Songblog: Valkyrie

"Valkyrie" written by Devin Gackle, June 2019

I started this song in 2015, and have since changed some words around; I think it’s taken me a few years to figure out what this song is about.

I wanted the theme of the valkyrie to be prominent and, well, meaningful. In Norse mythology, valkyries were female warriors, probably spirits, who presided over battles, sometimes choosing who lived and died. They are known for transporting some of the chosen fallen to Valhalla, a sort of hall of fame of the afterlife.

At first, because of how valkyries are often depicted carrying warriors away on their horses, I thought of them as sort of rescuers, and that this song was a sort of love song about a relationship nearing its end, and wanting to give it a second chance. But over time that evolved into all relationships, including one’s relationship with oneself.

Suddenly the battlefield wasn’t just love and relationships, it was life. It wasn’t about second chances in a relationship, it was about hanging in there and finding the strength to go on with life, start anew.

It became about choosing your battles, knowing what you think is worth fighting for. As individuals, we get to decide for ourselves what our values are, how we go on with our lives after hurt or loss.

Sometimes we have to be our own valkyrie, choosing whether to survive or give into pain; or if we do experience a metaphorical death, we can choose to start over. Valkyries are “choosers of the fallen” or “choosers of the slain,”; in a nutshell, it’s about choice.

Life is full of choices, isn’t it? Some easy, some hard, some right, some wrong—and sometimes it’s hard to know the difference. Sometimes it’s easy to wish there was someone to decide for us, but in the end, maybe it’s betters to have someone remind us we are indeed our own valkyries.

Lyrics:

I wish I could reach inside of you

To all those living, breathing parts

I wish I could be the air you breathe

‘Cause then you’d see the way you swallow me

You’re pulling me into the dark

Don’t let go just yet

You are not forgotten

On this battlefield

We are bruised, not broken

Wake up for me

I’ll be your valkyrie

In this life we choose

If we are free

I wish I could reach beneath the surface

To all the pieces that have died

I wish I could be your silhouette

‘Cause then you’d see the way you shadow me

You bring me back to life

Don’t let go just yet

You are not forgotten

On this battlefield

We are bruised, not broken

Wake up for me

I’ll be your valkyrie

In this life we choose

If we are free

We don’t have to be warriors

To decide what’s worth fighting for

Don’t let go just yet

You are not forgotten

On this battlefield

We are bruised, not broken

Wake up for me

I’ll be your valkyrie

In this life we choose

Don’t let go just yet

You are not forgotten

On this battlefield

We are bruised, not broken

Wake up for me

I’ll be your valkyrie

In this life we choose

If we are free