Song of the Men’s Side

Lyrics

Once we feared The Beast--when he followed us we ran Ran very fast though we knew It was not right that The Beast should master Man; But what could we Flint-workers do? The Beast only grinned at our spears round his ears-- Grinned at the hammers that we made; But now we will hunt him for the life with the Knife-- And this is the Buyer of the Blade! Room for his shadow on the grass--let it pass! To left and right-stand clear! This is the Buyer of the Blade--be afraid! This is the great god Tyr! Tyr thought hard till he hammered our a plan For he knew it was not right (And it is not right) that The Beast should master Man; So he went to the Children of the Night He begged a Magic Knife of their make for our sake When he begged for the Knife they said: "The price of the Knife you would buy is an eye!" And that was the price he paid Tell it to the Barrows of the Dead--run ahead! Shout it so the Women's Side can hear! This is the Buyer of the Blade--be afraid! This is the great god Tyr! Our women and our little ones may walk on the Chalk As far as we can see them and beyond We shall not be anxious for our sheep when we keep Tally at the shearing-pond We can eat with both our elbows on our knees, if we please We can sleep after meals in the sun For Shepherd-of-the-Twilight is dismayed at the Blade Feet-in-the-Night have run! Dog-without-a-Master goes away (Hai, Tyr, aie!) Devil-in-the-Dusk has run! Then: Room for his shadow on the grass-let it pass! To left and to right--stand clear! This is the Buyer of the Blade--be afraid! This is the great god Tyr!