They came from the west   Through the storm across the sea   One thousand men armed   With their swords and shields      Somewhere there was a strange land their never thought,   It would be so far from home      They sailed with their ships   across the rivers and lakes   with courage and pride   like proud sons of god Odin      They were varangians from the west - they were vikings,   The warriors of town Holmgard      Then two tribes rebelled   Against their conquerors   Driving 'em overseas   Back into their land      After conflicts the tries invited 'em back,   To rule 'em, to bring order and peace      They roamed the rivers   Engaging in trade   Merchants who raided   And colonized new lands      They served as the bodyguards of the emperor,   The warriors of town Miklagard      Hej skål hej   hej skål hej   nu skålar vi för dig, hej hej      They sailed with their ships   Across the rivers and lakes   With courage and pride   Like proud sons of god Odin      They were varangians from the west - they were vikings,   The warriors of town Holmgard      They served as the bodyguards of the emperor,   The warriors of town Miklagard      Hej skål hej   hej skål hej   nu skålar vi för dig, hej hej