Danish to English Translation:
Æthelred:
Music: Frederiksen, lyrics: Atkin (Read the original text by Aktin here)
Translation to Danish (As seen in the booklet): Frederiksen
As Ælfthryth bore a son
Then the seed of fate was sown
A half score years he was
When England’s throne stood empty
Though only the youngest pretender
His mother could not help herself
With the aldermen she sought council
The eldest must be put out of the way
Noble-council was what he was called
Of nature not quite true
Of his taxes and his inheritance
Others would lay claim
Vikings watched carefully
Had seen his world before
Observed with an eager eye
Called in men and sailed there
Ten thousand pounds of pure silver
For to draw us from his coast
The next time we ride the wave
We shall have twenty thousand more
On the battlefield he did not win
Although he tried long
His bravest and his best
Became the black ravens’ loot
But the kingdom must be saved
And good council was dear
His counsel advised the geld
To appease the Dane’s rage
And the Dane came to the king
With provocations to war
But with ships filled with treasures
They promised to sail away
Ten thousand pounds he gave them
Of purest silver wares
When the Dane landed again
They got twenty thousand more
Ten thousand pounds…
“Pay once the Geld”
The counsel said so often
“Pay the Danegeld
And we’ll never be free of the Dane”
Ten thousand pounds…
