March of the Varangian Guard Lyrics
[Verse 1: Mathias Nygård]
The sun rose over the wasteland
As far as the eye can see
Sand fills the vast plains of Serkland
It's vultures jeering at me
But they can circle until they drop dead
I have not come this far
To end, but to pursue my own thread
To join The Varangian Guard
[Chorus: Turisas (All)]
Guards of glory and of might
Red as blood and black as night
Flies our banner as we march
In the East, for the king of the Greek
[Verse 2: Mathias Nygård]
There's men of the cross and the hammer
A few of the moon crescent
Men simply searching for glamour
Some concealing their royal descent
The axe-bearing foreigners they have aptly named us
All we've come from afar
Diversity is what unites us
We are The Varangian Guard
The sun rose over the wasteland
As far as the eye can see
Sand fills the vast plains of Serkland
It's vultures jeering at me
But they can circle until they drop dead
I have not come this far
To end, but to pursue my own thread
To join The Varangian Guard
[Chorus: Turisas (All)]
Guards of glory and of might
Red as blood and black as night
Flies our banner as we march
In the East, for the king of the Greek
[Verse 2: Mathias Nygård]
There's men of the cross and the hammer
A few of the moon crescent
Men simply searching for glamour
Some concealing their royal descent
The axe-bearing foreigners they have aptly named us
All we've come from afar
Diversity is what unites us
We are The Varangian Guard
[Chorus: Turisas (All)]
Guards of glory and of might
Red as blood and black as night
Flies our banner as we march
In the East, for the king of the Greek
[Bridge: Mathias Nygård]
Miklagard, in the second indinction, in the 6542 year of the world
To Holmgard and beyond
This is where the winds have us guided
For fame and for gold
We once set sails for these lands unknown
[Instrumental]
[Chorus: Turisas (All)]
Guards of glory and of might
Red as blood and black as night
Flies our banner as we march
In the East, for the king of the Greek
Guards of glory and of might
Red as blood and black as night
Flies our banner as we march
In the East, for the king of the Greek
[Bridge: Mathias Nygård]
Miklagard, in the second indinction, in the 6542 year of the world
To Holmgard and beyond
This is where the winds have us guided
For fame and for gold
We once set sails for these lands unknown
[Instrumental]
[Chorus: Turisas (All)]
Guards of glory and of might
Red as blood and black as night
Flies our banner as we march
In the East, for the king of the Greek
About
Genius Annotation
“March of the Varangian Guard” was released as part of Turisas' third studio album, Stand Up and Fight, recorded in Hämeenlinna, Finland, and released on 23rd February 2011.
The album peaked at #50 on Billboard magazine’s Top Heatseekers chart and #5 on the Official Finnish Charts in 2011.
The album included more progressive elements than Turisas' first two albums, and had real string and horn sections for the first time.
The song tells of a group of Vikings travelling to Constantinople to join the Varangian Guard. There are several references to Harald Hadrada who also joined the Varangian Guard in 1034 CE.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.March of the Varangian Guard
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- 11.Supernaut
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