One Rode to Asa Bay
Bathory Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

One man rode the way through the woods
Down to Asa bay
Where dragon ships had sailed to sea
More times than one could say
To see with own eyes the wonder
People told of from man to man
The God of all almightyness
Had arrived from a foreign land

The rumors told of a man
Who had come from the other side the seas
Carrying gold cross around neck in chain
And spoke in strange tongue of peace
He had come with strange men in armor
Dressed in purple shirts and lace
Smelling not of beer but flowers
And with no hair in face

And the bold man carrying cross
Had told all one of Asa bay
The God of all man woman child had come
To them all save
And to thank Lord of Heaven
One should build to God a house
And to save one's soul from Hell
One should be baptized and say vows

A man of pride with the Hammer told new God
To build his house on own
And spoke loud of the Gods of their fathers
Not too long time gone
The rumors said the man with a beard like fire
And the Hammer in chain
By men in armor silenced was and by
Their swords was slain

Those who did not pay the one coin
Of four to man of new God
Whipped was twenty and put in chains then locked
By their neck to the log (To the log)
And so all of Asa bay did build
A house of the cross
Every hour of daylight they did sweat
Limbs ached because faith does cost

And on the day two hundred
There it stood white to the sky
The house of the God of the cross
Big enough to take two dragon ships inside
And all of Asa bay did watch
The wonder raise to the sky
Now must the God of the cross be pleased
And satisfied

Just outside the circle of the crowd
One old man did stand
He looked across the waters
And blotted the sun out of his eyes with one hand
And his old eyes could almost see
The dragon ships set sail
And his old ears could almost hear
Men of great numbers call out Oden's hail

And though he did know already
Though he turned face towards sky
And whispered silent words forgotten
Spoken only way up high
Now this house of a foreign God does stand
Now must they leave us alone
Still he heard from somewhere in the woods




Old crow of wisdom say
People of Asa land, it's only just begun

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bathory's "One Rode to Asa Bay" tell a story of a foreign man who arrives in Asa Bay, carrying a gold cross and speaking of a God of peace. This man had come with strange men in armor, dressed in purple shirts and lace, who did not drink beer but smelled of flowers and had no hair on their faces. They claimed to have come to save the souls of the people of Asa Bay by building a house for God and baptizing them. However, the man with the Hammer, a representative of the Norse gods, resisted the new God and refused to pay the four coins demanded by the man from the other side of the sea. He instead demanded that the new God build his house on his own and spoke of the gods of their fathers. The rumors say that the man with the Hammer, with a beard like fire and a hammer in chain, was silenced by men in armor and killed. Those who did not pay the four coins were whipped, put in chains, and locked to the log. Nevertheless, the people of Asa Bay built a house of the cross, big enough to take two dragon ships inside, which stood white to the sky on the two hundredth day.


The story told in the lyrics is an allegory for the spread of Christianity in pagan Europe. The man from the other side of the sea represents the Christian missionaries who came to convert the pagans, while the man with the Hammer represents the pagan resistance to the new religion. The lyrics emphasize the violence and coercion used by the Christian missionaries to impose their beliefs on the pagan population, as well as the cultural clash between the two religions. The old man who stands outside the circle of the crowd represents the pagan elders who remember the old ways and fear the loss of their traditions and gods. This story is a powerful reflection on the clash of cultures that occurred during the Christianization of Europe.


Line by Line Meaning

One man rode the way through the woods
A lone traveler journeyed through the forest.


Down to Asa bay
Heading towards the town of Asa bay.


Where dragon ships had sailed to sea
Asa bay was a port where ships sailed.


More times than one could say
The town was a frequent departure point for ships.


To see with own eyes the wonder
The traveler wanted to experience Asa bay for himself.


People told of from man to man
The traveler had heard stories about Asa bay from others.


The God of all almightyness
A Christian God believed to be all-powerful.


Had arrived from a foreign land
The Christian God was believed to have come from a distant place.


The rumors told of a man
There were stories circulating about a person.


Who had come from the other side the seas
The person was said to have come from across the water.


Carrying gold cross around neck in chain
The person wore a gold cross on a chain around their neck.


And spoke in strange tongue of peace
The person spoke a foreign language of peace.


He had come with strange men in armor
The person traveled with armored men.


Dressed in purple shirts and lace
The people accompanying the person wore ornate clothing.


Smelling not of beer but flowers
The person and their companions did not smell like alcohol, but instead had a pleasant scent.


And with no hair in face
The person had a clean-shaven face.


And the bold man carrying cross
The person carrying the cross was brave and confident.


Had told all one of Asa bay
The person had spoken to everyone in Asa bay.


The God of all man woman child had come
The Christian God had come for all people, regardless of gender or age.


To them all save
To save them all.


And to thank Lord of Heaven
To express gratitude to God.


One should build to God a house
A house should be built for God.


And to save one's soul from Hell
One should be baptized and make vows to avoid going to Hell.


One should be baptized and say vows
To avoid going to Hell, one should be baptized and make vows.


A man of pride with the Hammer told new God
A man who worshipped the god of thunder challenged the Christian God.


To build his house on own
The man suggested the Christian God should build their own house.


And spoke loud of the Gods of their fathers
The man spoke passionately about the gods of his ancestors.


Not too long time gone
It was not long ago that the people of Asa bay worshipped their own gods.


The rumors said the man with a beard like fire
According to rumors, the man who challenged the Christian God had a fiery red beard.


And the Hammer in chain
The man carried a hammer, which was chained to him.


By men in armor silenced was
The armored men accompanying the Christian God defeated the man with the hammer.


And by their swords was slain
The man was killed by the swords of the armored men.


Those who did not pay the one coin
Anyone who did not pay a fee.


Of four to man of new God
The fee was given to the Christian God's representative.


Whipped was twenty and put in chains then locked
Twenty people were punished with whippings and chains for not paying the fee.


By their neck to the log (To the log)
They were then chained by their necks to a log.


And so all of Asa bay did build
Everyone in Asa bay worked together to build.


A house of the cross
A Christian church was built.


Every hour of daylight they did sweat
Everyone worked hard from sunup to sundown.


Limbs ached because faith does cost
Building the church was physically demanding because faith requires effort.


And on the day two hundred
Two hundred days later.


There it stood white to the sky
The church stood tall and gleaming in the sunlight.


The house of the God of the cross
The church of the Christian God.


Big enough to take two dragon ships inside
The church was large enough to hold two ships.


And all of Asa bay did watch
Everyone in Asa bay observed.


The wonder raise to the sky
The impressive church towered towards the heavens.


Now must the God of the cross be pleased
The Christian God must be satisfied with the church that was built for Him.


And satisfied
Completely content.


Just outside the circle of the crowd
A man stood at the edge of the crowd.


One old man did stand
An elderly man was watching.


He looked across the waters
The man gazed out towards the water.


And blotted the sun out of his eyes with one hand
He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun's glare.


And his old eyes could almost see
He nearly had a vision.


The dragon ships set sail
He imagined the dragon ships sailing away.


And his old ears could almost hear
He almost imagined hearing.


Men of great numbers call out Oden's hail
Warriors shouting praises to the Norse god Odin.


And though he did know already
Even though he already knew.


Though he turned face towards sky
He looked up at the sky.


And whispered silent words forgotten
He spoke quiet words that were long forgotten.


Spoken only way up high
Words that were usually only spoken to the gods.


Now this house of a foreign God does stand
A church belonging to a foreign God now exists.


Now must they leave us alone
The people of Asa bay believed that the Christian God would leave them in peace now that His church had been built.


Still he heard from somewhere in the woods
He heard a voice in the distance.


Old crow of wisdom say
A wise old crow was speaking.


People of Asa land, it's only just begun
The people of Asa bay were warned that the arrival of the Christian God was just the beginning of bigger changes to come.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Mariana Rivera

Lyrics

One man rode the way through the woods
Down to Asa bay
Where dragon ships had sailed to sea
More times than one could say
To see with own eyes the wonder
People told of from man to man
The God of all almightyness
Had arrived from a foreign land

The rumors told of a man
Who had come from the other side the seas
Carrying gold cross around neck in chain
And spoke in strange tongue of peace
He had come with strange men in armor
Dressed in purple shirts and lace
Smelling not of beer but flowers
And with no hair in face

And the bold man carrying cross
Had told all one of Asa bay
The God of all man woman child had come
To them all save
And to thank Lord of Heaven
One should build to God a house
And to save one's soul from Hell
One should be baptized and say vows

A man of pride with the Hammer told new God
To build his house on own
And spoke loud of the Gods of their fathers
Not too long time gone
The rumors said the man with a beard like fire
And the Hammer in chain
By men in armor silenced was and by
Their swords was slain

Those who did not pay the one coin
Of four to man of new God
Whipped was twenty and put in chains then locked
By their neck to the log (To the log)
And so all of Asa bay did build
A house of the cross
Every hour of daylight they did sweat
Limbs ached because faith does cost

And on the day two hundred
There it stood white to the sky
The house of the God of the cross
Big enough to take two dragon ships inside
And all of Asa bay did watch
The wonder raise to the sky
Now must the God of the cross be pleased
And satisfied

Just outside the circle of the crowd
One old man did stand
He looked across the waters
And blotted the sun out of his eyes with one hand
And his old eyes could almost see
The dragon ships set sail
And his old ears could almost hear
Men of great numbers call out Oden's hail

And though he did know already
Though he turned face towards sky
And whispered silent words forgotten
Spoken only way up high
Now this house of a foreign God does stand
Now must they leave us alone
Still he heard from somewhere in the woods
Old crow of wisdom say
People of Asa land, it's only just begun



Luis Tarazona

One man rode the way through the woods
Down to Asa bay
Where dragon ships had sailed to sea
More times than one could say
To see with own eyes the wonder
People told of from man to man
The God of all almightyness
Had arrived from a foreign land
The rumors told of a man
Who had come from the other side the seas
Carrying gold cross around neck in chain
And spoke in strange tongue of peace
He had come with strange men in armor
Dressed in purple shirts and lace
Smelling not of beer but flowers
And with no hair in face
And the bold man carrying cross
Had told all one of Asa bay
The God of all man woman child had come
To them all save
And to thank Lord of Heaven
One should build to God a house
And to save one's soul from Hell
One should be baptized and say vows
A man of pride with the Hammer told new God
To build his house on own
And spoke loud of the Gods of their fathers
Not too long time gone
The rumors said the man with a beard like fire
And the Hammer in chain
By men in armor silenced was and by
Their swords was slain
Those who did not pay the one coin
Of four to man of new God
Whipped was twenty and put in chains then locked
By their neck to the log (To the log)
And so all of Asa bay did build
A house of the cross
Every hour of daylight they did sweat
Limbs ached because faith does cost
And on the day two hundred
There it stood white to the sky
The house of the God of the cross
Big enough to take two dragon ships inside
And all of Asa bay did watch
The wonder raise to the sky
Now must the God of the cross be pleased
And satisfied
Just outside the circle of the crowd
One old man did stand
He looked across the waters
And blotted the sun out of his eyes with one hand
And his old eyes could almost see
The dragon ships set sail
And his old ears could almost hear
Men of great numbers call out Oden's hail
And though he did know already
Though he turned face towards sky
And whispered silent words forgotten
Spoken only way up high
Now this house of a foreign God does stand
Now must they leave us alone
Still he heard from somewhere in the woods
Old crow of wisdom say
People of Asa land, it's only just begun



SkrewhaileR-UrizieL-Staub und Schatten

Masterpiece...🤘🏻💪🏻
First wave of Black Metal, inventor of Viking Metal...

Hail Quorthorn, Hail Bathory 👊🏻

I still have goosebumps everytime I listen to that great song.

I may be old now. But I still know about the best Musik 😁

High up the horns 🤘🏻



All comments from YouTube:

Captain Deadeye

There's something so engaging at how imperfect and raw Quorthon's singing is when paired with the epic music. Like that of an actual viking.

Embryolk

It's like a musical storybook, one that grabs your mind and holds it until it's done telling its tale

Альвасад Парье

he had real rock vocals, with anguish and nerve, which is now rarely heard

Russell Mcgurn

It's REAL!!!

Eric Olsen

Absolute masterpiece

Rodney Luthor

Yesss this is what I get most philosophically preachy about with Bathory! Quorthon was blessed with everything musically APART from a beautiful voice. Yet he just powered through and reached the notes by screaming and if they were unpleasant harmonically they were nevertheless on key! Then God Bless! that guitar!!! Hail Fucking Quorthon! peace brothers and sisters ;)

16 More Replies...

Rotting Christ Guitar Covers

I am glad to see finally an official channel for the legendary Bathory. May many more metalbrothers will discover this channel 🤘🔥 Keep the Spirit Alive

George Moshington

Just discpvered myself. Cheerz brother.

Rotting Christ Guitar Covers

@George Moshington That's great! I was hoping for years for an official Bathory channel that will have all the albums stored and remain for ever here thought the years for every metalwarrior new or old fans of the Quorthon's music🤘

MAD Q

Who created the performer's channel? Who owns the rights to it? Maybe it's his sister?

More Comments

More Versions