The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
[Ramcke]
793 at the northumbrian shore
Dreadfull omens shake the lande
Mighty messangers have come from above
Awful signs they shalle presente
Thunderstorms, lighting comes down
Fiery dragons ride the sky
A famine hath followed these tokens of hell
Starvation now overtakes man's life
Fallow's moon hath left the saintly shore
Holy island ends the nighte
Northern dragons have crossed the ocean's horizon
Red white sails appeare in sighte
Highe swung stems are breaking the waves
Behold! Ship made of oak drawing near
Beastly howlings are reaching the isle
What strange horde hath broughte the sea
Lindisfarnel - The priests are overrun
Lindisfarnel - Calamity hath come
Shores are laid waste, saints to overtake
The storme of the northe hath begun
At Lindisfarnel
Storming on the lande
Tearing their clothes off their backs
Chasing these weaklings away
Some shalle be struck, some shalle be drowned
Others shalle be laid in chains
St. Cuthbert's cross, their treasure of stone
Knocked down their idol shalle be
His holy church, a sacred place
Spattered and soiled withe the bloode of the priests
Plundered the chapels shalle be
The cloister is sacked, the altar is destroyed
Precious stone, noble jewels and gold
Now their holy treasures are on board
Lindisfarnel - The priests are overrun
Lindisfarnel - Calamity hath come
Shores are laid waste, saints to overtake
The storme of the northe hath begun
At Lindisfarnel
[Solo: Lars/Both]
Alcuin of York:
Lo, it is nearly 350 years that we and our fathers
have inhabited this lovely land, and never before
has such terror appeared in Britain as this we now
suffered from a pagan race...
They stepped on holy places with uncleaned feet
Dug up the altars and plundered all the treasures in the holy curch...
What should be expected for other places
When the divine judgement has not spared this holy place?
Thy ravens up highe
One-eyed father, accept our offering
Let us not return without wealth and pride
Be our guidance on the stormy sea
Lindisfarnel - The priests are overrun
Lindisfarnel - Calamity hath come
Shores are laid waste, saints to overtake
The storme of the northe hath begun
At Lindisfarnel
"A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine!"
793 at the northumbrian shore
Dreadfull omens shake the lande
Mighty messangers have come from above
Awful signs they shalle presente
Thunderstorms, lighting comes down
Fiery dragons ride the sky
A famine hath followed these tokens of hell
Starvation now overtakes man's life
Fallow's moon hath left the saintly shore
Holy island ends the nighte
Northern dragons have crossed the ocean's horizon
Red white sails appeare in sighte
Highe swung stems are breaking the waves
Behold! Ship made of oak drawing near
Beastly howlings are reaching the isle
What strange horde hath broughte the sea
Lindisfarnel - The priests are overrun
Lindisfarnel - Calamity hath come
Shores are laid waste, saints to overtake
The storme of the northe hath begun
At Lindisfarnel
Storming on the lande
Tearing their clothes off their backs
Chasing these weaklings away
Some shalle be struck, some shalle be drowned
Others shalle be laid in chains
St. Cuthbert's cross, their treasure of stone
Knocked down their idol shalle be
His holy church, a sacred place
Spattered and soiled withe the bloode of the priests
Plundered the chapels shalle be
The cloister is sacked, the altar is destroyed
Precious stone, noble jewels and gold
Now their holy treasures are on board
Lindisfarnel - The priests are overrun
Lindisfarnel - Calamity hath come
Shores are laid waste, saints to overtake
The storme of the northe hath begun
At Lindisfarnel
[Solo: Lars/Both]
Alcuin of York:
Lo, it is nearly 350 years that we and our fathers
have inhabited this lovely land, and never before
has such terror appeared in Britain as this we now
suffered from a pagan race...
They stepped on holy places with uncleaned feet
Dug up the altars and plundered all the treasures in the holy curch...
What should be expected for other places
When the divine judgement has not spared this holy place?
Thy ravens up highe
One-eyed father, accept our offering
Let us not return without wealth and pride
Be our guidance on the stormy sea
Lindisfarnel - The priests are overrun
Lindisfarnel - Calamity hath come
Shores are laid waste, saints to overtake
The storme of the northe hath begun
At Lindisfarnel
"A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine!"
Lyrics submitted by Toadonpa
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