The band is composed of lead guitarist Olavi Mikkonen, vocalist Johan Hegg, bassist Ted Lundström, rhythm guitarist Johan Söderberg, and drummer Jocke Wallgren. Amon Amarth has released 12 studio albums, one compilation album, one EP, one video album, and ten music videos. Their first studio album, Once Sent from the Golden Hall, debuted in 1998. Five more studio releases followed, before the band saw its breakthrough with the 2008 album Twilight of the Thunder God, which debuted at No. 10 on the Swedish album charts and No. 50 on the US Billboard 200. Five more albums, Surtur Rising, Deceiver of the Gods, Jomsviking, Berserker, and The Great Heathen Army followed in 2011, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022 respectively.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amon_Amarth
Studio albums
Once Sent from the Golden Hall (1998)
The Avenger (1999)
The Crusher (2001)
Versus the World (2002)
Fate of Norns (2004)
With Oden on Our Side (2006)
Twilight of the Thunder God (2008)
Surtur Rising (2011)
Deceiver of the Gods (2013)
Jomsviking (2016)
Berserker (2019)
The Great Heathen Army (2022)
Across The Rainbow Bridge
Amon Amarth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Norns have stretched my living thread
The notion of my demise won't leave me be
Why cannot death just set me free?
I've lived a life of prosperity
But I'm not as young as I used to be
Down the road waits misery
Countless armies have I attacked
Not once have I backed down
And though I've spilled a lot of blood
I never once received a mortal wound
I've raided shores in many lands
I cannot count the men I've killed
So many friends died with sword in hand
But the warrior's death was never granted me
I dress myself in battle clothes
Alone I make the final ride
My sight is blurred by whipping snow
I seek to end my life
I want to walk across the rainbow bridge
And see my fathers in the golden hall
They beckon me to join their feast
In my dreams I hear their call
The opening lines of Across The Rainbow Bridge clearly indicate that the singer in the song is coming to the end of his life. He has lived a long and prosperous life but the Norns have stretched his living thread, signaling that his end is near. Despite the fact he has achieved so much in his life, the notion of his demise won't leave him be and he is left questioning why death cannot just set him free.
The second verse details the singer's legendary accomplishments as a warrior. He has attacked countless armies and never once backed down. He has killed many men and never once received a mortal wound. He has raided shores in many lands and seen many friends die with sword in hand. However, despite all these accomplishments, the warrior's death was never granted to him.
As the song progresses, the singer dresses himself in battle clothes and makes his final ride alone through whipping snow, seeking to end his own life on his own terms. He wants to walk across the rainbow bridge and join his fathers in the golden hall. The song ends with the singer hearing his fathers' call in his dreams.
Overall, the lyrics of Across The Rainbow Bridge deal with the themes of mortality and the desire for a warrior's death. The singer has lived a long and accomplished life as a warrior, but he is left questioning why death cannot just set him free. He seeks to end his own life on his own terms and join his fathers in the afterlife.
Line by Line Meaning
My days are numbered, soon I have to leave
I am aware that my life will soon come to an end.
The Norns have stretched my living thread
My fate is determined, and my time is running out.
The notion of my demise won't leave me be
The thought of my death haunts me incessantly.
Why cannot death just set me free?
I wish that death would release me from the burden of life.
I've lived a life of prosperity
I've enjoyed a life of success and wealth.
But I'm not as young as I used to be
I am aging, and my strength is waning.
Down the road waits misery
I fear that my future will bring suffering and pain.
Why cannot death just set me free?
I long to be liberated from the struggles of life.
Countless armies have I attacked
I have fought many battles and wars.
Not once have I backed down
I have never retreated from a fight.
And though I've spilled a lot of blood
I have inflicted great violence upon my enemies.
I never once received a mortal wound
I have never been fatally injured.
I've raided shores in many lands
I have pillaged many coastal regions.
I cannot count the men I've killed
I have taken countless lives.
So many friends died with sword in hand
Many of my comrades have died while fighting alongside me.
But the warrior's death was never granted me
I have never been given the honorable death of a warrior.
I dress myself in battle clothes
I prepare for my final battle.
Alone I make the final ride
I face death alone.
My sight is blurred by whipping snow
The harsh weather impairs my vision.
I seek to end my life
I am determined to die in battle.
I want to walk across the rainbow bridge
I hope to enter Valhalla, the warrior's afterlife.
And see my fathers in the golden hall
I wish to join my ancestors in the afterlife.
They beckon me to join their feast
My ancestors invite me to celebrate with them in the afterlife.
In my dreams I hear their call
I long to be reunited with my loved ones who have passed on.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: FREDRICK ANDERSSON, JOHAN HEGG, JOHAN SODERBERG, OLAVI MIKKONEN, TED LUNDSTROM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ratiada
Across The Rainbow Bridge
My days are numbered: soon I have to leave
The Norns have stretched my living thread
The notion of my demise won't leave me be
Why cannot death just set me free!
I've lived a life or prosperity
But I'm not as young as I used to be
Down the road waits misery
Why cannot death just set me free!
Countless armies have I attacked
Not once have I backed down
And though I've spilled a lot of blood
I never once received a mortal wound
I've raided shores in many lands
I cannot count the men I've killed
So many friends died with sword in hand
But the warrior's death was never granted me
I dress myself in battle clothes
Alone I make the final ride
My sight is blurred, by whipping snow
I seek to end my life
I want to walk across the Rainbow Bridge
And see my fathers in the golden hall
They beckon me to join their feast
In my dreams I hear their call
Aaron
This song never gets old.
Aaron
@The nostalgia bro...
The
@Aaron how was that? I'm a year younger and was out of high school or nearly so by the time this dropped? Either way awesome song, they're awesome live too! Skol!
Aaron
I was in elementary school when this shit dropped.
Aaron
@khav11Rock On!
Aaron
@khav11 I'm 37 so I know what you mean.
hvitekristesdød
So much fucking emotion in this such. A really underrated track by these guys
Leonard Olds
yeah this was my fave on the album..so much emotion in all their songs but esp. this one!!
Iceni
Maccas Pope it's the best amon album imo
Maccas Pope
The entire album is underrated as fuck.