Róa yfir Haf – Epic Viking Rowing Song

“Róa yfir haf” - “Row across the sea.” The song follows a crew pushing their drakkar through cold waters, wind and rain — oar beside oar, man beside man. Its steady rhythm reflects the movement of the ship, while the lyrics tell of leaving home behind, facing the unknown sea and continuing forward together. ⚔️ Subscribe for more Viking songs, Old Norse inspired music, Nordic folk, Slavic pagan music and other ancient sounds. ENGLISH TRANSLATION The sea lies cold beneath us The wind rises from the north The mountains fade behind the ship Ahead lies the road across the sea The oars fall evenly into the surf Hands keep the rhythm Night passes and day arrives The ship keeps moving forward Salt on our lips, rain on our cheeks Cold waves rise The timber groans beneath the heavy sea But we hold our course Man beside man on the long bench Oar beside oar in the water No man can move the ship alone Together we row forward Across the deep, across the sea Beneath the grey sky The heart beats in the same rhythm With every pull of the oar Row, row across the sea Row while the winds are calling Row, row through night and day Forward until we see the land Row, row, hold the course The waves rise, but we do not yield Row, row across the sea The world awaits beyond the sea Behind us lies our home harbour Its fire fades into the distance Before us lies an unknown shore Hidden behind the rain Darkness surrounds the open sea The stars can no longer be seen But a fire still lives within our chests And guides us forward The wind grows stronger, the sail strikes The breakers crash loudly The oars cut through the dark sea Like iron through wood Across the deep, across the sea Far from our old homeland The same rhythm, the same course The same hope within our hearts Row, row across the sea Row while the winds are calling Row, row through night and day Forward until we see the land Row, row, hold the course The waves rise, but we do not yield Row, row across the sea The world awaits beyond the sea If night falls upon the open sea And no star gives us light Then oar beside oar and man beside man Will still carry the ship forward If the storm rises and the sea strikes And the cold wind meets us The same rhythm will keep us strong Until morning comes Row, row across the sea Row while the winds are calling Row, row through night and day Forward until we see the land Row, row, hold the course No wave will stop our journey Row, row across the sea Forward through night and forward through day Row, row across the sea The oars fall, the ship moves on Row, row across the sea Forward until we see the land Row across the sea