf was bound
He was bound to a wolf by magic
No more was he a slave to God
He was no longer a slave to God
At midnight treading on hollow grave
He walked over hollow graves at midnight
Contributed by Allison O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.