[Intro]
Oars in the dark
Salt in the wound
The sea wears the face
Of the blood-red moon

[Verse]
We pushed the ships from the frozen strand
With broken oaths in every hand
Some sailed for war, some sailed from flame
But all were chained to the same old name

The tide was black, the stars were gone
The drummer beat the rowing on
No gulls cried over mast or sail
Only the storm began to wail

[Pre-Chorus]
Row, my brothers
Row through fear
But the sea has heard
What brought us here

[Chorus]
When the longships sink
Who will count the brave
When the longships sink
Who will name the wave

When the longships sink
Under moon and storm
We learn too late that hate can build
No harbor safe and warm

[Verse]
The first mast cracked like a dying tree
The second vanished into the sea
A chieftain shouted to hold the line
But no command can chain the brine

Men who cursed each other’s blood
Reached through foam and freezing flood
One hand saved an enemy’s breath
One hand pulled him back from death

[Build-up]
The sky splits open
The sea climbs higher
The moon burns red
Like a crown of fire

The oars are shattered
The sails are torn
No clan survives
What pride has sworn

[Drop]
Down with the mast
Down with the crown
Down with the names
That dragged us down

[Chorus]
When the longships sink
Who will count the brave
When the longships sink
Who will name the wave

When the longships sink
Under moon and storm
We learn too late that hate can build
No harbor safe and warm

[Instrumental]
[Bridge]
In the roar beneath the sky
I heard no enemy, only cry
And in the hand I chose to take
The ancient feud began to break

[Chorus]
When the longships sink
Who will count the brave
When the longships sink
Who will name the wave

When the longships sink
Under moon and storm
We learn too late that hate can build
No harbor safe and warm

[Outro]
Oars in the dark
Salt in the wound
The sea keeps the names
Of the blood-red moon