The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Bjarkan" by the artist "Wardruna"

The lyrics of the song "Bjarkan" by Wardruna delve into the profound symbolism of the birch tree in Norse mythology and culture. The birch, represented by the Berkana rune, is associated with the feminine principle, motherhood, life, death, and rebirth.

The line "Thou who bore me for nine winters" alludes to the period of gestation, which lasts for nine months. Here, "nine winters" can also be interpreted as a symbol of eternity and cyclicality, as the birch dies and is reborn each year, similar to the changing seasons.

"Swaddled in cloth woven of life and death" is an image of maternal care and protection, where "cloth" represents life itself, woven from the light and dark threads of joy and sorrow, triumphs and failures.

"From the deep motherly womb into the green world" is a metaphor for birth, the transition from the mother's womb into the world. The birch, the first tree to turn green in spring, also symbolizes awakening, the beginning of a new cycle.

The final words "Die and be reborn" are the key to understanding the deeper meaning of the song. The birch, dying every autumn and reborn every spring, becomes a powerful symbol of the cyclical nature of existence, the inevitability of death, and eternal rebirth.