Rolandskvadet - Norwegian Song

Vocals & arrangement by Farya Faraji, many thanks to my boy Étienne for modeling as Roland here.

I call this one a quintessentially European piece: a Norwegian ballad about the French national epic whose original text was written in Anglo-Normand French about a Frankish military commander who fought the Basques, set to a Faroese melody.

The Song of Roland is France's national epic, written from the 1000's to the 1100's, and recounts in legendary form the Battle of Ronceveaux Pass in 778 where the Basques defeated a Carolingian army. In the Song of Roland, however, the Basques are substituted with the Muslim Saracens.

In the story, the treacherous Ganelon informs the Saracens that the valiant Roland, Charlemagne's nephew will be passing through Ronceveaux pass with his army. Roland is ambushed, and though he blows his horn Olifant many times to call Charlemagne, he and his army are wiped out. Charlemagne arrives too late and grieves the death of his most valiant warrior.

Norwegian lyrics:
Seks mine sveinar heime vera
Og gjøyme det gullet balde
Dei andre seks på heidningslando
Gjøyme dei jarni kalde

Ria dei ut or Franklandet
Med dyre dros i sadel
Blæs i luren, Olifant
På Ronsarvollen

Slogest dei ut på Ronsarvollen
I dagane två og trio
Då fekk'kje soli skine bjart
For røykjen av manneblodet

Ria dei ut or Franklandet
Med dyre dros i sadel
Blæs i luren, Olifant
På Ronsarvollen

Fran så kom det luraljodi,
Det sokk ut i sliregjengi,
Roland blæs sine augo or haus,
Så hardt honom hei'ingan trengdi.

Ria dei ut or Franklandet
Med dyre dros i sadel
Blæs i luren, Olifant
På Ronsarvollen

English translation:
Six of my swains stay home and keep the clear gold
The other six in heathen-lands keep iron cold
Riding out of Frankish Lands with dear maiden in the saddle
Blowing the horn Olifant upon Roncevaux Meadow

They fought upon Roncevaux Meadow for days two and three
The sun could not shine bright through mist of man-blood

Riding out of Frankish Lands with dear maiden in the saddle
Blowing the horn Olifant upon Roncevaux Meadow

So far reached the sound of the horn, it resounded in the sheaths,
Roland blew his eyes out of his skull, so hard the sound entered the enemy's too

Roland puts the horn to a bloody mouth and blows it with wrath
Then did burst earth and stone three days away

Riding out of Frankish Lands with dear maiden in the saddle
Blowing the horn Olifant upon Roncevaux Meadow