This is an adaptation of Jacob and the Irregular Mermaid, originally by The Bricks (they gave permission):-
https://thebricksbards.bandcamp.com/track/jacob-and-the-irregular-mermaid

I adapted it for the Empire Larp setting and made it acapella / audience participation friendly. When performed in the field people usually make their own custom jazzy doop doop sounds, and sometimes we get somebody with a wind instrument joining in which is just so much fun!

As some side context, Puglo was a character in Empire (now deceased) who insisted that he saw a mermaid once and was somewhat obsessed with one day becoming romantically entwined with one. As a result, he rendered himself the perfect subject for this goofy song, which I say in character was written by the crew of his ship to take the mickey. It is now a very popular tune. ;p

---
Lyrics:

Puglo was a corsair
His first love was the angry sea 
Getting some loot and slaying Grendel
Until he met a mermaid called Cecily 

CHORUS:
She was a mermaid, but the other way round 
Half woman, half fish, but in reverse 
Don't judge another by the love that they found 
Love being blind can be a curse 
Legs of a lady 
Body of a bream
Eyes of a tuna
Ankles like a dream
Puglo and the irregular mermaid 

Puglo hit a storm surge 
Mast broken and far from port 
A wave sucked him clean off the boat 
But he was saved by a mermaid of a different sort 

CHORUS 

Puglo tried to woo her 
But no flowers in oceans are found 
So he reeled her in with mealworms 
And a tiny little castle she could swim around 

CHORUS 

Puglo married Cecily 
To each other their lives devote 
Her fins had no fingers so there was no ring 
He just laid a pearl necklace around her throat 

CHORUS 

Puglo lost his Cecily 
After some years she triggered the break clause
She fell for a topsy-turvy centaur 
With the legs of a human and the torso of a horse 

CHORUS(x2)

Puglo and the Irregular Mermaid

This is a sequel / companion song to Puglo and the Irregular Mermaid: https://soundcloud.com/constanzaikalamariguerra/puglo-and-the-irregular-mermaid

A jazzy little number about relationship dynamics, a shallow kind of love, not judging people, and finding somebody you have a deep connection with. Also a good dollop of silliness, of course.

---
Lyrics:

I am a topsy turvy centaur
The gorgeous people everywhere look at me and say Phwoar!
My arms and legs are human
And very toned of course
But the torso and the head are from a horse

I heard there was a tale 
About a certain female
Of the aquatic persuasion
I swear I am no home wrecker

And I am here to set the record straight
'fore it's too late

CHORUS:
A-neigh a-neigh a-neigh
Sometimes people just get divorces
A-neigh a-neigh a-neigh
Different horses for difference courses
A-neigh a-neigh a-neigh
It's okay to cut your losses
A-neigh a-neigh a-neigh
Ooooooh I'm so misunderstood

I certainly get lots of queries
From everybody and their mum; they're keen to share their theories
How grandad was a Highborn
And he loved his chestnut mare
And the two of them had quite the love affair

Can't help the way I'm born
I don't deserve your scorn
I thought I'd always be lonely 
Til I met somebody like me

And that's where Cecily comes in
Her and her fins...

CHORUS

She was an Irregular Mermaid
She got together with his guy; stayed with him for a decade
But romance waned and faded as she realised in time
That he couldn't see beyond her life of brine

As thoughtful as he is seemed
It wasn't what she dreamed
No amount of tiny castles
Could address the bigger picture

It was her fundamental wish
To connect, as a woman, as a person, not just a fish... 

CHORUS

We met on the beach as she went for a swim
She confided in me all the things about him
I sympathised deeply with all of her trouble
Myself I'd had partners that lived in a bubble
Of loving me only for novelty's sake
Which led to some fun but also heartache

What these people don't understand is
a person is more than the sum and the total of all of the things that the animal part of them wants

Ooooooh the pain, please take it all away. 
Hey hey hey... (Mmmh, delicious hay... Anyway) I just want to say... 

Cecily relates to me
Like the sand to the shore like the waves to the sea
But I never meant to woo her inappropriately
That's why she left him 
before I even said I love thee
She would have left him anyway 
I think we all can agree 

CHORUS

I am a topsy turvy centaur
The gorgeous people everywhere look at me and say Phwoar!
My arms and legs are human
And very toned of course
But the torso and the head are from a horse

I'm very happy in
The relationship I'm in
We support and love each other
And confide our deeper feelings

So leave your judgement at the door
We've been hurt oh so very many times before

CHORUS

Topsy Turvy Centaur

An original song by me for the Empire Larp setting.

About the death of Santiago, a character in Empire Larp. Both silly and serious... and fun to belt.

---

Lyrics:

Oh he was tall, his clothes were all blue                	A toast to Santiago
Respected Hakima and archer too                         	A toast to Santiago
 
Oh Santiago! Oh Santiago!                                   	A toast to Santiago!
 
Known for his staff, his stamp, and his sword       	A toast to Santiago
He had many friends, yes he was adored              	A toast to Santiago
 
Oh Santiago! Oh Santiago!                                   	A toast to Santiago!
 
Courage did not come easy to him                        	A toast to Santiago
Yet out in battle he risked life and limb                   	A toast to Santiago
 
Oh Santiago! Oh Santiago!                                   	A toast to Santiago!
 
He liked to sing, but maybe not dance                    	A toast to Santiago
He never got to have his romance                          	A toast to Santiago
 
Oh Santiago! Oh Santiago!                                   	A toast to Santiago!
 
Many have sworn oaths of secrecy                        	About our Santiago
But all he did was for you and for me                     	A toast to Santiago
 
Oh Santiago! Oh Santiago!                                   	A toast to Santiago!
 
First he was poisoned and he nearly died              	A toast to Santiago
But Anvil medics made sure he survived               	A toast to Santiago
 
Oh Santiago! Oh Santiago!                                   	A toast to Santiago!
 
(quiet)
Someone crept in as he lay in bed                         	Alas poor Santiago
Drew knife across throat and left him for dead      	Alas poor Santiago
 
Oh Santiago! Oh Santiago!                                    	Farewell, dear Santiago!
 
(loud)
Oh Santiago! Oh Santiago!                                   	A toast to Santiago!

A Toast To Santiago (with Harmony)

A filk of "my ship sailed from China" for the Empire Larp setting, for purposes of performing the ritual Ephisis' Scale.

There are hand motions. After the first time you wave yourself with your right hand. After the second time you add your left hand. After the third time you add your right foot. After the fourth time you add your left foot. After the fifth time you nod your head as well. Then when the song ends you collapse.

The idea is that you are so overwhelmed by getting so many amazing deals from trading with Ephisis that you have to fan yourself more and more vigorously until you can fan yourself no more.

---

Lyrics:

A trade with the City of Lead and of Gold
All heavy with treasures you’d smile to behold
They gave me so much
Just imagine my bliss
And I found myself going like this
				like this
				   like this
				      like this
(Sung 5 times)

A Trade With The City

An original song by me made for the Empire Larp setting.

This is about a character, Avisena i Kharizmi i Guerra. This song was sung at her dedication to Pride and continues to be an earworm (also increasingly politically relevant given recent plot events). 

The "nananas" are ideally meant to be played on violin, as devised by Kathryn Wheeler (... but I can't play instruments so I just had to make do with making mouth sounds).

---

Lyrics:

[CHORUS]:
Avisena, Pride of the South 
Words of virtue falling from her mouth
Way-bringer,
       never linger, 
           fighting for her own
Avisena, let her name be known.

Segura born and caught in a storm 
Avisena fled the war
Swearing she would do all that she could
Although wounded to the core

[CHORUS] 

Hard times rolled in, she had lost much kin, 
But Avisena dried her tears 
When Senate called she stood tall and bold
Having put aside her fears

[CHORUS] 

Over the years as she served her peers
Lost Segura was reclaimed
But things were not through, there was work to do, 
Avisena was on her game

[CHORUS] 

Tons and tons of Lasambrians 
Were adrift and seeking lands 
Day after day she showed them The Way 
Did not fold to their demands

[CHORUS] (x2)

Avisena Pride Of The South (with nananas)

An original song by me for the Empire Larp setting.

This song was devised as a Freeborn (Brass Coast) funeral song.

---

Lyrics:

[CHORUS]:
Fire in our eyes 
Singing to the skies
Echoes from the wind and stars, 
the Labyrinth replies
Await the sunrise, Await the sunrise

A spark is born in shadow
Shedding but little light
The gloom will try to drown it
So it must learn to fight

[CHORUS]

In time the flame gets stronger
Hotter and brighter too
The red and gold and orange
Make an alluring hue

[CHORUS]

The heat and light have function
To leave behind a mark 
A forge makes arms and armour
Candles drive back the dark

[CHORUS]

The fuel won't last forever
Even a blaze will fade
Burning a little dimmer
But do not be afraid

[CHORUS]

Although our lives extinguish
The memories remain
And like the turn of seasons
We fall but rise again

[CHORUS]

Await The Sunrise

An original song by me for the Empire Larp setting.

The first completely original song I wrote! This was devised as a song for  performing the ritual "Tireless Hammer Rhythm".

---

Lyrics:

[CHORUS]:
Beat the Hammer	(thump) (thump)
Beat the Hammer	hoy!	hoy!
Beat the Hammer (thump) (thump)
Beat the Hammer	hoy!	hoy!

Beat the Hammer raise your voice
You don’t really have a choice
When the Hammer calls your name
You must heed or go insane

[CHORUS]

Beat the Hammer toil away
Work all night and work all day
Get the rhythm keep it up
Don’t stop till the sun comes up

[CHORUS]

Beat the Hammer do your best
There’s no time to take a rest
Keep your spirits soaring high
And the hours will just sail by

[CHORUS]

Beat the Hammer don’t relent
Push on through until you’re spent
Just keep going don’t give in
You must put the effort in

[CHORUS]

Beat the Hammer nearly there
And you’re still no worse for wear
Keep your concentration strong
You’ll be done before too long

[CHORUS]

Beat The Hammer

This is a filk by me of the Fever Ray song "I'm not done".

This was devised as a song to be sung in performing "Before the Throne of Estavus".

---

Lyrics:

Oh I kneel down before your throne
I sit, laying out my measures
Calling upon hearth and home
To help me send you these treasures

Turn to ashes
Turn to dust
As fuel for your
Fuel for your
All of it
Fuel for your forge

Red Orichalcum
And Beggar's Lye
I wonder what you're making and
What it is like

As you beat your anvil
Sparks are all around
We will swap our bounties
Do you hear the sound

One thing I know for certain
Oh I'm pretty sure
It's not over
I'll send more

Oh I kneel down before your throne
I sit, laying out my measures
Calling upon hearth and home
To help me send you these treasures

Before Your Throne

This an... original-ish (?) adaptation of a song by me for the Empire Larp setting.

Anyone with ears can tell that this is heavily based on that song from Brave, "Touch the Sky". The tune is basically the same, and the chorus has strong similarities, but the verse lyrics are original and the rhythm and general feel of it are their own thing. This is more of a bouncy sea shanty than a pretty flowing gaelic thingamajig.

Not sure how original I can claim it is... but hey, I'm responsible for this thing.

---

Lyrics:

[CHORUS]:
Want to be, on the sea
Sail away like sisters three
You and me, we are free
Board our ships and cross the sea

My wanderlust is burning
Though I love my family			
The horizon is a-calling	
My heart longs to be free

I linger at the dockyard
Where the sailors wave farewell
And the ones who are returning
Have such wondrous tales to tell

[CHORUS]

When distant winds are blowing
Not a single cloud in sight,
Foreign oceans sing and beckon, 
Reflections clear and bright.

I will forge a new adventure, 
And seize my destiny,
Set a course for fame and fortune,
Leave a shining legacy.

[CHORUS]

We all have our paths to follow
Just as sure as rain is wet
Though I’ve tasted joy and sorrow
There’s no room for regret

When I walk among my people
With my strong seafarer’s stance
I will know I’ve served my nation
And to celebrate I’ll dance

[CHORUS]

After all my lengthy travels
I’ll return to my own fold
With coffers full to bursting
And cargo in the hold

I will spread my wealth to many
And wherever I may roam
I will know it’s fine to journey
But it’s finer to come home

[CHORUS]

Cross The Sea

An original song by me for the Empire Larp setting.

I think it's fair to say this is my biggest hit at Anvil. Great fun to sing, and particularly when you divide the audience in two and have them point accusingly at each other as they sing "No it was you, that broke your word!" / "No it was you, that broke your word!"

It's also nice if everyone can join in the "Ai-ai-ai-ai!" I signal this is about to happen by raising my arms.

---

Lyrics:

[CHORUS]:
No it was you that broke your word
No it was you that broke your word
In the Brass Coast have you heard, have you heard
Written contracts are always preferred (clap clap)

Once I met a charming sailor
I'll admit we led each other on
Didn't stop to try and work out
What we wanted, for how long 
They thought it was burning love but
All I wanted was a fling
Now they've snuck aboard my ship and
Offered me a wedding ring
 
Ai ai ai ai!     	What have I done?
Looks like my troubles have only begun

[CHORUS]

I've a friend I meet in Anvil
See him maybe twice a year
Once he borrowed several mana
But we didn't make things clear 
Then we left it quite some time and
The conjunctions came and went
Now neither of us agree on
The amount of crystals lent
 
Ai ai ai ai!     	That stuff's not cheap
I'm so frustrated I could curse and weep

[CHORUS]

There's some fairly distant family
I get on with splendidly
I invited my dear auntie
To come stay a bit with me
But she's been here for a month now
When I only meant a week
Somehow I know I should tell her
But I'm feeling rather meek
 
Ai ai ai ai!     	I need my space
But in the meantime she's made this her base

[CHORUS]

When I needed to go travelling
There's some neighbours that I paid
Asking them to mind the house so
I could sail off for some trade
 
When I came back beds were slept in
All my stuff was on the floor
Wine cellar greatly depleted
I guess this means bloody war
 
Ai ai ai ai!     	I'm seeing red
I really wish I could kill them all dead
 
[CHORUS]
 
Ai ai ai ai!     	I hope you've learnt
Something from these tales of how I got burnt
 
[CHORUS]

Have You Heard (aka. The Contract Song)

NOT BY ME AT ALL! From the Empire Larp setting.

This is by Ebb and Tarl Summercrow (Navarr characters). I got this song off them quite some years ago and asked if it was okay to propagate its popularity and they said that was okay. They mostly stopped playing shortly after that.

Anyhow, I made a couple of changes of my own to the words and the original bards approved them - these now appear to be the best known lyrics as sung across Anvil.

This is best sung with people shouting out the names of the nations between the verses so that things are sung in a random order and the audience get to choose what gets sung next. Also people can try to keep track of whether you've done all ten yet or not.

---

Lyrics:

[CHORUS] We’re the heroes of the Empire and we’re here to save the day!

I am a Dawnish knight
They say I am a charmer
I’m useless in a fight
But you should see my armour!

[CHORUS]

I am a Nav-arr-i
I sneak around with daggers
I swing from tree to tree
They’ve stolen all our ladders!

[CHORUS]

I am a Varushkan
It’s scary where my house is
We’re haunted by this man
A Sovereign stole his trousers!

[CHORUS]

They call us Winter folk
We face the storm and thunder
We drink and fight and smoke
And tactically chunder!

[CHORUS]

I call the League my home
And banking is my business
Don’t default on a loan
Or you’ll be sleeping with the fishes!

[CHORUS]

I am a Highguard Lord
I lead my congregation
My best friend is my sword
I’ve got no imagination!

[CHORUS]

A Freeborn gal am I
A merchant and a sailor
My granny is still spry
For ten rings you can nail her!

[CHORUS]

I am from U-ri-zen
We like to build tall towers
Our heads are all shaven
We polish them for hours!

[CHORUS]

I am a Marcher lad
I like my pies with gravy
I’ve just become a dad
My pig’s just had my baby!

[CHORUS]

We’re Orcish legionnaires
We crush the opposition
Provoke us if you dare
You’ll need a good physician!

Heroes Of The Empire

An original song by me for the Empire Larp setting.

One of the Egregores of the Brass Coast (a sort of spirit of the nation), hired me to make a song about the Kohan (warriors without family who fight for the nation at large). This is what I came up with! Ideally this is sung as a sort of call and response, which gets faster and faster three times.

---

Lyrics:

We put on quite a show                  	Like Flame!
We'll burn a trail as we go              	Like Flame!
Setting battlefields all aglow            	Like Flame!
 
Kohan, Kohan, Kohan!
 
We're deadly and precise               	Like Glass!
We cut, we stab and we slice               Like Glass!
Sometimes we can be cold as ice 	Like Glass!
 
Kohan, Kohan, Kohan!
 
We fly with speed and glee             	Like Dust!
Our foes will scatter and flee          	Like Dust!
We offer no apology                        	Like Dust!
 
Kohan, Kohan, Kohan!
 
KOHAN, KOHAN, KOHAN!
 
(x3, slow, medium, and fast)

Kohan

An original song by me for the Empire Larp setting.

Written as a saaaaaad ballad after a shitshow of a battle where lots of people die, and the Brass Coast particularly lost a lot of fighters. My character was a survivor, however her paramour and many of her friends were cut down and eaten by sharks. It was VERY TRAUMATIC. 

This version of the song was recorded in a corridor with some nice acoustics, assisted by some friendly bards courtesy of a bard-jam we were having at the time. This song really doesn't have the right sort of solemnity to it unless you can get a bunch of people to sustain that low hum in the background for you.

---

Lyrics:

 [CHORUS]:
The Black Plateau screams   in your head and it seems
Like you’ll never get home  	and you’ll always be angry
So many have died             	you feel empty inside 
But you FIGHT and you FIGHT and you FIGHT 
ON THE PLATEAU             	On the Plateau
Oo-o-o-oh

Mmmmmmmm
I lost my Love…      	        at the battle of Spiral
Where we all knew…          	that we might meet our end
I turned and ran…               	for a chance at survival
Casting my eyes back in fear as the Heralds descended… descended…

[CHORUS]

Mmmmmmmm
We tried to save…              	a friend who was calling
Behind the lines…               	of Grendel and Sharks
I could not go on…              	but my Love kept on brawling
Stabbing and slashing and hacking and fighting but falling… falling…

[CHORUS]

Mmmmmmmm
All of my limbs…                 	were mangled and broken
When I awoke…                 	in Anvil that day
Riding the pain…                	my eyes red and swollen 
Thinking of all of the things that had been left unspoken … unspoken…

[CHORUS]

Mmmmmmmm
My memory stings…           	it churns and it races
Tainted with blood…           	and sweat and with tears
It’s like my mind…               	is full of the traces
Of that dark power its whispers and voices and phrases… phrases…

[CHORUS]

(repeat 1st verse + CHORUS quietly, then 1 last loud CHORUS)

On The Plateau

NOT BY ME AT ALL!

Sorry, I'm not really sure where this actually came from... I think it's a filk of some song, which me and my friends then made some further changes to... It's a Chinese whispers of a sing, basically.

I sing it at Empire because it sounds very Varushkan (which has things in common with a sort of fantasy version of Russia, I guess), but also it's kind of silly and dumb... it's better not to think too hard about it. 

The Varushkans have never spoken anything other than Imperial (English) so why they have a Russian accent, I don't know, but they do in the field, and also they commonly use Russian words like "da" and "nyet"... but also there is a foreign nation called Jarm, which is more like India than Russia, and they speak slavic languages there... so how... or why... and how those words are in this song and if it's appropriate in any way at all... I don't know. Probably not...?

DON'T THINK TOO HARD ABOUT IT! People seem to like the song, though, so I'll keep singing it, I guess.

---

Lyrics:

[CHORUS]: 
Thaaaaaat... minx... from Pinsk, I never shall forget
So young, so plump, I'm dreaming of her yet!
In her red babushka she was beautiful and gay
That minx from Pinsk, she stole my heart away!

The Varushkan steppes are cold and bare, they have no hearth fire
And when the winter blizzard blows you need a blazing pyre
The wind howls like sovereign host
But inside we're as warm as toast
We sit around the samovar, and this is what we sing

[CHORUS]

If I lived a thousand years, I'd not forget my Olga
The many happy hours we spent canoeing on the river
She would paddle, I would sing
And pluck the balalaika string
And the song I sang to her it always was the same
 
[CHORUS]
 
I was then her lover bold, she called me brave and daring
And she kissed me when I gave her gifts of pickled herring
When she saw them in the brine
'Twas then she swore that she'd be mine
It was so romantic that it makes me want to cry
 
[CHORUS]
 
Then there came a rival by the name of Stanislavsky
He took her out on winter nights, joy-riding in his droshky
When the winter turned to spring
He gave her a diamond ring
All my happiness was gone, it turned to black despair
 
[CHORUS]
 
If you want a happy life, take my advice tovarish
Never look at girls or even think of marriage
For just as you hear wedding bells
She runs off with someone else
Better you should cut your throat before that day arrives

[CHORUS]

The Varushkan Steppes

An original song by me for the Empire Larp setting.

My group, House Kalamar, create a publication called the Thrifty Squid. It's very popular on the field these days! 

As we go about and trade with people we investigate the prices that people are selling things for, and we create this leaflet which summarises the average of the prices that we found. We sell it for just one ring (the smallest currency there is) so that people can be well informed about what the scope of "normal" is in terms of prices, although of course people will charge whatever prices they like. Some people don't like that we do it, but mostly people think it's great and we always sell out.

Here's a song I wrote about it!

---

Lyrics:

[CHORUS]:
Hey ho, what do you know
If you've brought all your measures and ingots and thrones
And you've come to Anvil to trade and to bid
You'll prosper with the Thrifty Squid
Oh Squid
Oh Squid
The Thrifty Squid

The Thrifty Squid, made by House Kalamar
Noting down prices from Bourse and Bazaar
Printing the averages for your delight
So the perils of commerce won't bite
Oh bite
Oh bite

[CHORUS]

The Thrifty Squid only costs you one ring
And for that price oh what joy it will bring
Being informed is a string to your bow
When it's searching for bargains you go
Oh go
Oh go

[CHORUS]

The Thrifty Squid aims to help everyone
Making the trade game both easy and fun
Those new to Anvil will find it revered
'cause the prices in Anvil are weird
Oh weird
Oh weird

[CHORUS]

The Thrifty Squid does not dictate a price
Mizers & fraudsters would have you think twice
They do not like it when folk are aware
That the prices they're charging aren't fair
Oh fair
Oh fair

[CHORUS]

Oh Squid
Oh Squid
The Thrifty Squid

Thrifty Squid

An original song by me for the Empire Larp setting.

I devised this song as something that can be sung while casting the ritual "Winged Messenger". Quite a few people have now adopted this as their way of casting that ritual, so I'm pretty proud I've made an impact like that.

---

Lyrics:

[CHORUS]:
     I'll send this message
     flying like dust and sand
     Through realms of Autumn
     And straight into your hand
                    (into your hand)
                         (into your hand)

While I was out at sea
Casting my eyes around
I saw a great navy
And they were gaining ground
               (were gaining ground)
                    (were gaining ground)

[CHORUS]

Our speedy little boat
Was starting to careen
While I drafted a note
About what we had seen
               (what we had seen)
                    (what we had seen)

[CHORUS]

“Dear Freeborn Admiral
In case we don't get back
Please tell the Generals
We are under attack”
               (under attack)
                    (under attack)

[CHORUS]

As land came into sight
Corsairs were setting sail
All bruising for a fight
I knew they could not fail
               (they could not fail)
                    (they could not fail)

[CHORUS]

From what we had relayed
The Nation mobilised
So rather than invade
The threat was neutralised
               (was neutralised)
                    (was neutralised)

[CHORUS]

You never know just when
You'll need a messenger
So thank the Virtues for
The winged messenger
               (the messenger)
                    (the messenger)

[CHORUS]

Winged Messenger

This is a filk of the song "You Shall Go Out With Joy", which you may have sung as part of hymns at school. That's how I know it.

Anyhow, my version is about the sea and dolphins and trade (good for the Brass Coast in the Empire Larp setting)... whereas the original is loosely christian in nature and some trees clap their hands.

Also mine has hand gestures. I can't describe them easily so I should make a video one day. I devised this song as a way to cast the ritual "Lure of Distant Shores". You sing it over and over and over again, faster and faster, until it's a garbled mess and you can't reasonably keep going. It's better the more people you have.

---
Lyrics:

You shall go out with joy
and you’ll go forth on the sea
And the oceans and the waves shall break forth before you
and you’ll shout “ahoy” 
and the dolphins shall leap
and clap, and clap their hands

and the dolphins shall leap and clap their hands (x3)
and you’ll come back with coin

(Sung many times, each time progressively faster until you can’t go any faster and everything falls apart)

and you’ll come back with coin!

You Shall Go Out With Joy (aka. The Dolphin Song)

NOT BY ME AT ALL! This is by the Decemberists, however this gets sung a lot at Empire. This is a re-recording of my previous posted track, to replace a couple of incorrect lyrics.

Whilst some say it does not really fit with Imperial beliefs, it is reasonable to say that it is a cautionary tale about how revenge will consume a man. In the Empire vengeance (aka justice) is a false virtue and therefore considered somewhat heretical as a value. However there is a foreign nation (the Faraden) who LOVE justice, so I usually say this is a song I learnt while trading with the Faraden.

This version has been updated: "But, oh, what providence / What virtuous intelligence" is now sung "But what a fluke of chance / what fortunate circumstance"...

Please enjoy this sample of how I sing this song at Empire. Useful as reference for pacing etc. I like to sing it... theatrically.

---

Lyrics:

We are two mariners
Our ships' sole survivors
In this belly of a whale
Its ribs our ceiling beams
Its guts our carpeting
I guess we have some time to kill

You may not remember me
I was a child of three
And you, a lad of eighteen
But I remember you
And I will relate to you
Just how our histories interweave

At the time you were
A rake and a roustabout
Spending all your money
On the whores and hounds
(o-oh)

You had a charming air
All cheap and debonair
My widowed mother found so sweet
And so she took you in
Her sheets still warm with him
Now full with filth and foul disease

As time wore on you proved
A debt-ridden drunken mess
Leaving my mother
A poor consumptive wretch
(o-oh)

And then you disappeared
Your gambling arrears
The only thing you left behind
And then a magistrate
Reclaimed our small estate
And my poor mother lost her mind

Then, one day in spring
My dear sweet mother died
But, before she did
I took her hand as she, dying, cried:
(o-oh)

"Find him, Bind him
Tie him to a pole 
And break his fingers to splinters
Throw him in a hole until he
Wakes up naked
Clawing at the ceiling of his grave"
(o-oh)

It took me fifteen years
To swallow all my tears
Among the urchins in the street
Until a priory
Took pity and hired me
To keep their vestry nice and neat

But, never once in the employ
Of these virtuous men
Did I ever, once turn my mind
From the thought of revenge
(o-oh)

One night I overheard
The prior exchanging words
With a penitent whaler from the sea
The captain of his ship
Who matched you toe to tip
Was known for wanton cruelty

The following day
I set to sea with a privateer
And on the whisper of the wind
I could almost hear
(o-oh)

"Find him, Bind him
Tie him to a pole 
And break his fingers to splinters
Throw him in a hole until he
Wakes up naked
Clawing at the ceiling of his grave"
(o-oh)

Then came that fateful night
We had you in our sights
After twenty months at sea
Your starboard flank abeam
I was getting my crossbow clean
When came a rumbling from beneath

The ocean shook
The sky went black
And the captain quailed
And before us grew
The angry jaws
Of a giant whale                     
(O-OH!)

Don't know how I survived
The crew was all chewed alive
I must have slipped between his teeth
But what a fluke of chance!
What fortunate circumstance!
You should survive as well as me

It gives my heart great joy
To see your eyes fill with fear
So lean in close and I will whisper
The last words you'll hear         
(o-oh)

"Find him, Bind him
Tie him to a pole 
And break his fingers to splinters
Throw him in a hole until he
Wakes up naked
Clawing at the ceiling of his grave"
(o-oh)                                     [x 3] (quiet, medium, then loud and furious)

The Mariner's Revenge (revisited)

An original song by me for the Empire Larp setting.

This song was written to tell the story of Kethry, a Paragon of Pride from The Way of Virtue, the religion of the Empire setting.

---

Lyrics:

(BRIDGE 1)
Once upon a time
There existed a tribe
Who called themselves Kesh
And their leader was Kethry
They had many customs
And upheld their ways
Maintained their sense of Pride 

Among them it was said... 
That

(CHORUS) 
This is the way it has always been done
From the very first dawn to the final sunset
We know exactly who we are
WE ARE KESH AND WE ARE PROUD! (HEY!)

We are Kesh, and we-e-e are Proud
We are Kesh, and we-e-e are Proud

-

One day Kesh were bested by another tribe who's leader was Makin the Red
As the losers Kesh were then expected, to do as they said (CLAP)
Makin took the former lodge of Kethry and declared that this was now his base
Kethry moved into a humble dwelling, but she had a little smile upon her face

-

(BRIDGE 1)

(CHORUS) 

-

When Makin retired for the evening he expected feasting at his home
Tales of strength and of his many victories, but he was alone (CLAP)
Everyone had gathered around Kethry, sharing food and singing like the Kesh,
This was not the way of Makin's people, so he loomed enraged and this is what he said...

-

(BRIDGE 2)
Why do you persist
And your people resist
Being subsumed
By our conquering culture?
You are the vanquished
Just give up your ways
Lay down your foolish Pride

... And then Kethry said...
That 

(CHORUS) 

-

One year passed as Makin went on raiding, on his return the village was alight
With many torches arranged in a circle, people danced all night (CLAP)
This was not the procession he expected, even his own runners joined the dance
Makin tracked down Kethry in a temper, listen to me closely this is your last chance

-

(BRIDGE 2)

(CHORUS) 

-

When Makin came back from his next battle, he could not help but note people's style
He knew straight away just what was happening, it filled him with bile (CLAP) 
Clothes of Kesh were worn by everybody, and white feathers hanging from their spears
Kethry asked if he would like one too and, what he said did not bring music to her ears

-

(BRIDGE 2)

(CHORUS)

-

Three times now this had happened to Makin, where his people's ways had come to wane
Everyone took up the Kesh traditions, Kethry was to blame (CLAP)
He thought long and hard about the matter, finally he knew just what he would do
He came up to Kethry and he told her, I'm the one who has been conquered and not you

-

(BRIDGE 3)
So sing all you like
And feast all you like
Let me join your dance
And pass me that feather
My people and yours
Are now one and the same
United in our Pride 

... And then Makin said...
That

This is the way it has always been done
From the very first dawn to the final sunset
I know exactly who I am 
I AM AM KESH AND I AM PROUD! (HEY!)

I am Kesh, and I-i-i am Proud
I am Kesh, and I-i-i am Proud

...

(BRIDGE 1)

(CHORUS) 

We are Kesh, and we-e-e are Proud
We are Kesh, and we-e-e are Proud

We Are Kesh

I play Empire Larp (https://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/empire-wiki/Main_Page) and my character (Constanza) sings and writes songs in that setting. Here are some of my recordings.

Constanza i Kalamar i Guerra

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