Author: Gimfalisette
Title: War Dirge (The Soldier's Life)
Date: 2009-02-11 15:59:13
Type: Songs
Synopsis: Attributed to a soldier of the Allanaki militia in the time just after the gith invasion of year 39, age 21, this song mournfully expresses the melancholy and bleakness of long service.

Heard of Sergeant Laila Makarim, Jade Saber Legion

The soldier's life is a hard, hard life,
And death is our sole reward;
But none can say I won't fight, fight, fight,
And die with blood on my sword.

The soldier's meal is a tasteless meal,
Spiced with the stench of the dead;
Swallow back anything that I feel, feel, feel,
And just take what they give me for bread.

The soldier's bed is a rough, thin bed,
And sleep is plagued by the dark;
Though I rise at the dawn feelin' dead, dead, dead,
Still my blow seeks the enemy's heart.

The soldier's friend is a soon-dead friend,
And the weight of a blade in her hand;
When it all comes down to the end, end, end,
Every soldier's alone on the sand.

The soldier's death is a lonely death,
Her companions are all gone before;
I gave sweat, I gave tears with each breath, breath, breath,
And I'll die when I've got nothing more.

The soldier's fate is a swift, swift fate,
There's few that will live to be old;
Lay me down on the altar in state, state, state,
Burn away what has finally gone cold.