Vinland Oh Vinland
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
To be Norwegian is no disgrace
You’re a member of an ancient warrior race
Artic cold in a northern clime
Ice and snow are considered sublime
Midnight sun and northern lights
They’re a part of our inherited rights
Mountains and fjords describe their living space
As rolling seas wash the coastal place
Rocky soil that’s hard to till
Going to sea was in their will
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
Sailing vessels with a dragon’s head
Known to many with great dread
These ancient memories define them still
Viking men sailing ships with great skill
Going forth by reading the sky
In search of new lands before they die
They sailed against a strong Atlantic stream
Carrying a precious cargo to the land of their dream
Carrying forth with young and with old
Hoping to build a new life in the cold
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
Eric the Red an angry cast-away
Sailed to Greenland to settle in his way
The vagaries of climate were too severe
Some centuries later the Norse would disappear
The descendants of Eric sought a new quest
They searched for land that lay to the west
One hundred and sixty sailed to find a new home
In three ships they would travel and roam
Leif discovered a place where they might dwell
For three years they lived along the Atlantic swell
A first child was born in the village of grass
Born to a woman or to a young lass
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
Timber was scarce to build a mast
Iceland was barren with a volcanic cast
Greenland was barren and out of the way
Colder winters came into play
Blown off course by a northeastern gale
Bjarni told Leif where he should sail
What was needed was a more temperate land
With Meadows surrounded by a timber stand
A beach with a bay would make everything bright
With a graceful meadow for a village site
They entered a world never seen before
Timber and meadow with a clean washed shore
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
During the summers they traveled about
Mainly along coasts in a southerly route
They came ashore to replenish their water
Set up camp as a temporary headquarter
Fish filled the rivers and fish filled the bays
Hunting and fishing filled their summer days
Back to their houses built in the traditional way
Prepared for winter and for a lengthy stay
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
They named the land for its plentiful vine
Grapes to eat and grapes to make their wine
Fish in the sea and berries on shore
Both came in abundance at autumn’s front door
Cattle and sheep were a part of their load
Requiring pasture, which decided their abode
News of this land could call for many more
Willing to travel to this idyllic shore
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
Encountered strange men in a small painted craft
They left them behind in the swells of the ships’ draft
Conflict with the Skraelings came to the fore
Murder and mayhem turned into war
Freydis committed a treacherous deed
Seeking a ship was in her breed
Thorvald, her husband, killed the crew
Freydis with ax the women she slew
Skraelings’ revenge would give no rest
Thorvald died from an arrow in his chest
Back to Iceland they must sail once more
Back to the land with a friendlier shore
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
No time could be spent exploring the land
Back to the east became their command
A great current helped them carry their load
Back to Iceland to the safety of their old abode
The tales of Vinland became their lore
Of a good land along a great shore
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
Recalling the days of their glorious travel
A record of a greatness that would not unravel
An endless land with forest and stream
A land for a Viking with quest for a dream
Now they live the venture no more
Sailing to new lands with an ideal shore
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You are a land that they once traveled to
The Professor
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
To be Norwegian is no disgrace
You’re a member of an ancient warrior race
Artic cold in a northern clime
Ice and snow are considered sublime
Midnight sun and northern lights
They’re a part of our inherited rights
Mountains and fjords describe their living space
As rolling seas wash the coastal place
Rocky soil that’s hard to till
Going to sea was in their will
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
Sailing vessels with a dragon’s head
Known to many with great dread
These ancient memories define them still
Viking men sailing ships with great skill
Going forth by reading the sky
In search of new lands before they die
They sailed against a strong Atlantic stream
Carrying a precious cargo to the land of their dream
Carrying forth with young and with old
Hoping to build a new life in the cold
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
Eric the Red an angry cast-away
Sailed to Greenland to settle in his way
The vagaries of climate were too severe
Some centuries later the Norse would disappear
The descendants of Eric sought a new quest
They searched for land that lay to the west
One hundred and sixty sailed to find a new home
In three ships they would travel and roam
Leif discovered a place where they might dwell
For three years they lived along the Atlantic swell
A first child was born in the village of grass
Born to a woman or to a young lass
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
Timber was scarce to build a mast
Iceland was barren with a volcanic cast
Greenland was barren and out of the way
Colder winters came into play
Blown off course by a northeastern gale
Bjarni told Leif where he should sail
What was needed was a more temperate land
With Meadows surrounded by a timber stand
A beach with a bay would make everything bright
With a graceful meadow for a village site
They entered a world never seen before
Timber and meadow with a clean washed shore
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
During the summers they traveled about
Mainly along coasts in a southerly route
They came ashore to replenish their water
Set up camp as a temporary headquarter
Fish filled the rivers and fish filled the bays
Hunting and fishing filled their summer days
Back to their houses built in the traditional way
Prepared for winter and for a lengthy stay
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
They named the land for its plentiful vine
Grapes to eat and grapes to make their wine
Fish in the sea and berries on shore
Both came in abundance at autumn’s front door
Cattle and sheep were a part of their load
Requiring pasture, which decided their abode
News of this land could call for many more
Willing to travel to this idyllic shore
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
Encountered strange men in a small painted craft
They left them behind in the swells of the ships’ draft
Conflict with the Skraelings came to the fore
Murder and mayhem turned into war
Freydis committed a treacherous deed
Seeking a ship was in her breed
Thorvald, her husband, killed the crew
Freydis with ax the women she slew
Skraelings’ revenge would give no rest
Thorvald died from an arrow in his chest
Back to Iceland they must sail once more
Back to the land with a friendlier shore
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
No time could be spent exploring the land
Back to the east became their command
A great current helped them carry their load
Back to Iceland to the safety of their old abode
The tales of Vinland became their lore
Of a good land along a great shore
* * * *
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You’re a land that they once traveled to
Recalling the days of their glorious travel
A record of a greatness that would not unravel
An endless land with forest and stream
A land for a Viking with quest for a dream
Now they live the venture no more
Sailing to new lands with an ideal shore
Vinland Oh Vinland I’m thinking of you
You are a land that they once traveled to
The Professor