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Sigurd, the jarl of the Orkney Isles, has called to his banner a viking band,
And sailed to Dublin to make himself King of the Irish land.
But crowns are never so quickly won, the Norns, they well know --
The king of the Irish blocks our way. We must to battle go.

The raven banner of the Orkney jarl brings luck in battle, but its bearer dies.
Two men have fallen 'neath its wings today, but still the raven flies.
The jarl tells a third to take it up. The third man answers no.
"The devil's your own, take it up yourself, and back to battle go."

"'Tis fitting the beggar should bear the bag," replies the jarl, "And I'll do so here."
He fought with the banner tied around his waist and fell to an Irish spear.
He died and the Irish broke our line. We had no chance but flight.
But I'm not hurried -- it's a long way home; I won't get there tonight.

The Norns have woven a bloody web, tapestry woven of guts and bone,
And parcelled it out to the Orkney host -- our day in Ireland's done.
The grey wolf howls and the ravens soar above the arrow's flight,
And Odin is waiting beyond the fray for some of us tonight.

Words: Malkin Gray (Debra Doyle)
Tune: Peregrynne Windrider (Melissa Williamson)
Source: Westerfilk Collection Volume II: A Filksong Folio

Below are preview mp3s from Calontir Songbook [Calontir Practice CD].  This CD was reportedly produced by Mathurin [Kerbusso(?)] in Forgotten Sea (Kansas City).  One of the singers is Dorus Whitecap and we recognize the voice of Simonetta [Musaragni?]. If you know anything about the production of this CD, please email us at .
 

• Various Artists
  • Calontir Songbook [Calontir Practice CD]
    • Song of the Shield Wall - Malkin Gray and Peregrynne Windrider  Time: 2:18
    • Strongest and Best - Andrixos Seljukroctonis  Time: 3:08
    • Steel Shod Dance - Andres lyon on Wolvenwood  Time: 1:37
    • Sixteen Knights - Jason of Westershire (L) / Merle Travis (M)  Time: 2:48
    • Raven Banner - Malkin Gray and Peregrynne Windrider  Time: 2:23
    • Non Nobis - Psalm 115:1 (L) / Patrick Doyle (M)  Time: 1:43
    • Leaving Song - Andrixos Seljukroctonis  Time: 4:15
    • Hotspur - Andrew Lyon on Wolvenwood  Time: 2:14
    • Hal's Song - Marcus de la Foret (L) / Trad. (M)  Time: 2:52
    • Fyrdmen on Campaign - Marcus de la Foret  Time: 2:37
    • Fruit of the Yew - James Treebull  Time: 4:31
    • For Crown and for Kingdom - Conn MacNeil  Time: 2:30
    • Strike the Drum - Mathurin Kerbusso  Time: 2:46
    • Cheer - Fernando Rodriguez de Falcon and Lyriel de la Foret (L) / Leslie Fish (T)  Time: 2:50
    • A Grazing Mace - 1st Verse: Unknown, 2-4 Jenna of Southwind (L) / Trad. (M)  Time: 3:05

We received our copy of the practice CD from Fernando Rodriguez De Falcon.

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