Sowulo makes atmospheric dark folk, strongly rooted in our pagan past.
<… Read Full Bio ↴Sowulo makes atmospheric dark folk, strongly rooted in our pagan past.

With immersive songs Sowulo celebrates our great pagan legacy and takes an inner spiritual journey. The lyrics and the music, created with (early) medieval and contemporary instruments combined with cinematic sounds and voice, invoke archetypal wisdom and express the cyclical nature of existence.

Sowulo, Sowilu, Sowilo, or even better Sol or Sigel, is the name of the rune-s and means 'Sun' on a symbolic level. The cyclical nature of the Sun is the very central point of our lives and also of our music. Every musical component of Sowulo forms cycles: from every individual song up to the entire discography. They follow the movement of the Sun and tell the stories of our inner and outer cycles of day and night, the four seasons, life and death.

Sowulo is a project formed by the Dutch multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Faber Horbach. With a great passion for music, history and shamanism, Faber has a need for creating melancholic and meaningful songs full of spirit and depth and he has inspired thousands of listeners around the world to connect with their cyclical and spiritual nature through his music.

Sceadugenga
Sowulo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wīdfaran
Ānstapa

Gā

Ic sceadugenga
Ānstapa

Ic fare nǣfre āne
Ic fare nāwa nīedlēas
Ic fare nǣfre āne
Ic fare nāwa ðearflēas

Wīdfaran
Inweardstapa
Inweardfaran
Ānstapa

"Travelling far and wide
Lonely wanderer

Go

I, wanderer in shadow
Lonely wanderer

I travel never in solitude
I never journey without need
I travel never in solitude
I never journey without cause

Travelling far and wide
Inward wanderer

Travelling inwardly
Lonely wanderer"

Overall Meaning

The song Sceadugenga by Sowulo is a powerful exploration of the life of a wanderer. The lyrics describe the experience of a lonely traveller who does not journey without purpose or need. Beginning with the phrase “Travelling far and wide”, the song sets the scene for a journey of exploration and discovery. The wanderer is described as an “ānstapa”, which translates as a “solitary traveller” or a “lonely wanderer”. This choice of words emphasises the isolation of the wanderer, even as they seek to explore the world around them.

The second verse expands on this theme of solitude, as the wanderer identifies themselves as a “sceadugenga” – a shadow walker or shadow goer. This metaphorical description underlines the sense of separateness and detachment felt by the wanderer. However, the following lines suggest that this isolation is not necessarily negative. The wanderer “never journeys without need” or “cause”. They are driven by a sense of purpose or intention, rather than merely wandering aimlessly.

The final verse adds further complexity to the portrait of the wanderer. They are described as both a “wīdfaran” (traveller far and wide) and an “inweardstapa” (inward wanderer). This contrast between outer and inner exploration suggests a deeper level of searching – not just for new places but for inner understanding and fulfilment. The wanderer’s “loneliness” is, therefore, not just a result of physical isolation but a reflection of a deeper quest for meaning and purpose.

Line by Line Meaning

Travelling far and wide
I embark on long journeys across vast distances.

Lonely wanderer
I wander aimlessly without company.

Go
I encourage myself to keep moving forward.

I, wanderer in shadow
I am a wanderer who lurks in the shadows and avoids the light.

Lonely wanderer
I continue to wander without the presence of anyone else.

I travel never in solitude
I am never completely alone in my travels, as my shadow is always with me.

I never journey without need
I never travel without a specific purpose or reason.

I travel never in solitude
I always have my shadow to keep me company on my journeys.

I never journey without cause
I always have a profound motivation driving my travels.

Travelling far and wide
I continue to travel long distances across the world.

Inward wanderer
I also journey within myself, exploring my innermost thoughts and feelings.