Wardruna - Raido (Official music video)

Music video for ‘Raido’. Directed by Tuukka Koski, Koski Syväri. Raido” is the reconstructed name of the proto-Norse R-rune and is presumed to signify “riding” or “journey.” The concept of both song and video draws inspiration from old runic poetry where one can for instance read how the horse is said to bring “comfort to the restless” and how the journey is swift for the sitting and toilsome for the horse. It has truly been a blessing and honor to work on this with top-level people such as Tuukka Koski and his team, a fantastic horse such as Balder, all in a stunningly beautiful place full of helpful people (and absurd amounts of Moose I might add). I can only hope that the positive synergy-effect I believe all of the involved felt in making the film, comes through in the final result. I for one am very proud of it.

English and original lyrics below:

#wardruna #raido #musicvideo

Dark clouds drift within
The longing lures
pulls my mind
Will you carry me?
I want to go

Fair foal, I bid you
Sacks rich with gold of the fields
Fare swiftly on flying hoofs
Carry me, and I promise you
Ride out
Raido

The storm is stilled, the mind it flies
The drum of hoofs lay the beat
The heart, it follows, two are one
Sets me loose with speedy feet
Riding
Raido

Wild I rode and ran
Fair foal I spent
The ride is for the horse the worse
Pleasant and swift for the sitting
Raido
Raido

If I ride you
I ride more
As one is two,
where knots are tied
In bonds are bound
the whole world
If I bond you
I can journey

If you carry me
You carry more
As one is two
where chains are forged
In bonds are bound
the whole world
If you bond me
You can journey

--

Svarte skyar rir i meg
Lengten lokkar, hugen dreg
Ber du meg?
Vil i veg

Fager fole byr eg deg
Sekkar aud tå åkergull
Fara svint med flyg-før hov
Ber du meg, eg lovar deg
Ri ut
Raido

Stormen stilnar, hugen fer
Hovslagtromma takten slær
Hjartet fylgjer, tveim blir ein
Rir meg fri med raske bein
Ridande
Raido

Vilt eg rei og rende
Fager fole sprengde
Reiden er for drøsul verst
Sælt og snar for sitjande
Raido
Raido

Rir eg deg
Så rir eg meir
For ein er to
Der knutar knytast
I byrd er bunde
Heile verda
Om eg bind deg
Kan eg ferde

Ber du meg
Så ber du meir
Når to vert ein
Der lenkjer smiast
I byrd er bunde
Heile verda
Om du bind meg
Kan du ferde

The new Wardruna album ‘Runaljod – Ragnarok’ will be out on October 21. It will be available in CD, vinyl and digital formats. Pre-order here:

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[wolfsdream]

That's the burden all horse people have to bear. First we join our souls into one and then we have to let our companions go, for a horses life is much shorter than our own...
My mare is 26 now and our journey together was certainly not always easy as it began 23 years ago when we both were still young...and the day will come I've got to let her go.
But there is one thing that comforts me:
A handsome face will age
and a perfect body will change
but a beautiful soul will always stay a beautiful soul!

[NixxiomOnYouTube]

A breakdown of thought on this video:

First and foremost, Raido is a rune that means to travel, it represents adventure, overcoming a great challenge, and it also is a rune that means "riding" or "to ride." In the beginning Einar is tied to two trees, deep within a forest, and we have a repeating rhythm. We also see that his back is turned to a horse, who eagerly walks behind him, also bound to a tree. I take stagnation from these metaphors: An individual who is rooted in place, cannot move, or make progress, and has willingly turned his/her back, or has been forced to turn their back on opportunity. However, as we see with the video, Einar manages to free himself and is shown wandering in the forest with the horse as his companion.
Note two things: A forest has always been a poetic symbol of the unknown and thus Einar is traveling a new path that is foreign to him, and thus he's vulnerable and uncertain; him not wearing shoes adds to the 'vulnerable' metaphor. Second, notice that Einar is NOT riding the horse in the beginning, but is riding it later in the music video. When he starts to ride the horse this represents him getting control of his journey, and then you even get to a point where he's riding the horse full gallop, representing a complete control and a complete freedom in his life.
What starts as him wandering in a forests becomes him traveling over streams, past mighty stones covered in moss (a symbol for time), through fields, past lakes, over mountains, and so forth. In the end however, Einar and his companion reach the ocean and he releases him, setting him free and saying goodbye. As a final note, you also have fire as a metaphor in this music video. You see Einar and Lindy-Fay singing over the flames and its casting light, which I take to represent the power of the rune itself, and its deeper meaning. In the end of the music video, one of the final shots is Einar closing his eyes to the fire, and then it cuts to the horse walking away. I take this as a metaphor for an end to the journey; his own death, or perhaps simply overcoming the challenge that he faced. I can also reaffirm this from how the camera is on the surface of the water then, constantly shifting in and out of focus as the water passes in front of it. This represents a new journey about to begin; a new unknown to face.

These were my thoughts after just watching the music video one time, so I'm sure I missed something. Awesome video though, Wardruna! Powerful as always.

[friedaingeschable]

Wardruna, danke für eure gute Musik, einfach klasse👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶

[lindemuller]

- I play in a folk band.
- Cool, what instrument do you play?
- The *tree*

[naseilis]

There's one problem with Wardruna's songs: no matter how long they are, they're always too short.

[robertjohnston]

Respect to our Nordic cousins from the Celts of Ireland. Mother Nature is so pure. She has beauty and strength. Teach our children of the old ways and paths. Saoirse

[Miselain]

Wardruna is more spiritual to me than any other music that I've ever listened to. I can't figure out why, but it's incredibly amazing.

[mathiasaaron]

I am proud to be a Norwegian, To have viking ancestors. This type of songs take me on travels, This makes me peaceful and somewhat my soul get connected with the nature self.

[roksvempire]

This is not a song. This is Edda. This is a masterpiece.

[grimstone]

I don't know why but i feel a connection more to this then any church i was ever forced to attend love this

[vigridr_]

Everybody gangsta till a Scandinavian starts playing trees in a forest.

[nikstat]

It is really a pity that most people will actually never get to listen to this masterpiece.
This is so powerful that it can force you to change the way you think and reconsider many things in life. I want to support these guys to keep on doing what they do by any means I can, and this is the first time I feel this way for a band..
Wardruna, thank you

[zachosgood]

Each time I listen to this song or any song from Wardruna for that matter, I hear the voices of my ancestors. I love it.

[Reteniendosololobueno]

This brings me literally back HOME, Thank you

[rulfryder]

This is the sound of freedom, spirituality, true friendship, rebellion, nature, traveling, power and truth

[emrearslan]

This song fits in perfectly for the description of " I miss a place that I have never been to"

[frisacruise]

YT brought me here when I searched for Norwegian songs because I'm learning Norsk. This song is beyond my expectation. Outstanding, exceptional song and it gives me the feeling of living in Viking era lol. I also love the deep meaning of Raido. Thanks to all Norwegians for explaining it. Jeg elsker denne sangen. ❤❤❤

[Nattfoddone]

Слушая эту композицию веришь, что привычных забот нет. Что жизнь в природе. Благодарю!

[arhansen]

My two younger kids are 5 and almost 3 and they LOVE this music. My heart is happy to know they’re taking in such rich music at this early age!

[Alldaylily]

This is my all time favorite song from Wardruna. So good as it is but if you trip shrooms while listening and watching the it takes you to a beautiful place. Absolutely love it.