In great numbers we advance before dawn
By the great hail this great fight is born
Among the clouds now our black wings fills the air
No more front lines the holy battle is everywhere

Though death may await me on the battlefield
I die to go on but by the great hail I will go,
I am marching under the runes

Countless victories we fight side by side
Deep down in the oceans on land and way up in the sky
Comed this far now there is no way back or return
If we do withdraw the horizon will seem to burn

Though death now is closing in on me
I die to go on but by the great hail I will go,
I am fighting under the runes

Standing here now amidst the hell we have made
All signs of a wonder or to survive now seems to fade
But I am a fighter and I still have my pride
They are gonna have to kill, by my own hand I refuse to die

Though now death is all that awaits me
I die to go on but by the great hail I will go
I am dying under the runes


Lyrics submitted by Disposition_987, edited by Senllus, Chard121, t0b

Under the Runes Lyrics as written by Quorthon

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Under The Runes song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    It's "hall" not "hail". Is there a way to submit corrections?
    Chard121on December 29, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    vonss, you are a fucking idiot.
    aegdsagakgon July 22, 2011   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning
    Let's get some things straight, first. Bathory has NEVER had ANYTHING to do with Nazis. Ever. Whoever submitted these lyrics probably used "hail" instead of "hall" because that's what he thinks the song is about. It isn't. It's Vikings on the battlefield who are dying under the stars (Runes). There's always the possibility that might not have been Quorthon's meaning of it (We'll never know now), but it's close enough.
    Ansuzon November 01, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    It's about the Waffen SS
    Lowboy1975on June 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I personally took it to be about the experiences of a Nazi German, and persevering in the face of all odds.
    8472on October 01, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Norse warriors would paint runes on their foreheads before entering battle, both as a form of magic for inspiration, and as a means to strike fear into the hearts of their enemies. That is likely what this song is about. The narrator is fighting "under the protection of the rune" he has on his forehead.
    Dethsabbathon April 29, 2017   Link
  • -1
    General Comment
    The Nazi's didn't persevere haha, they were horrible failures, and this isn't about them. The great hall refers to Valhalla, Nazi's didn't believe in Valhalla. Runes also very clearly refers to norse mythology, this song is about vikings like most of Bathory's work.
    Chard121on October 20, 2009   Link

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