Skuggsjá is a musical piece written by Ivar Bjørnson and Einar Selvik. Arra… Read Full Bio ↴Skuggsjá is a musical piece written by Ivar Bjørnson and Einar Selvik. Arranged to be performed by Enslaved and Wardruna, and was originally initiated as a commissioned concert piece for the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution and premiered in September 2014 at the Eidsivablot festival, Eidsvoll where the constitution was written.

Skuggsjá translates into ‘mirror’ or ‘reflection’ in the Norse language, and the piece not only contextualizes harder music’s role in the democracy in Norway in 2014, but also joins threads from the country’s ancient musical history and solidifies harder music’s position as Norway's most important cultural export.

By highlighting ideas, traditions and instruments of their Norse past, Skuggsjá tells the history of Norway and reflect relevant aspects from the past into the present day. In light of this we reflect on ourselves as a people and nation. In a magnificent tapestry of metal instrumentation, a wide variety of Norway´s and Scandinavia’s oldest instruments, and poetry in Norse and Norwegian, Skuggsjá is a fusion between past and present, both lyrically and musically.

Ni Døtre av Hav
Ivar Bjørnson & Einar Selvik Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Himinglæva Himmelklåre
Dufa Bivrande leiker
Blodughadda Solraud strålar krona
Hefring Bykser lett i bukkespring
Yver Ægirs djupe salar
Leiker møyer nie frie
Svøper mjukt om mann og annan
Tek dei til si våte grav

Udr Frådande
Hrønn Svellande våg
Bylgja Larmande
Drøfn Brytande høgg
Kolga Kald og klår
Yver Ægirs djupe salar
Leiker møyer nie frie
Svøper mjukt om mann og annan

Tek dei til si våte grav
Til si våte grav

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Ni Døtre av Hav" tell the story of the daughters of the sea, who are portrayed as mysterious and powerful beings. The first verse mentions Himinglæva and Dufa, two of the daughters, who are playing while the clear sky and the blood-red sun are beaming above them. The second verse introduces Hefring, another one of the daughters, who is jumping easily in graceful leaps over the deep halls of Ægir, the sea god. The daughters are depicted as free-spirited and unbound, beautiful women who wrap themselves softly around men, only to take them to their watery grave.

The chorus describes the chaotic and dangerous nature of the sea, with waves swelling and breaking, and foam and spray flying everywhere, as the daughters of the sea, represented by Udr, Hrønn, Bylgja, and Kolga, exert their power over it. The last verse repeats the image of the daughters, wrapping themselves around men (and women), taking them to their watery grave.

The lyrics of "Ni Døtre av Hav" reflect the Norse mythology and the Scandinavian tradition of storytelling. The song evokes a sense of mystery and awe, paying tribute to the power and beauty of the sea and its mythical creatures.

Line by Line Meaning

Himinglæva Himmelklåre
The bright and clear sky of the heavens

Dufa Bivrande leiker
The restless waves are dancing

Blodughadda Solraud strålar krona
The sun's crown shines with reddish-yellow rays

Hefring Bykser lett i bukkespring
Hefring jumps effortlessly like a goat

Yver Ægirs djupe salar
Over the deep halls of Ægir

Leiker møyer nie frie
The maidens play, never free

Svøper mjukt om mann og annan
They embrace softly both man and woman

Tek dei til si våte grav
Taking them to their watery grave

Udr Frådande
The raging storm

Hrønn Svellande våg
The swelling wave of the sea

Bylgja Larmande
The roaring swell