Sweden (Swedish: Sverige [ˈsværjɛ]), officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Scandinavian Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north and Finland to the east and is connected to Denmark in the southwest by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund Strait. At 450,295 square kilometers (173,860 sq mi), Sweden is the largest country in Northern Europe, the third-largest country in the European Union, and the fifth largest country in Europe by area. The capital city is Stockholm. Sweden has a total population of 10.3 million of which 2.5 million have a foreign background.
Sweden is part of the geographical area of Fennoscandia. The climate is in general very mild for its northerly latitude due to significant maritime influence. In spite of the high latitude, Sweden often has warm continental summers, being located in between the North Atlantic, the Baltic Sea, and the vast Eurasian Russian landmass. The general climate and environment vary significantly from the south and north due to the vast latitudinal difference and much of Sweden has reliably cold and snowy winters.
Germanic peoples have inhabited Sweden since prehistoric times, emerging into history as the Geats (Swedish Götar) and Swedes (Svear) and constituting the sea peoples known as the Norsemen. An independent Swedish state emerged during the early 12th century. After the Black Death in the middle of the 14th century killed about a third of the Scandinavian population, the Hanseatic League threatened Scandinavia's culture, finances, and languages. This led to the forming of the Scandinavian Kalmar Union in 1397, which Sweden left in 1523. When Sweden became involved in the Thirty Years War on the Reformist side, an expansion of its territories began, and eventually the Swedish Empire was formed. This became one of the great powers of Europe until the early 18th century. Swedish territories outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were gradually lost during the 18th and 19th centuries, ending with the annexation of present-day Finland by Russia in 1809. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814 when Norway was militarily forced into a personal union, which peacefully dissolved in 1905. Since then, Sweden has been at peace, maintaining an official policy of neutrality in foreign affairs. Sweden was formally neutral through both world wars and the Cold War, albeit Sweden has since 2009 openly moved towards cooperation with NATO.
Sweden is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy, with Legislative power vested in the 349-member unicameral Riksdag. It is a unitary state, currently divided into 21 counties and 290 municipalities. Sweden maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its citizens. It has the world's eleventh-highest per capita income and ranks very highly in quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, economic competitiveness, equality, prosperity, and human development. Sweden joined the European Union on 1 January 1995 but declined NATO membership, as well as Eurozone membership following a referendum. It is also a member of the United Nations, the Nordic Council, the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Today, one of the main exports in Sweden is music. This has caused a unique form of endorsement from the government to be creative due to it being a valid export. This alone inspired the idea for the song. Whether Validity is gained through self-validating actions or praise of others, validation can motivate and drive real change.
lyrics
I've seen the heavens open wide
To bare a storm upon the earth
I've seen a gravestone singe the eye
Of those who know the suffered
As it grows
The tree will cast an ever-rising shadow
I've seen a moment change a life
And steer it from the shallow
The fate of those who will
Their fate is what you make it
It's not the fate that changes
Only the validation
I've seen the hatred in the eyes
Of those who say they love you
I've seen the burden left behind
When struggle is payment due
As it grows
The tree will cast an ever-rising shadow
I've seen a moment change a life
And steer it from the shallow
Violent
Chaos
Deep inside us all
Brutal
Carnage
Self-doubt is consuming
Battle
Struggle
Facing down the futile
Never
Surrender
This is neverending
I've seen the vicious mame the weak
And bring about more hatred
I've seen a wound open to bleed
In hopes to drive the healing
As it grows
The tree will cast an ever-rising shadow
I've seen a moment change a life
And steer it from the shallow
There has always been
A reason to stay the course
As if the path ahead
Calls for so much more
As sure as the sun will rise
The day will come to an end
The reaping of reward
For only those who understand
INTRODUCTION:
"Unto the Wolves" is an online Metal project with one goal in mind, to inspire tolerance and acceptance of all races, religious beliefs, and cultures.
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