Miklagard Overture

Long have I drifted without a course 
 [bad word] ship I have sailed 
The Nile just keeps flowing without a source 
Maybe all the seekers just failed? 

To Holmgard and beyond 
In search of a bond 
Far from home [bad word] 
But the road has just begun 

Breathing history 
Veiled in mystery 
The sublime 
The greatest of our time 
Tsargrad! 

 [bad word] with us to the south 
Write your name on our roll" 
I was told; 

Konstantinopolis 
Sui generis 
The saints and emperors 
Of bygone centuries 
The man-made birds in their trees 
Out load their paean rings 
Immortality! 

In astonishing colours the East meets the West 
The hill-banks arise in their green 
In wonder I sit on my empty chest 
As we glide down the strait in between 

To Holmgard and beyond 
In search of a bond 
Distant church bells toll 
For their god they chant and troll 

Breathing history 
Veiled in mystery 
The sublime 
The greatest of our time 
Tsargrad! 

The Norwegian of rank 
In the court of The Prince 
I was convinced 

Konstantinopolis 
Ten gates to eternity 
Seen all for centuries 
Your i 
1436 
nconquerable walls 
Your temples and your halls 
See all, hear all, know it all 

My sun rose in the North and now sets in the South 
The Golden Horn lives up to its name 
From tower to tower a chain guards its mouth 
Unbreakable, they claim 

To Holmgard and beyond 
In a seach of a bond 
Adventures lie ahead 
Many knots lie unravelled on my thread 

Breathing history 
Veiled in mystery 
The sublime 
The greatest of our time 
Tsargrad! 

Konstantinopolis 
Queen of the cities 
Your [bad word] smile 
Made all worthwhile 
The sweat and the pain 

Bathing in gold 
Endless rooftops unfold 
The sun sets for a while just to rise again 

Great halls 
Great halls 
Greatest of all, Miklagard