Eldgjald
Gjallarhorn Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Paloi ennen maita paljon, pahana palokesänä
Tulivuonna voimatonna, jäi vähän palamatonta

Kuokittihiin, kaivettikin
Löyettihin tuonen toukka
Kuokittihiin, kaivettikin
Löyettihin tuonen toukka
Sen kypenet kylvettihin, pellavas peritön kasvo
Liina liitoton yleni, yhtenä kesässä yönä

Kuokittihiin, kaivettikin
Löyettihin tuonen toukka




Kuokittihiin, kaivettikin
Löyettihin tuonen toukka

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gjallarhorn's Eldgjald describe a volcanic eruption that occurred in Iceland in 939 AD, known as Eldgjá. The verses describe the aftermath of the eruption, with "a lot being burned in the land" and "a little left unburned." The chorus speaks of the discovery of a "death worm" (tuonen toukka) that was found while digging in the aftermath of the eruption. The worm was used to fertilize flaxseed, which grew and was woven into a linen cloth in just one summer's night.


The lyrics draw upon the mysterious and mythic elements of the volcanic eruption and the discovery of the death worm. The tuonen toukka is a creature from Finnish mythology, associated with death and the underworld. The weaving of the linen cloth in just one night is reminiscent of other mythic tales of rapid or miraculous feats, such as the building of the pyramids or the creation of the world in seven days. The imagery of the lyrics reflects the forces of destruction and creation, of death and growth, that are present in the eruption and its aftermath.


Overall, Eldgjald is a powerful and evocative song that draws upon myth and history to tell a tale of the forces of nature and the mysteries of life and death.


Line by Line Meaning

Paloi ennen maita paljon, pahana palokesänä
Before, many lands burned in a terrible wildfire season


Tulivuonna voimatonna, jäi vähän palamatonta
In a volcanic eruption, there was little land left untouched due to a lack of strength


Kuokittihiin, kaivettikin
Dug and excavated


Löyettihin tuonen toukka
Found the larvae of the Underworld


Sen kypenet kylvettihin, pellavas peritön kasvo
The larvae was grown and cultivated, and produced a bountiful crop of flax


Liina liitoton yleni, yhtenä kesässä yönä
With no seam, the linen cloth grew overnight in a single summer


Kuokittihiin, kaivettikin
Dug and excavated


Löyettihin tuonen toukka
Found the larvae of the Underworld




Contributed by Jackson R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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:

@nostrobothnia

English lyrics:

Many lands burned in the past
On a bad summer of fire
Powerless on a year of fires,
Not a lot was left unburnt

We tilled, we dug
And we found the worm of death

Its embers we sowed
In wrapped linen, its ancestorless face
An unbound cloth rose
On one summer night

We tilled, we dug
And we found the worm of death

(The worm of death refers to the European adder, the only venomous snake found in Finland. They were seen as major pests by farmers, and were surrounded by a plethora of folk magic practices and beliefs.

The fires refer to a farming method called slash-and-burn, or kaskenpoltto on Finnish. A part of a forest is cut down and burned to create new, nutrient-rich field. A bad year of fires would mean that the fires were uncontrollable, and thus too much of the forest or the surrounding area was burnt. Someone more knowledgeable about Finnish kaski practices, please feel free to correct me!

This is just my speculation, but considering the existing folk practices, I think the song implies that the adder was to blame for the unsuccessful kaski. By burying a snake, people would ask for its protection against pests and disease. So wrapping it in linen and burying it was probably done in an attempt to salvage the field, at least in the context of the song.)



@EneriGiilaan

Moi!

Ymmärtääkseni liina ei tarkoita tässä kangasta vaan synonyymiä pellavalle (liina on kai pellavan vanhempi nimitys).

Itse tulkitsisin säkeet:

Sen kypenet kylvettihin,
pellavas peritön kasvo,
liina liitoton yleni,
yhtenä kesässä yönä.

tällä tapaa:

kyyn kypenet (ehkä tosiaan kekäleet = embers) kylvetiin
jonka jälkeen yhden kesäyön aikana pellosta nousi/kasvoi iso pellavasato.

Olen tosin ihan harrastelija, eli voi mennä täysin pieleen tämä :)



All comments from YouTube:

@Taker02

This song ends beautifully...

@MrGrenardo

Så utrolig vakkert!

@heathenannihilator3485

Helt otroligt!

@camptilonforxaus490

Totally!

@helvetewinter68666

Helt greit

@americangold8591

Song of the pandemic...

@vil4038

What is it about? I don't understand Finnish

@americangold8591

@@vil4038 it's about finding worms in the crop and about having to burn the crop, I THINk I know fire is involved... Eldgjald means firesong
"We hoed and we dug and found the worm of death"

@EneriGiilaan

@@americangold8591 This a bit late but anyways ...
The song is built around an ancient Fire Charm - and is related to the 'slash and burn' agriculture. So it is not the crops that is burned - but an area in a forest. The harvest ( of linen in this case) would grow over night and would be be exceptionally good (according to the song).
The term 'Worm of Death' refers to viper (poisonous snake).

@elguardiandelnum4238

Opus pulchra est!

More Comments

More Versions