I discovered the Poetic Edda decades ago, and a couple of years ago it struck me that the handful of dog-eared pages I keep revisiting, year after year, might be fuel for a good song. Havamal (which means in old Norse, “the high ones words,” the name of perhaps the most famous section of the Poetic Edda) is very special to me; I have found wise words addressing loyalty, friendship, honor, respect, family, and so much more, salted among the stories of Odin, Thor, and the rest, for my whole adult life. I have passed a horn filled with my own home-brewed mead around countless circles of wonderful folk. Most of my best friends were able to join me in singing the chorus for this recording! We gathered around a crackling fire, stars watching, and shared mead, news, stories, and song…and then they graced me with their voices. That voice at the end, speaking the lines, is Matt Dyer, one of the sweetest, strongest men I have ever met.
lyrics
Havamal By Harper Meader
‘Tis better unasked nor offered overmuch,
Oh, how a gift looks for gain!
‘Tis better unasked nor offered overmuch,
So Odin said when the earth began.
Cho: Pass the horn from hand to hand,
Pass it along from friend to friend!
Do you know the tales of old?
Will you speak the truth you know?
Our fathers learned so very long ago,
How to tell a friend from a foe, (2x)
(Cho)
To a false friend ay, a far way ‘tis, 1
Though his house be reared by the road.
To a stanch friend ay, a straight way leads, Though far he have fared from thee!
(Cho)
No great things needs give to a man, as verse 2
Love on small things depends.
With half a loaf and a half-drained horn,
I oft won a worthy friend! (2x)
(Cho)
Hold not the horn too long, but drink thy share; as verse 1
Speak sparingly at need:
You’ll have respect, ay, be handled fair, If early you seek your bed.
(Cho)
The coward hopes he’ll ever live as verse 2
Steering far from strife,
But old age leaves him not long in peace,
Though spears may spare his life. (2x)
(Cho)
Hold your tongue for the hoary bard, as verse 1
The eldest has much to tell.
For like your dried goods, aging hard, His wisdom is seasoned well.
(cho)
No man’s undone, e’en at death’s door, as verse 2
Some with good sons are blessed.
Some with kinsmen, and some with coffers full,
Some with deeds well-done! (2x) (Chorus 3x)
Harper Meader lives in Maine with his inspiration, Honey, in their unique cordwood masonry hideaway, where, when he's not
writing new music for guitar and folk harp, he's pursuing numerous creative interests like scrimshaw jewelry, brewing mead, and writing poetry and fiction. Family, love, and the Land-spirits put a guitar on his knee and a pencil in his hand at every turn....more
I simply love this man's poetry. Really good acoustic guitar work (DADGAD and other open tunings from the sound of it) holds up his messages beautifully. Harper Meader
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