1. Ultima Thule (Swedish band) are one of the oldest and most popular bands from the Viking-Rock genre. They formed in 1984 out of the punk band Ugly Spots. Most of their songs are about Nordic mythology, patriotism and the beautiful landscapes of the north. Ultima Thule are an apolitical band, altough early in their career they had some connections to far-right political organisations and bands. Ultima Thule are one of the few bands in Sweden that simoultaniously have had 3 albums and 2 singles on the TOP 20 saleschart.
In 2012 the band announced it would no longer be recording new music or play concerts.
After 2015's Trägen vinner vocalist Jan Thörnblom left the band and the original singer Bruno Hansen returned to replace him. Their latest album to date is 2018's 1458.
2. Ultima Thule (Estonian band) are a rock band. They formed in 1986. The leader of the group has been the guitarist and (later) singer Riho Sibul. Ultima Thule has been one of the most influential Estonian bands of the 1980s and 1990s. Their style has been characterized as a blend of blues-rock with witty lyrics and influences of Estonian folk-music.
The original singer of the band, Tõnis Mägi has in the 2000s mainly chosen a solo career as well as the former drummer Peeter Jõgioja (featuring also in 2004 Eurovision song contest with the group Neiokõsõ).
3. Ultima Thule (Chinese band) are a black metal band and participated in the "A Tribute To Burzum: Triumph und Wille" with song En Ring Til Å Herske.
4. A psychedelic-hardcore-ska-punk fusion band from South London (UK) during the late eighties. One album "Bombolini Hey!"
5. Ultima Thule (Netherland band) is a raw black metal band released demo in 2017 "Enthralling Lunar Majesty".
Ravens
Ultima Thule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Greatest creature so divine
Sends for watching land below
Ravens fly for him to know
Took off from a greater tree
Higher, higher flying free
Sounds of thunder in the sky
In our time, ravens two
Passing over me and you
Whisper to their only master
What to come before and after
Shadow casted snowy ground
Shape of ravens might be found
At his head ravens rest
Stranger silent as his guest
Words for ear of ancient god
Carried home by wings so proud
Stare at the sky as evening come
Sky is dark and ravens gone.
The lyrics of Ultima Thule's song "Ravens" depict the importance of the ravens in the Norse mythology, particularly in the context of Odin, the king god of the Northern clime. Odin, admired as the greatest creature that is divine, sends out ravens to watch over the land below. The ravens are portrayed as messengers who have the ability to observe everything that goes on and share the information with their master. In the second verse, the song describes the two ravens flying high above, producing sounds of thunder in the sky. They are then referred to as visitors of sorts who can see and perceive things on a different level than humans.
In the third verse, the song moves from describing the physical aspect of the ravens to their symbolism. The ravens flying in the present time are said to whisper to their only master, communicating what is to come before and after. The final verse depicts the presence of the ravens' shadow on the snowy ground, and their shape may be found. The visitor at the foot of the ancient god is described as a stranger who is silent while the ravens are perched on his head. The song concludes by emphasizing the significance of the ravens in the Norse mythology, and how they would eventually leave, and the sky would darken.
Line by Line Meaning
King god of northern clime
The ruler of the northern regions, considered divine by its people
Greatest creature so divine
This creature is highly esteemed and revered as a god
Sends for watching land below
Observes the land and its inhabitants below from a high place
Ravens fly for him to know
To keep knowledge of what is happening below, the raven's fly for him to observe and retrieve knowledge
Took off from a greater tree
Ravens left to soar from a place of prominence.
Higher, higher flying free
Ravens flew high with freedom and without restraint
Sounds of thunder in the sky
The Raven’s wings made a sound like thunder amidst the sky
Up above two ravens fly
Two ravens could be seen soaring above
In our time, ravens two
Two ravens were present in the time and place of the artist
Passing over me and you
The two ravens flew over the artist and their companion
Whisper to their only master
The Ravens report the events that they witness to the creature who sends for them
What to come before and after
They provide knowledge of the past as well as the future
Shadow casted snowy ground
The image of a raven is cast onto a snowy surface by the sun
Shape of ravens might be found
A likeness of ravens may be found in different locations
At his head ravens rest
Ravens perch near the creature's head
Stranger silent as his guest
A stranger to the land and silent amongst this god and its followers
Words for ear of ancient god
Reports of information intended for this creature
Carried home by wings so proud
The ravens carry knowledge proudly back to the creature
Stare at the sky as evening come
They look up at the darkening sky as the evening falls
Sky is dark and ravens gone.
As the sky becomes dark, the ravens have left on their journey
Contributed by Jackson T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.