To Holmgard and Beyond

The Varangian Way is a concept album, meaning that the album overall has an overarching theme or story. Overall, the story is a group of Viking's making their way to Constantinople. It's never really clear why they are going there, but in the end for them, it doesn't really matter.

The Varangian were viking's who went southward and eastward towards Russia, the Baltics and Ukraine. The Varangian Way, in essence, is a "trade route" (I use it loosely because I'm not sure if Vikings were all for trading with other people) that starts in Holmgard and ends in Constantinople.

Holmgard is actually the norse name for the city of Veliky Novgorod.

This song is basically grand and powerful because it is the start of this group of Varangian's adventure towards Miklagard (norse name for Constantinople which means "Big City"). The trip will be long and harsh, but hopefully, they'll make it.

"Far from the sea and distant lands Came men with thirty ships Had wanted to reach the Neva by night But the weather was not on their side

And as the wind grew stronger and stronger The rain ran down our cheeks The bow was turned towards Gardar The sail flew up again."

The Neva is a river in northwestern Russia and is the third largest river in Europe. Basically, the group of thirty ships want to enter the Neva river, but the weather is against them. Eventually, they are forced to turn towards Gardar, an Old Norse word meaning 'Stronghold,' which possibly refers to Holmgard.

The chorus is pretty self explanatory. It tells of what they are trying to accomplish.

"Osmo and Dalk, Kyy, Kokko and Ulf Were glad to be off the oars Turo had eaten too much again Now hanging himself overboard

The Tostensson twins were excited as always Adventure was their game Myself, Hakon the Bastard Was out to find my name"

At this point we are introduced to the different characters on the ships and to our "Hero," Hakon who is a bastard. In this tense, a bastard is basically a child who was born to parents who were not married. It's possible that Hakon's mother was raped or she had a one night stand. In this way, Hakon wishes to prove his worth to everyone.

"Who is "I" without a past? A river without a source? An event without a cause?

Threads of different lengths Some longer, some shorter So many of them spun together

The crones keep on weaving The algorithm of our lives Cause and effect, the fates of men"

This is talking about the Norse version of Wyrd (pronounced 'weird) or Fate. Wyrd is the concept of how the events of the past constantly affects the future. Thus what is an event without a cause? Nothing, it doesn't exist, everything event has a cause. So, who is Hakon without a past?

The Norse thought of their lives as threads in a tapestry. Their lives were spun by the Norns in their mythology, three "crones" who constantly shaped the destiny's and futures of the men and women on earth. But that isn't to say that everything is predestined. It merely states that a person's future can be predicted by the past, but it does not control it. Almost limited free will, if you think about it.

"We know the way to Aldeigju Upstream the river Alode You take us to the portage And further [South]

Long is the way to the unknown Long are the rivers in the East Far lies the land that Ingvar And his men desire to reach."

Aldeigju is the norse name for the port-city of Staraya Ladoga, possibly their next destination. I believe they are talking to someone in Holmgard who will take them to the city and guide them through the portage (I'll explain what a portage is in the next song) to the south.

The line "Long is the way to the unknown," almost foreshadows the next song on the album "A Portage to the Unknown." Ingvar was a hero in norse sagas who explored much of the eastern lands. This shows what they are trying to do in terms of overall goal. Ingvar is their hero and they wish to follow him.

"Many dangers lie ahead Some of us may never return Rather sold as slaves to the Saracens Then chained to your bed, chained to your life!"

I'm guessing their leader is talking to the crew and saying that the way forward will be long and hard. They may die in the process. But it is better to be dead and slaves to the Saracens then staying at home doing nothing. A Saracens the people of the Islamic faith who battled against the Crusaders.

Next song is "A Portage to the Unknown."

Cheers

If you check out thevarangianway.com you will see Warlord go over the basis of the entire album.

hey, don't worry about it, MissN. Every time I see Bush give a speech or hear about another American school shooting I feel ashamed of being American. Well, generally, we suck. Ever country has its flaws! Oh, but Finland producing bands like Turisas is not one of them. At least you guys aren't mass producing crap bands or actors-turned-singers like Lindsay Lohan or Fall Out Boy. Haha. what a joke. I'm gonna go ahead and admit that I have a FOB cd. Therefore, I have the right to say they are too generic.

I've got nothing to say about this song as of now because I only stumbled upon this band two days ago. Happy find!

I agree with everything you said Viola. I really have a problem with people coming on here just to bash bands. If you don't like it, don't listen to it. Simple fix. No one here wants to hear that you don't like it. Not trying to be rude, I'm just saying.

I personally love this band. This song is brilliant. I know The Varangian Way is the story of the Varangians (vikings) travelling from Holmgard to Constantinople (also known as The City, Miklagaard, or today, Istanbul). Historically, I don't know the specifics, but this song is the tale of the men setting off on their journey.

This song is just amazing! I think its about trying to break free from captors and just live life to the full and be freer, like it talks about sailing away and searching for fame and gold rather than not doing anything with your life!

Its actualy the opening to the album. a group of viking type dudes are setting out to find new lands orr something, holmgard is the port they are sailing from. they sail from holgard to konstantinople (which was the sort of capital of the world at the time)

goin to see em in october, cant wait

Oh god... i don't now what is it about and I really don't care... I just have to say that these guys are bunch of retards. Every time I see them I'm just so ashamed to be finnish. Why do they have to go around wearing those furs and that paint in their faces...? it just looks so fucking stupid and it's not even funny. It's bands like these that make people in other countries think finnish people are weird.