Original Submissions by Rairen of type 'Songs'
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The Ballad of the Unlicensed Man
Added on Feb 20, 2009A cautionary song for Tuluk, recollecting the consequences for those who would play at assassination without being licensed.
The road before me is a dusty one.
My back's facin' to the sun.
And my tale, it is a sad, sad one,
With leagues to go 'fore I'm done.
In th' Ivory I was a man of means,
Just like my father'd been.
He was a liar, a thief, and a drunk,
Turns out, I was worse than him.
Now, murderin's wrong, that is no lie,
But I've always been a gambling man,
And the only time that I've been satisfied,
Is with a dagger in my hand.
Now mothers... tell your children,
Not to do what I have done.
There's laws to keep murderin' in its place,
In the City of the Mornin' Sun.
The road before me is a dusty one.
My back's facin' to the sun.
I killed two men, there's no comin' back for me,
I've gone walked past the sun.The road before me is a dusty one.
My back's facin' to the sun.
And my tale, it is a sad, sad one,
With leagues to go 'fore I'm done.
In th' Ivory I was a man of means,
Just like my father'd been.
He was a liar, a thief, and a drunk,
Turns out, I was worse than him.
Now, murderin's wrong, that is...
Continue Reading...Nashi's Song
Added on Feb 20, 2009A commemorative piece, dedicated to the Master Bard Nashi Ansuz A'jinn of the Irofel Circle and commissioned by her son Vejaan at the time of her death.
Nashi dear, farewell, though I barely knew you at all,
You had the grace to stand, where others had rather fall.
You'd smile to them and say, while they'd fallen, down on their knees,
"Don't be afraid, be strong... and come have a cookie."
And now looking back, on the times we had, you were like a sunrise at dawn,
Warming our faces before, the evening storms came along.
It's hard for me not to think on fate, on what could have been,
On the good days left to share with, our Nashi Ansuz A'jinn.
I didn't know Sujaal, but I know the man that he'd been.
And the woman it'd take, to hold him and to win.
I think you're with him now, and maybe someday, we'll be there, too.
Children, students, friends, for that last lesson with you.
And now looking back, on the times we had, you were like a sunrise at dawn,
Warming our faces before, the evening storms came along.
And I should have said goodbye to you, but that wasn't to be.
So from me to you, farewell and the dawn keep you, Nashi.Nashi dear, farewell, though I barely knew you at all,
You had the grace to stand, where others had rather fall.
You'd smile to them and say, while they'd fallen, down on their knees,
"Don't be afraid, be strong... and come have a cookie."
And now looking back, on the times we had, you were like a...
Continue Reading...Oh, She Was a Servant to High Elite
Added on Feb 20, 2009A grave, somber study on the Tuluki castes.
Oh, she was a servant to high elite,
And he was a beggar from off the street,
But he loved this lady so tenderly...Oh, Sorrow. Sweet Sorrow.
Now he sleeps in the darkness of the long, Detal night,
And no one knows he loved her save His Rad'ant Light.One morn when the sun with Jihae allied,
She passed by his side with a silk-soft stride.
He smiled and he spoke - but she paid no heed.Oh, Sorrow. Sweet Sorrow.
Now he sleeps in the darkness of the long, Detal night,
And no one knows he loved her save His Rad'ant Light.If you be a beggar from off the street,
Don't love of no servant of high elite.
They hain't got a heart for sympathy.Oh, Sorrow. Sweet Sorrow.
Now he sleeps in the darkness of the long, Detal night,
And no one knows he loved her... save His Rad'ant Light.Oh, she was a servant to high elite,
And he was a beggar from off the street,
But he loved this lady so tenderly...Oh, Sorrow. Sweet Sorrow.
Now he sleeps in the darkness of the long, Detal night,
And no one knows he loved her save His Rad'ant Light.One morn when the sun with Jihae...
Continue Reading...Mae Konviwe'
Added on Feb 20, 2009A Driamusek-style hazing of a rival Seeker, the true challenge of the piece is to sing it progressively faster with every verse. Good luck!
Oh... There's... a... nice, sweet lass and her name's Mae Konviwe'.
Make no mistake she's the lass I'm goin' to sway.
All the other fella's want to bed her sure today,
But I think they'll have to wake up very early.May I, Mae, make you into my mate?
Mate me, Mae, and make me what you may.
I'd mate merry Mae that I may with her stay.
Mae, I'll never leave you if you mate me as you may.Oh, this wary wench, she's got a lot of wit.
Got a lot of wit, but she's fearin' to commit.
But I'd be a silly chit for to let the matter sit.
For my sister says she suits me really fairly.May I, Mae, make you into my mate?
Mate me, Mae, and make me what you may.
I'd mate merry Mae that I may with her stay.
Mae, I'll never leave you if you mate me as you may.Oh, Mae and her lovers spend an awful lot together -
- In fact I hardly see one without the other.
At times I start to wonderin' if it's Mae, then, or her lovers,
Or all of them together that I'm courtin'.May I, Mae, make you into my mate?
Mate me, Mae, and make me what you may.
I'd mate merry Mae that I may with her stay.
Mae, I'll never leave you if you mate me as you may.I'll court her on the morrow and the morrow will it be,
The day she's going t' be my girl and belongin' onto me.
With the makin' the arrangements I'll be out of misery,
For lovin' is an awful undertaking!May I, Mae, make you into my mate?
Mate me, Mae, and make me what you may.
I'd mate merry Mae that I may with her stay.
Mae, I'll never leave you if you mate me as you may!Oh... There's... a... nice, sweet lass and her name's Mae Konviwe'.
Make no mistake she's the lass I'm goin' to sway.
All the other fella's want to bed her sure today,
But I think they'll have to wake up very early.May I, Mae, make you into my mate?
Mate me, Mae, and make me what you may.
I'd mate...
Continue Reading...Allanak Has Fallen
Added on Feb 20, 2009This would-be-prophetic celebration of old-fashioned city state rivalry was composed by a former Allanaki slave and won top honors at the Silverwood Ball.
The winds are hot down south today,
The people brush their tears away,
As they look up in dismay,
To the Arena's walls.The taverns have no wine or ale,
There's only dirtied silt for sale,
No guest of any templar's jail,
Has ever looked so sad.And in the gardens fall the flowers,
Like bricks from the militia's towers.
All the bards are singing flat.
While people walk the city streets,
Saying as the army south retreats,
"How could it happen like that?"Oh...! Celebration 'cross the lands,
From Red Storm to the Tablelands.
As all sing gleeful o'er the sands:
Allanak has fallen!One by one those soldiers died,
While red, blue, black templars spared their pride,
And into silk their blood they dried.
Allanak has fallen!How crass the southern voice is,
As they look down all their noses,
Saying, "We are by far better than you."
I wonder who it was then,
Who let themselves be beaten?
The Liberation we won't forget, too.Oh... Highlord Tek just sits and stares,
Gone from this world and all its cares,
The Sun King runs the grand affairs.
Allanak has fallen!Allanak has fallen!
Allanak has fallen...!The winds are hot down south today,
The people brush their tears away,
As they look up in dismay,
To the Arena's walls.The taverns have no wine or ale,
There's only dirtied silt for sale,
No guest of any templar's jail,
Has ever looked so sad.And in the gardens fall the flowers,
Like bricks from the...
Continue Reading...Soldier Girl (or Solder Boy)
Added on Feb 20, 2009A bittersweet Tuluki duet that fell out of favor during the years of the Copper War against Allanak.
Soldier girl, soldier girl,
Where are you going to?
Soldier girl, soldier girl,
With your smile so fine?I am going off to war,
Where the 'sidian arrows soar,
Where the silver banners shine.
Oh, darling sweet, be mine.Soldier girl, soldier girl,
When will you come again?
Soldier girl, soldier girl,
With your smile so fine?When the pymlithe blooms again,
When the sun is high again,
When there is an end to war,
Then I will come once more.Seven years, then seven more,
Pymlithe bloomed in the trees again.
The sun rode high in the sky,
Just like before.But there was no end to war,
Seven years, then seven more.
Still he waited just the same...
... But no one ever came.Soldier girl, soldier girl,
Where are you going to?
Soldier girl, soldier girl,
With your smile so fine?I am going off to war,
Where the 'sidian arrows soar,
Where the silver banners shine.
Oh, darling sweet, be mine.Soldier girl, soldier girl,
When will you come again?
Soldier girl, soldier...
Continue Reading...The Night the Half-Giant Found the Ale
Added on Feb 20, 2009A parody of "The Tavern Dance Floor" and a cautionary tale against half-giant intoxication.
One day were a party and all the town were at the show.
I went there myself, to see what folks that I might know.
When, looking around, I sudd'nly heard a frightful roar,
As a half-giant passed out on the tavern dance floor.So jump up, jump down, jump up and down and all around.
Swing him 'round some more, keep your feet way off the ground.
No liquor this night's left for you to have your sorrows drown'd,
Since the night the half-giant full-drunk was found.The air filled with ale, as tankards flew up left and right.
A table crashed down, and with it fell the candlelight.
A merchant fell back, his chair crumbling beneath his legs.
He fell back so far, he knocked over three half-full kegs.The kegs they spilled out, the ale leaking 'cross the floor
And a soldier slipped down... right down onto a three-leg'd whore.
So in all of this mess, no one thought to stop and see...
... Beneath the half-giant, six dwarves screaming indignities.So jump up, jump down, jump up and down and all around.
Swing her 'round some more, keep your feet way off the ground.
No liquor this night's left for you to have your sorrows drown'd,
Since the night the half-giant full-drunk was found.They flailed and squirmed - and cursed and screamed and spit and swore.
They kicked and they punched, and clawed and scratched and kick'd s'more.
But all this for naught, they stayed stuck there against the floor,
Doomed to that place, by one deep, half-giant snore.So jump up, jump down, jump up and down and all around.
Swing them 'round some more, keep your feet way off the ground.
No liquor this night's left for you to have your sorrows drown'd,
Since the night the half-giant full-drunk was found.So jump up, jump down, jump up and down and all around.
Swing them 'round, my dears, keep your feet way off the ground.
No liquor this night's left for you to have your sorrows drown'd,
Since the night the half-giant full-drunk was found.One day were a party and all the town were at the show.
I went there myself, to see what folks that I might know.
When, looking around, I sudd'nly heard a frightful roar,
As a half-giant passed out on the tavern dance floor.So jump up, jump down, jump up and down and all around.
Swing him 'round...
Continue Reading...The Tavern Dance Floor
Added on Feb 20, 2009A dark-natured Warrens-style dance, popularized by a Driamusek Bard in the twenty-first Age.
He looks at me first, all sweat and insecurity.
The sound of his voice is the sound of ecstasy.
I hold up a hand, but he's pushed back a little more,
Caught up with the dancers on the tavern dance floor.Well, dance the night away, far away o'er the dyin' lands.
Dance the night away, stayin' close next t' me.
Dance the night away, far away o'er the dyin' lands.
Dance the night away on th' tavern dance floor.The floor smokes like embers, burned up with heat and revelry.
There is nothin' of him hain't come out of obscurity
No tears there now, boy, not now and not before.
There's no one but us on the tavern dance floor.I ask him for his name, and his name, he'll not tell to me.
That silence of his is the silence of ecstasy.
I ask him, right out, just what he is stayin' for.
He says, "Come with me, off the tavern dance floor."Well, dance the night away, far away o'er the dyin' lands.
Dance the night away, stayin' close next t' me.
Dance the night away, far away o'er the dyin' lands.
Dance the night away on th' tavern dance floor.Now, some drinks, like wine, they soothe away a misery.
While others, they sting, sting right at the throat of me.
But this drink so sweet leaves me thirstin' for more and more.
That's how I lost my heart on the tavern dance floor.Well, dance the night away, far away o'er the dyin' lands.
Dance the night away, stayin' close next t' me.
Dance the night away, far away o'er the dyin' lands.
Dance the night away on th' tavern dance floor.He looks at me first, all sweat and insecurity.
The sound of his voice is the sound of ecstasy.
I hold up a hand, but he's pushed back a little more,
Caught up with the dancers on the tavern dance floor.Well, dance the night away, far away o'er the dyin' lands.
Dance the night away, stayin' close...
Continue Reading...
