1. PROLOGUE / BIRTH OF A LEGEND

Uns ist in alten maeren wunders vil geseit
Von helden lobebaeren, von grozer arebeit
Von fröuden, hochgeziten, von weinen und von klagen,
Von küener recken striten muget ir nu wunder hoeren sagen


2. TO FORESTS WILD AND FREE / LEAVING HEARTH AND HOME BEHIND

The man I am will be no king
He'll roam the world alone
Adventures wait for me somewhere
In forests wild and free
Man that I am I'll be a fighter
Forges his sword on his own
Creating power out of flames
A blade for all to see
A weapon suiting me...

Now I am free to choose so I'll move o
Into the world
There's so much to achieve
I will fight and never lose
When I am gone far away
I am going to leave

I feel I'm meant for greater tasks
No, he won't sit and reign
And I will work hard for my fame
Not just have it by birth
I come and fight when they do call me
'Tis his reputation's gain
Some day they all will know my name
And what's his effort worth
Some day they'll know my name...

Now I am free to choose so I'll move on
Into the world
There is so much to know
I will fight and never lose
When I am gone far away
I am going to go

...Alone be roamed the world, beat the fields and ranged the Woods
The forests wild and free. he passed many an adventure Whereof bards
Still tell till this day. so he grew stronger min every Endeavour...

Years later rumours spread about me
The blacksmith born to be king
Who killed the dragon feared by all
His blood covered his skin
No one out there shall ever doubt me
The deeds his fate's to bring
I hear the wide world's spirits call
New stories will begin...
I hear the spirits call...


3. TREASURE OF THE ELDER / HOW BALMUNG WAS ACHIEVED

Sifrit:
All the years went by, so glad to be home
As a lad I left, as a man I cease to roam

Sigmunt:
I see you safe and sound
My son! henceforth you're a knight, now kneel down

Sifrit:
Fire and the blaze, from the dragonstone I come
I shall be the heir, I gain the name of knight
Raging years are lost, I'm in my prime, my youth has gone
Long for adventure, even if I die

Forests so dark and deep, places I've never been
You can see mist pounding in the trees
Forests of ancient myth, where wondrous creatures live
A castle ahead in the land of the dead

In the gleam of red torches burning
Dwarves and giants leaving the black mouth of the mount
With them comes to light, what has been forgotten
My eyes felt compelled to watch on and on

Shiny armour, blades with precious stones, silver vessels And the chests with priceless dresses
Crystal dishes, bags filled with rings, bracelets, brooches
The shields with their decoration

Let me tell you the daring tale of
The treasure of the elder
I became king of the nibelung
Such an ease with balmung's help
An ease with balmung's help...

...Balmung, forged in chthonic fires and able to carve Through steel and
Stone and dragon's scale, was pledged to sifrit. even Albrich, obscured
Through the cloak of invisibility, could not stop him. so The dwarf
Surrender and bowed to the recent king of the nibelung. to Wormez
He rode with twelve valiants at his side...


4. UNFORESEEN ALLIANCE / UNITED AGAINST THE DANES

Gunther:
There are thirteen foreign knights here at my court
Clad in robes of gold
They look like they are up to fight
What a curious sight!

Kriemhilt:
Never have I seen a man so fair
The sun shines on his hair
Oh noble stranger, notice me!
What does he want, who could he be?

Hagen:
He who slew the dragon, he who fought against the beast
He who owns the treasure, he who fought against the beast

Kriemhilt:
At our court!
Sifrit:
Arms at hand, prepared to fight I stand
I will rule your land
Gunther:
What have I done to spur your wrath?
Don't take my breath!
Hagen:
He'd be a useful ally, I'd dare say
So why not invite him to stay?
Brothers, you shall live in peace
Should he fight your enemies?

Kriemhilt:
I leave my window as the moon ascends
Watched countless tournaments
The nobleman that I adore
I took a fancy from afar
Sifrit:
I've demonstrated all my skills at length
My armor and my strength
Yet she stays out of my view
What's going wrong. What could I do?

I who slew the dragon, I who fought against the beast
I who owns the treasure am now forced down on my knees

...A year passed and day by day sifrit was aware of this Noble maid he
Did love with all his heart. but sadly he had to stand, he Never beheld
Her, she was still a stranger to him...

Gunther:
Their messengers have been sent from afar
The Danes declare us war
What a peril we are in...
Sifrit:
With your soldiers we will win!
Kriemhilt:
He has never feared and never failed
Never surrendered, never ailed
He is cunning and is brave
And with his help we shall be safe

He who slew the dragon, he who fought against the beast
He who owns the treasure will now fight our enemies

Kriemhilt:
At our court!
Sifrit:
Arms at hand, prepared to fight I stand
Your army at my command
No foe shall set foot past the Rine
To harm the love of mine
What I cherish, I defend
You are in safe hands
Brothers, we fight side by side
Kriemhilt:
Into the battle we stride


5. THE ISLE OF FIRE AND ICE / TAMING OF THE VALKYRIE

Gunther:
Sails are set, all men aboard
Waves are taking us away
Cold wind is calling us to the north
We're leaving shore

I have heard tales of a queen living there
Beautiful beyond compare
To conquer her heart and to make her my wife
I'll risk my life

Far beyond the sea
There lives an invincible queen
And we're here to compete
Wed die upon our defeat

To the isle of fire and ice
We're sailing away, oh will we ever return,
Ever see our home again?
Will we freeze or burn?

On the 12th morning land is in sight
Castles built upon the cliffs
Turrets and flags at incredible height
That's where she lives

So let us go, find the woman you crave
You shall win with sifrit's aid
No turning back now, you must be brave
Or lose your head!

High above the sea
There lives the invincible queen
And by our deceit
We will force her into defeat

To the isle of fire and ice
We're sailing away, oh will we ever return,
Ever see our home again?
Will we freeze or burn?

...Long took the passage and great was the will of the Ship's company to
Conquer the valkyrie of the isle. impressive she was indeed, And her
Words resounded in the fields of her realm...

Sifrit:
My lord and king has come here to court you
I'm not nearly fit for you, your majesty.
Brunhilt:
Aren't you sifrit? Have you come for me now?
Is it your plan to take me across the sea?

Gunther:
Should she win we are in for trouble...
Brunhilt:
...Now another victory...
Sifrit:
You and me, as the perfect double
Brunhilt:
...He won't be a match for me...
Sifrit:
Out of sight, I'll fight and defeat her
Brunhilt:
...I won't bother with such a whim...
Gunther:
By the power that is ours we'll beat her
Brunhilt:
...Oh I'll smother him...

Gunther:
Oh, beautiful maid you'll soon be mine
Gladly I accept your challenge, full of pride
Brunhilt:
Don't you underrate my skill!
Gunther:
As our stories intertwine
You will find your place in my realm, by my side
Brunhilt:
I don't think I ever will!

Gunther:
Your majesty, I'll prove that I'm able
My skill and might are by far not on the wane.
Brunhilt:
Take off your arms, dine here at my table
Gather your strength for the competitions' strain.

Gunther:
Get your cloak of invisibility
Brunhilt:
...My tunic is just right for me...
Gunther:
She will never know that it wasn't me
Brunhilt:
...Silk and rich embroidery...
Hagen:
All she sees is her own reflection
Brunhilt:
...Never been touched by a weapon's blade...
Hagen:
She is so in love with herself!
Brunhilt:
...No, my fame won't fade!

...The rivalry begun and sifrit became the shadow of Gunther.
Finally he prevailed, the valkyrie was defeated. loud were The cheers
Of victory and great was the joy...

Hagen:
Brothers, now curb your elation!
Brunhilt:
...I just can't believe my ears!
Hagen:
It's not time for a celebration!
Brunhilt:
...I've succeeded all these years...
Gunther:
Let us pack, leave this island behind
Brunhilt:
...Men can be so invidious...
Gunther:
Ere she can change her mind!
Brunhilt:
...Hideous, what he did!

Gunther:
Oh, beautiful maid, now you are mine
Gladly I accept your challenge, full of pride
Brunhilt:
Don't you underrate my skill!
Gunther:
As our stories intertwine
You will find your place in my realm, by my side
Brunhilt:
I don't think I ever will...I won't just give up!


6. FORTUNE AND DECEIT / TWAIN MARRIAGES AND THE BETRAYAL

Kriemhilt:
I had a dream, a falcon so wild and free
Sadly to me his death seems to be
Vote:
I see a knight, with whom you will fall in love
Married you'll be, guarded by god
Kriemhilt:
Love will fail!!

The couple:
Hear ye, hear ye, thanks to you of who have come
To our marriage and destiny
Sit at our table, leave sorrow and grief behind
Fortified our mastery

Brunhilt: sifrit:
He's no servant, but rather a king
For that they will pay I am a knight
A wise and noble king
Kriemhilt: listen, could you be silent
Tell me, my love we have betrayed the queen…
Never will I speak ill of you

The couple:
Hear ye, hear ye, thanks to you all who have come
Along to my coronation
Sit at our table, leave sorrow and grief behind
Farewell to my firstborn son

...Appalled was Brunhilt, never she was humiliated so much
How dared he to betray her? doom and demise shall carry them Off!
And so the quietus of the warriors was sealed, since every Man
Forges his own destiny...

Hagen:
An oath bounds me to my kingdom, oh queen
The death of this noble valiant you claim
Your hate's unlashed like your wounded pride
Blood you demand, so I'm not to blame...


7. PRELUDE TO PERDITION / WIE SIFRIT VERRATEN WART

Der künic mit sinen vriunden runende gie
Hagene von Tronege in nie gerouwen lie
Noch heten ez gescheiden genuoge 'sküniges man:
Done wolt' et hagene nie des rates abe gan


8. A FATEFUL CONSPIRACY / AS FATE DESCENDS ON SIFRIT

Gunther
Sifrit has never gone wrong I know
He's our friend so he trusts in us
An' he fought the danes
So we mustn't murder him at last!
Hagen:
Sifrit defamed our queen so deep
He should never speak about that night
All the world knows how it came to be
Amends must be made, I claim the right!

Gunther:
Let us take you to the hunt
Turn your back to the battlefield
Praise shall be to him
Whose victory will be revealed

Hagen:
We all hail to the kingdom of burgundy
For the honour I shall do the deed
Blood will stain the water
As fate descends on him
Sifrit:
Those are the wages for my amity
For my service and my loyalty
Now you have your revenge
As fate descends on me

Gunther:
Insane we have become
Murder him but just leave me alone
Hagen:
Laughs full of bitterness and wrath
Covers my dark face, turn it to stone
Only deceit may help us now
The spot the fallen leaf concealed
She will show me, then the spear will fly
I cannot hesitate

...In her dream he was chased by two wild boars and the Flowers turned
Red with blood. 'tween two hills he laid buried by fallen Boulders and
Remained lost to her sight. the vision came true, upon a Golden shield he
Returned home and the old king wept bitterly...

Sigmunt:
Unscathed he came out of all his fights
Shall he be forever gone?
Paralyzed by the pain
Rage fills my mind, my heart is torn
Gunther:
None shall deem we craved his death
I grieve, my heart, it bleeds for you
Sigmunt:
Witness to the treachery
From his wound the blood is seeping through!


9. FAREWELL / KRIEMHILT'S ELEGY

Kriemhilt:
Sleep, my love, sleep in my arms
As the rain keeps falling down
And the winds blow hard
Why have you forsaken me?
The first time I have seen you
My heart went up inflames
Though ages have gone by
You'll live forevermore...

All I now have are the memories
All I had in you, my love
Gone with the breeze as your journey ends
Dry in tears as I say goodbye...

Now farewell
On your way to the eternal home
Hear my song
My elegy will lead you
Farewell
I can hear your voice from a distant world
In my heart
We'll be one until the end of time

...And the voice of brave sifrit stood sole to withstand the
Finality of time:
"Grieve not, for no evil shall come nigh me..."


10. A GIFT TO THE NYMPH / HOW HAGEN SEIZED THE HOARD

Kriemhilt:
Oh, my grief let my face turn to stone and
I will not rest as long as he walks under the sun!
Hagen:
Alas, the hoard dwells futile in the dwarven realm
So might come to these lands the gold of the nibelung!

Kriemhilt:
I might forgive him with my lips, but
Never ever with my heart
Oh, they hear me mourn all the time so greatly,
How could I think he'd bear him hate?
Hagen:
I'm the one who did the deed, but appraisal
Never ever seemed so far
She will never be a friend of mine,
To walk alone shall be my fate!

Both:
Now we are kings of the nibelung
Since ancient times he who owns the hoard bears his name
May he do no harm, many fathoms deep to lie
Never in mans hands, so he shalt be a gift to the nymph

Hagen:
All men know that my thought and wish are honour
Power, wealth, but inside hate is breeding
Kriemhilt:
So I may relieve the poor, abet the widows
With my gold I gain for my service so many a man!

Hagen:
She might forgive me with her lips, but
Never ever with her heart
Oh, we hear her mourn all the time so greatly,
How could she think I'd bear him hate?
Kriemhilt:
He's the one who did the deed, but appraisal
Never ever seemed so far
I will never be a friend of him,
To walk alone shall be his fate!

...Like dying stars the precious stones vanished into the River. first pale
And umbral, then clear and sweet the nymph with the golden Hair
Appeared before his eyes and gave him a smile. grown grim he Threw gold
And jewellery to her, for she should be wealthier than all Queens on earth.
But heedless she contemned the treasure and laughed at him, So much she
Pitied the living...

Kriemhilt:
Why is this illusive peace so painful? I could cry
And I ask what's to be done with the hoard
Hagen:
In that moonless stormy night my ship sails to the rine
I know that I have the curse of us all aboard

Kriemhilt:
I know of your evil plan, but you're
Impossible to defeat
Look! neither flame nor sword can wound you!
How shall I now avenge his death?
Hagen:
Now the treasure won't do any harm, and
Some day you may leave me be
With your brothers I have sworn the oath,
That he will dwell until we're dead!


11. THE FIERCE KING OF THE HUNS / TWELVE REALMS BESTOWED

Hagen:
See them, from the east they ride, warriors pale as clay
What do they want at our court?
Ruedeger:
My king, in mourning he lies, oh his queen has died
Would she wear the crown of our lord?

With twelve knights I have arrived...
...And I offer her twelve realms

Hagen:
No one may deny my misgiving
She'll wreak vengeance on us
She will gain her might
Remember, revenge comes over us
As long as blood runs through her veins
Remember, revenge comes over us
Until the day she fades away

Ruedeger:
My queen, oh naught shall ever part us, save death alone
Never she forgets, never she forgives!
Weeping, of beauty and strength she is bereft
So she'll wed the fierce king of the Huns

...Sole she stood that night and hearkened. everything Seemed foreign
And sinister. in this unknown realm the stars seemed even More numerous
And the moon gleamed blue and cold. from that day on she Turned
Imperceptible from the burgundian princess, the queen of the Netherlands,
To the mistress of the colossal realm of the huns. now she Was made
Powerful and could strike against the enemies of sifrit, for Whom her
Heart still called...

Hagen:
Though no forgiveness 'rose these years, she wants to see me
Curse us, our downfall has begun
Woe betide those, who mean harm, mischief against us all
When all is said and done!


12. MORIBUND / EVERY KINGDOM HAS TO PASS

Hagen:
Soon the day of reckoning
Will hunt us down, I know well
Gunther:
Burn your sorrow, don't be sad
So now I bid you farewell
Hagen:
We commence our last campaign
The Burgundy will lose their head
Hear the fiddles sing, they play
The dance of the dead!

Merwip:
Dead and gone
In the end
All brave men
Will die in battle, never be home again!

Hagen:
Every drop of my own blood
Knows the truth
Every breath that's left for me
I don't regret
Our fate will take its course
Give them hell!
Every kingdom has to pass
Just like ours, we are - moribund!

Dietrich:
My old friend, I'm glad to see ye
But be warned, she still weeps
Hagen:
I'm the one, who killed him once
And now he lies six foot deep
Many years she had to wait
A fateful path we have to tread
Hear the horns announce us now
Finally we are dead!

...Hagen never denied that he slew sifrit and passed the Hoard to the
Rine. if there was someone to avenge on him - well, so he Shalt do now!
But he would have to bear in mind: there's no escape from Sword
Balmung! enmity smouldered like a belowground fire. here and There
Slept under a burgundian helmet a silent face, nevermore to Awake...

Hagen:
She stirred up a frame for me
Now it became a firestorm
Annihilation will befall
Our death will come at dawn
Dietrich:
At the end her face is peace
Which she never ever had
All the fury, pain and hate
They are bygone and dead!

Hagen:
Every drop of my own blood
Knew the truth
With my last breath left for me
I don't regret
Perish in a sea of flames
Like the gods
As valhalla's burning down
Just like us, we are - moribund!

...The tale hath here an end...this is the nibelungens' Fall...


13. EPILOGUE / WITHERING OF A DYNASTY

Ine kan iu niht bescheiden, waz sider da geschach:
Wan ritte runde vrouwen weinen man da sach,
Dar zuo die edeln knehte, ir lieben friunde tot.
Hie hat daz maere ein ende: daz ist der nibelunge not