Thousand Years of Oppression
Amon Amarth Lyrics

He hung on the windswept world tree
Odin, the Norse god of wisdom, hung on Yggdrasil, the world tree, in pursuit of knowledge.

Whose roots no one knows
The roots of Yggdrasil are unknown and shrouded in mystery.

For nine whole days he hung there pierced
Odin hung on the tree for nine days, pierced by his spear Gungnir.

By Gugnir, his spear
Odin was impaled on his spear Gungnir, which he used in battles as the Allfather.

Swimming in pain he peered into the depths
In his suffering, Odin gazed into the depths of chaos to gain knowledge and wisdom.

And cried out in agony
Despite his godly status, Odin experienced agony and pain during his quest for wisdom.

Reaching out he grasped the runes
Through his ordeal on the tree, Odin was able to grasp the magic and power of the runes.

Before falling back from the abyss
Having gained knowledge from the abyss, Odin returned to the world of the living.

He gave himself unto himself
In his quest for knowledge, Odin sacrificed himself and his well-being.

In a world of shearing pain
Odin endured excruciating pain in his pursuit of wisdom.

Go that we all may live our lives
Odin's sacrifice allowed others to live their lives with the benefits of his gained knowledge and wisdom.

By the wisdom that he gained
Odin's gained wisdom became a powerful force for change and growth within Norse mythology.

You doubted him, and spread their lies
Those who doubted and disrespected Odin spread lies and deceit about his sacrifice.

Across the world, with sword in hand
Odin's critics spread their lies across the world, often using violence to enforce their beliefs.

You raped our souls, and stole our right
Oppressors violated the spiritual and cultural identities of Norse communities, stripping them of their rights and freedoms.

All for the words of mild-mannered man
The oppression against Norse communities arose from the teachings and influence of a weaker and less powerful god.

You listened to mild-mannered god
Oppressors and those who doubted Odin placed more value in a less powerful god, who espoused more submissiveness and obedience.

And put your faith in deceitful words
By putting their faith in words of falsehood, oppressors led those who trusted them down a path of ignorance and suffering.

Your powertrip was paid by blood
Oppressors' thirst for power and authority cost the innocent lives and well-being of Norse communities.

In kindness' name you spilled our blood
Oppressors used religion and kindness as a justification for their violent and unjust actions.

I refuse to submit
The artist rejects submission and submissiveness to those who have oppressed them.

To the god you say is kind
The artist rejects submission to a lesser god who is being used as a means of control and oppression.

I know what's right, and it is time
The singer is confident in their knowledge and is ready for change and action.

It's time to fight, and free our minds
The artist is calling for a revolution and uprising against oppressors, in order to free minds and spirits.

Let me die without fear
The singer is willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause of freedom, without fearing their own death.

As I have lived without it
The singer has lived without fear for their entire life, and wants to die in that same way.

So shut your mouth and spare my ears
The singer is tired of hearing the lies and deceit of oppressors, and demands silence and respect.

I'm fed up with all your bullshit
The artist has had enough of the oppressive actions and beliefs of others.

After a thousand years of oppression
Norse communities have endured generations of oppression and persecution.

Let the berserks rise again
The singer is calling for the reemergence of the powerful and ferocious berserkers.

Let the world hear these words once more
The singer is calling for the world to hear their cries for freedom again.

"Save us, oh lord, from the wrath of the Norsemen"
The oppressed communities are asserting themselves and warning their oppressors to beware their wrath.

Our spirits were forged in snow and ice
The Norse communities' spirits were tempered and strengthened through harsh and unforgiving conditions.

To bend like steel forged over fire
The artist's spirit is unbreakable, like steel that has been forged in a hot furnace.

We were not made to bend like reed
The Norse communities were not made to be weak and submissive like a fragile reed, but rather to stand strong and fight.

Or turn the other cheek
The Norse communities were not made to just endure oppression and violence, but to resist and fight back.

He grasped the runes, they're ours to use
Odin's discovery and mastery of the runes empowers Norse communities to use them for their own benefit.