Beowulf Overture

Download 2000 version

From "Black Bean"

Download 1993 version from "Beowulf the Rock Opera"

Beowulf had wandered forth
From Geatland to the kingdom of the Danes,
And their beneath their mead hall
Met with Hrothgar and his fertile band of thanes.

Brecca was a swimmer and the greatest of the Nords
And Unferth was a warrior with dwarven-crafted swords,

He said, "Beowulf, wave walker,
You're a weakling and an egomaniac.
Either drink your weight in Scaldic mead
Or get your Geat ass back to Hygelac."

Beowulf's reply throughout the comitatus rang
And Unferth gave him Hrunting and they all got up and sang, singing

Oh, Hrothgar!
To you was given such success in battle
That your youthful band of warriors waxed amain!
Oh, Hrothgar!
To you was given such success in battle
That your youthful band of warriors...

Well Grendel stormed the mead hall
And the carnage was too gruesome to describe,
And all the thanes grew weary
'Cause for twelve years they had nowhere to imbibe.

Beowulf and Grendel clashed and soon the beast was slew
Then Beowulf attacked the swamp and killed his mother too, singing

Oh, Hrothgar!
To you was given such success in battle
That your youthful band of warriors waxed amain!
Oh, Hrothgar!
To you was given such success in battle
That your youthful band of warriors...

Now Beowulf grew old until
His kingdom was invaded by a drake,
So he took his thanes to kill it
Thinking such a fight would be a piece of cake.

But tragically his followers left Beowulf to die!
And all that could be heard was Wiglaf sinking in the sky, singing

Oh, Hrothgar!
To you was given such success in battle
That your youthful band of warriors waxed amain!
Oh, Hrothgar!
To you was given such success in battle
That your youthful band of warriors...
Oh, Hrothgar!
To you was given such success in battle
That your youthful band of warriors waxed amain!
Oh, Hrothgar!
To you was given such success in battle
That your youthful band of warriors...


(Jon Greenlee - drums, lead guitar, bass, additional vocals)

Copyright 1993, 2000 Zach London