Hymne
Kampfar Lyrics

The first stanza of Kampfar's song Hymne describes the idyllic scene of Idavoll, a paradise in Norse mythology. The singer describes the vastness of the scene as the shivering lid (likely referring to the sky, which is sometimes depicted as a lid) stretches far and wide. The singer then points to the all-seeing eye of Yggdrasil, the world tree, which watches over the endless fields below it that reach deep into the underworld. The roots of the tree are found in Nivlheim, the land of the dead. The atmosphere is full of an unsettling cold, as if the presence of extreme evil can be felt at the core of one's being. The singer refers to a watery, crystalline jotnekjelda, or giant well, where jagged teeth can pave a path into the darkness. They mention the horn of Gjallar, which is meant to be blown on the day of Ragnarok. This horn is said to be heard throughout the nine worlds and will signal the beginning of the end. The stanza ends with "all-father's black eye," which could be a reference to Odin, who sacrificed an eye in exchange for deeper knowledge and insight.

The second stanza continues the theme of the Yggdrasil tree, which is also referred to as "Ask," and is said to represent the interconnectedness of all things in Norse mythology. The singer likens Yggdrasil to a well from which everything originates. The white primeval water has dripped over the tree like sap and has created roots and branches that stretch over everything. The rhythm and rhyme of the words in the stanza evoke the idea of a spell or enchantment, which adds to the magical and mystical nature of the song. The singer then introduces the concept of the "livsbærende knopper" or life-bearing buds, which grow between the malevolent curses of Nidhogg, the dragon who gnaws on Yggdrasil's roots. These buds hold the promise of new life and growth, despite the darkness that encroaches upon the tree. The stanza ends with the idea that Yggdrasil stands eternally green over the source of fate, or the urd kjelda.