Beowulf - HD VERSION ("99 Red Balloons" by Nena) HD

Upscale of video from 2007 (original remake of instrumental) LYRICS Anglo-Saxon poetry from circa AD 750 Though it’s based on history, most is just embellished story Passed down by scops- singers of tales Mixed Saxons’ dialects with Angles’ The author’s name we’ll never know, but Beowulf remains our hero Hwæt! We gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden… Beowulf – hero of Geats in a world governed by fate The monster Grendel plagued the hall Attacked the warriors- killed them all So Beowulf - and his thanes leave their homeland to save the Danes Their swords break from the magic charm Till Beowulf tears Grendel’s arm! In revenge, dead Grendel’s mother comes to kill the king’s best warrior Beowulf tracks her to her lair -- an eerie lake of despair Protected by enchanted armor He wins the fight and then beheads her Returns victorious at the “ninth hour” The comitatus gave him power! Back to Sweden he returns -- to the kingship he has earned Until one day late in his life his realm is struck with fiery strife The vengeful rage of a dragon – For his golden cup was stolen! Who but Beowulf can slay him? Save his people from destruction? (Save his people from destruction!) (Written in alliteration!) Cremated, buried by the sea The poem drifts into elegy – Encomium, a song of praise- Tells of Beowulf’s glory days How in those tragic “days of yore” “the noble ones did deeds of valour” The kennings speak in metaphor – Remains forever in our lore