Vargtimmen (song)
Vargtimmen (German The Hour of the Wolf ) is a Swedish ballad in a traditional style. It's about a werewolf who escapes the night.
origin
The song became known through the Swedish folk group Hedningarna . They released the song on their 1994 album Trä . The ballad was written by Sanna Kurki-Suonio, Haalbus Mattson, Anders Norudde, Tor Lundmark, Björn Tolling and Tellu Paulasto. A traditional Finnish vocal part was used as intro and bridge . The rest of the song is based on the tune "Konvulsionslåten" written by Anders Norudde (formerly Stake) from 1982, which he recorded in 1993 with the band "Blå bergens borduner". The text of the ballad is from Tor Lundmark.
In 2001 the Swedish singing Finnish folk metal band Finntroll released the album Jaktens Tid , on which the song can be heard.
In 2011, a remixed version of the song was used in the trailer for the video game The Witcher 2 .
content
At the beginning the song describes the inner conflict of a werewolf who struggles with his fate of being half human, half wolf. The protagonist says that he loves a woman but could never promise not to hurt her. Shortly thereafter, he claims to love another, but not out of romantic love, but because of her flesh. However, the song does not state whether he actually did something to her. At the end of the song he curses his loneliness and wishes his lover back. When the sun rises, he decides that he wants to be human again and that the hour of the wolf is over.
Although the song is not a traditional Swedish folk song, several medieval and folk bands have included the song in their repertoire.
text
Treason and lies lurk in the heart |
Web links
- Vargtimmen original video from 1994
- Vargtimmen original text (Finnish / Swedish)
- Vargtimmen English translation
- Hedningarna Silence Records (English)