Listen to a demo version of "Eleven Hours," the eighth song on Scenes from an Icelandic Novel.

Eleven Hours

Bjarni's redemption song. In the final pages of the book he mentions that maybe God will spare his soul if he gives some sign of having suffered remorse. Before he is executed, Bjarni has his left hand cut off, and he raises the stump towards heaven, presumably giving his sign to God.

I've had eleven hours' time
To see what I could find
For to make whole
The void in my soul

The wage of sin I owe
Won't melt away like snow
At the end of this game
I will bear my mark with shame
Like my wretched name

Ooh...

The lives I cast aside
Were buried with my pride
Therefore go I
As we live, so we die
You can't try to hide

Oh, won't you lend me some time
But you'll have to take my word
No more extensions on my credit line
And the payment can't be deferred
Confession doesn't always lie down with peace
Sometimes it takes hatred for a bride
If, after all, there's a place for men like me
I'll save my honour for the other side

The strength that I bemoan
Is the same with which I atone

I'll give you a sign
Here is my sign

©2010 A. Ray. Annabel Is Her Mother Today (ASCAP).