Hear the Heathen Call
TYR Lyrics
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A mighty man wanders free on this earth
Kinsmen young may fall by the bitter blade
When he heard is when he laid down his life
Borne on his shield, his sword lying on his chest
The Northern Gate they passed through
They marched on to the eastern mound where they laid him down
Hear the heathen call
Time will take us all
And hear the heathen cry
Finally we die
So hear the heathen call
Time will take us all
And only time will tell
Time will bid us all farewell
All knew our greatest times had come to an end
We proudly carved a memorial stone
There to stand alone through the ages long
Lasting onto later times of the world
Many a thing may change during all the days
A mighty man wanders free on this earth
Kinsmen young may fall by the bitter blade
Crying rain and wailing wind in the mountains we all
Hear the heathen call
Time will take us all
And hear the heathen cry
Finally we die
So hear the heathen call
Time will take us all
And only time will tell
Time will bid us all farewell
The song "Hear the Heathen Call" by Týr is an elegy to a fallen warrior. The lyrics describe the fleeting nature of life and how death will come to all. The song is a reminder that no matter how powerful or mighty we may be, all will eventually succumb to the passage of time. The lyrics suggest that the heathen call is a call to embrace life, to live fearlessly and without regret. It is a call to be true to oneself, to stand up for what one believes in, and to face adversity courageously.
The song is steeped in Northern European mythology and folklore. The reference to the "Northern Gate" suggests the entrance to Valhalla, the Viking afterlife where slain warriors are taken to feast and fight until the end of the world. The idea that the fallen warrior is laid to rest on an eastern mound also carries significance; in Norse mythology, the east is a symbolic direction associated with death and renewal.
The song's central theme of mortality is conveyed through powerful imagery. The "crying rain and wailing wind" evoke a sense of sadness and loss, while the memorial stone that stands alone "through the ages long" emphasizes the lasting impact of the warrior's life. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "time will take us all," serves as a reminder of the inexorable passage of time and the inevitability of death.
Line by Line Meaning
Many a thing may change during all the days
Life is uncertain and ever-changing
A mighty man wanders free on this earth
Powerful individuals roam the world
Kinsmen young may fall by the bitter blade
Even the youth can fall to a harsh fate
When he heard is when he laid down his life
He gave up his life when he heard what he needed to hear
Borne on his shield, his sword lying on his chest
His weapons were carried with him in death
The Northern Gate they passed through
They crossed into the afterlife
They marched on to the eastern mound where they laid him down
His final resting place was a sacred location
Crying rain and wailing wind in the mountains we all
The natural world mourns with us
Hear the heathen call
Listen to the voice of the non-believers
Time will take us all
Death is inevitable for everyone
And hear the heathen cry
Witness the sorrow of those who don't follow our faith
Finally we die
Death is the ultimate outcome
And only time will tell
The future is uncertain
Time will bid us all farewell
We will all eventually pass away
All knew our greatest times had come to an end
The peak of our civilization has passed
We proudly carved a memorial stone
We pay tribute to what we once were
There to stand alone through the ages long
The monument will endure through time
Lasting onto later times of the world
Our legacy will live on for generations to come
Contributed by Taylor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Panteísta
Many a thing may change during all the days
A mighty man wanders free on this earth
Kinsmen young may fall by the bitter blade
When he heard is when he laid down his life
Borne on his shield, his sword lying on his chest
The Northern Gate they passed through
They marched on to the eastern mound where they laid him down
Crying rain and wailing wind in the mountains we all
Hear the heathen call
Time will take us all
And hear the heathen cry
Finally we die
So hear the heathen call
Time will take us all
And only time will tell
Time will bid us all farewell
All knew our greatest times had come to an end
We proudly carved a memorial stone
There to stand alone through the ages long
Lasting onto later times of the world
Many a thing may change during all the days
A mighty man wanders free on this earth
Kinsmen young may fall by the bitter blade
Crying rain and wailing wind in the mountains we all
Hear the heathen call
Time will take us all
And hear the heathen cry
Finally we die
So hear the heathen call
Time will take us all
And only time will tell
Time will bid us all farewell
Panteísta
Many a thing may change during all the days
A mighty man wanders free on this earth
Kinsmen young may fall by the bitter blade
When he heard is when he laid down his life
Borne on his shield, his sword lying on his chest
The Northern Gate they passed through
They marched on to the eastern mound where they laid him down
Crying rain and wailing wind in the mountains we all
Hear the heathen call
Time will take us all
And hear the heathen cry
Finally we die
So hear the heathen call
Time will take us all
And only time will tell
Time will bid us all farewell
All knew our greatest times had come to an end
We proudly carved a memorial stone
There to stand alone through the ages long
Lasting onto later times of the world
Many a thing may change during all the days
A mighty man wanders free on this earth
Kinsmen young may fall by the bitter blade
Crying rain and wailing wind in the mountains we all
Hear the heathen call
Time will take us all
And hear the heathen cry
Finally we die
So hear the heathen call
Time will take us all
And only time will tell
Time will bid us all farewell
jp.riderkick.1990
Tyr is one of the few bands that brings me to tears, the emotion and power on each song, you dont need alcohol or drugs to feel what this song wants to portray, such an amazing band
Connor M. Anderton
The bit that gets me is :
"All knew our greatest times had come to an end
We proudly carved a memorial stone
There to stand alone through the ages long
Lasting on to later times of the world...."
Sarah A. Paris
Viking Metal is so much fun! I am getting the urge to pick up sword and shield and charge into battle!
Plissken
Best album!!!
Chief Whitenoise
I'm turning into a metalhead to drown out for sure the Panera SGI music.🙂
Kevin Love
Awesome 👌 👏 👍
Arch Lorebeard
I still haven't bought this album and I still don't know why
Heri Joensen
+Jausch120 Now's your chance :-)
Arch Lorebeard
+Heri Joensen I'm going to buy a few albums later in the month so I should pick this up as I've been meaning to just it for a while now