Beggars and Sailors
Songs from Ryan D. Clements's The Maiden of Sea Sky

Album also available on
Spotify (free streaming): https://play.spotify.com/album/61p5jhAZa770kAD1DrLmGp
Bandcamp (pay anything or get it free): https://dannywiessner.bandcamp.com/album/beggars-and-sailors
Amazon (for purchase): http://amzn.com/B00U486K2A
iTunes (for purchase): https://itunes.apple.com/album/id972259622
...and anywhere else you happen to find it!

Lyrics: Ryan Clements
Tunes: Ryan Clements and Danny Wiessner
Arrangement: Danny Wiessner
Narration: Troy Baker (@troybakermusic)
Art: Pandamusk
Consultation and Creative Director: Ryan Clements
Vocals: Danny Wiessner, Tori Wiessner
Background Vocals: Sherrie Lee, Danny Wiessner
Guitar: Sam Labib, Chris Lee, Eric Wiessner
Banjo: Jacob Riley
Drums, Cajón: Eric Wiessner

Find "The Maiden of Sea Sky (The Story of Eras Book 2)" by Ryan D. Clements on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/The-Maiden-Story-Eras-Book-ebook/dp/B00IQ3V7M8

Beggars and Sailors

As our Christmas letter this year, Tori and I decided to record a song for you.

We also want to wish you all a wonderful Christmas, a blessed holiday season, and a new year full of joy, hope, and peace.

We love and appreciate each and every one of you so much. Thank you for being a part of our lives.

BandCamp

Danny and Tori's Christmas Letter

Singles

A parody of Anna Kendrick's rendition of "When I'm Gone" inspired by the Legend of Zelda video game series. "Ocarina of Time" for the Nintendo 64 was the inspiration for the lyrics and occasional ocarina cameo while "A Link To The Past" for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System stands behind most of the instrumental track. 

I'm incredibly happy to share this tune so shortly after the release of the highly acclaimed "A Link Between Worlds" for the Nintendo 3DS. I hope you enjoy the song and I'll see you in Hyrule!

iTunes

With A Song (A Zelda Parody Of "When I'm Gone")

Bandcamp

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (2013)

An excerpt from "The Maiden of Sea Sky (The Story of Eras Book 2)" by Ryan D. Clements:

Meeka's fingers began to play. Her lute called to the room with notes both strong and sweet, with a playful lilt she felt fitting for her first night of the tournament. She selected a well-loved ditty sung by common folk all across the southern plains. Considering the tremulous favor she had won with her introduction, she considered a simple and short performance was best. She began with Beggars Win the Day.

She sang.

—
Oh kings and lords, they count their coins and suffer through their lives, 
They prattle on about their woes, and blame it on their wives.
 
With ale in hand, and dagger too, they cry from dawn 'til dusk,
And see their foes in shadows, ink, and bookshelves grey with dust.
 
But not all men are born to weep and wallow in their wealth,
Alight with fortune's golden touch and everlasting health.
 
Instead we sing for men in rags who live the simple way.
Who needs a crown and scepter tall when beggars win the day?
—
 
Meeka let the last note ring out happily, her voice a proud exclamation and challenge to the room. The moment it ended, she bowed as deep as she could. And her heart swelled with the applause that greeted her. When she straightened up, she was met by a wall of clapping patrons, who whistled and smiled. A fine start.

Concept: Ryan Clements
Lyrics: Ryan Clements
Tune and Arrangement: Danny Wiessner
Consulting: Ryan Clements
Vocals: Tori Wiessner
Backup vocals: Tori Wiessner, Danny Wiessner
Guitar: Eric Wiessner
Cover Art: Pandamusk

Find "The Maiden of Sea Sky (The Story of Eras Book 2)" by Ryan D. Clements on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/The-Maiden-Story-Eras-Book-ebook/dp/B00IQ3V7M8

Updated: 02/16/15

Beggars Win The Day

Dynamite (8-bit) instrumental ("Game Girl" parody work in progress)

Concept, Text: Ryan Clements
Tune: Danny Wiessner
Narration: Troy Baker
Guitar: Chris Lee
Arrangement: Danny Wiessner and Chris Lee
Sound Design: Danny Wiessner
Cover Art: Pandamusk

Find "The Maiden of Sea Sky (The Story of Eras Book 2)" by Ryan D. Clements on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/The-Maiden-Story-Eras-Book-ebook/dp/B00IQ3V7M8

Updated: 02/16/15

Interlude 1 / Meeka's Fingers Begin to Play

Text by Oscar Hammerstein II
Tune by Richard Rodgers
Arrangement and Programming by Danny Wiessner
First half: Vocal Performance by Ren and Kota Wiessner, December 2022
Second half: Vocal Performance by Lavender (edited), Ren, and Kota Wiessner, December 2023

Edelweiss (2022, 2023)

Since Kota was born at 12:02am, "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear" seemed pretty appropriate this year.  Please have a listen - we hope you enjoy it!

Also, for a refresher on why the last verse is what it is, here's a link again to Tori's incredible birth story: http://community.babycenter.com/…/everything_went_wrong_my_…

Merry Christmas, everyone. We love you all so much.
~Danny and Tori

---

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,
From heaven's all-gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

As we approached the midnight hour,
My desperate heart grasping for hope,
I held the real and boundless fear
That I could lose them both.
That firstborn cry now in tribute stands
To that which the angels had called:
As He delivered my wife and child,
I know He saved us all.


It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
Text: Edmund Sears. Published in the Christian Register, 1849.
Tune: "Carol," composed by Richard Storrs Willis. 1850.

Additional verse written by Danny Wiessner

Arrangement/Production: Danny Wiessner
Vocals: Danny and Tori Wiessner

It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (2014)

A sonnet written by the very storyteller of Eras, himself, to introduce this work of Beggars and Sailors.

Text: Ryan D. Clements
Voice: Troy Baker
Production: Danny Wiessner

An Introduction

Concept, Text: Ryan Clements
Narration: Troy Baker
Sound Design: Danny Wiessner
Cover Art: Pandamusk

Find "The Maiden of Sea Sky (The Story of Eras Book 2)" by Ryan D. Clements on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/The-Maiden-Story-Eras-Book-ebook/dp/B00IQ3V7M8

Interlude 2

The Other Side (Midi Vox Version)

Written and produced for Pandamusk's "The Shadow Boxer"
Watch it here: https://youtu.be/ImC76aJhbYk

Bandcamp: https://dannywiessner.bandcamp.com/track/living-alive-feat-chris-dunleavy-2
...and more links coming soon!

(Remind me to buy aviator sunglasses and fingerless leather gloves.)

Written, arranged and produced by Danny Wiessner 
Guitar written and performed by Chris Dunleavy 
Vocals: Danny Wiessner 
Concept: Pandamusk and KindaFunny.com 
Shadow Boxer: Nick Scarpino 
Cover art: Pandamusk

---
Lyrics:
You're shadow boxing in the night. 

You wake up to gravity, 
Each day a chance to bring you down. 
A chance to bring you down. 

We all have our heroes, 
But where are they when you have hit the ground? 
You're on the ground. 
But now you're getting back in the saddle, the battle, 
You're shadow boxing in the night. 

A new fire within your eyes. 
Hard to kill that ember deep inside, 
And now it's burning loud. 
A new future in your sights. 
You want that action behind the camera and shining lights 
And all the lust of the crowd. 

Now you're a producer (slash) seducer 
(slash) a true survivor in the fight 
Against the darkness inside. 

You open your eyes. 
You look at this life we're living. 
The sights and the sounds - 
Today is a gift we're given. (We're given.) 
You're the champion, the edge of the knife, 
And the here and the now is when you're 
Living most alive. 

Now you're a producer (slash) seducer 
(slash) a true survivor in the fight 
Against the darkness inside. 

You open your eyes. 
You look at this life we're living. 
The sights and the sounds - 
Today is a gift we're given. (We're given.) 
You're the champion, the edge of the knife, 
And the here and the now is when you're 
Living most alive. 
...most alive. 
...most alive.

Living Alive (feat. Chris Dunleavy)

Together
by Danny Wiessner

Vocals: Danny Wiessner
Background vocals: Danny Wiessner, Tori Wiessner, Rory Stillson
Guitar: Rory Stillson

Together [Near-Final Mixdown]

By request, for my nice friends on the internet.

The World Is Saved (Instrumental Version)

Released on Christmas 2015, this song is a reflection on this year being Kota's first big Christmas, now that he's 17 whole months old.

Concept, tune, lyrics, arrangement and performance by Danny and Tori Wiessner

(Mix updated Dec 9, 2016)

---
First Christmases are full of lights forever brighter
Bringing joy to those for whom they're made to shine.
Experience points to these years of inspiration,
Brightest futures and creation of our Auld Lang Syne.

All last night it was raining white.
I'm thinking this is what 'cold' looks like.
I want my coat just looking at the door.
But there's something else coming down
Like all this fluff settin' on the town
And making it a little bit brighter than before.

Strings of lights advertise
That somebody brought a big tree inside
It's getting pretty obvious something's going on...
More fun stuff, every turn.
A little bit before I come to learn
That I've just started Christmas Level 1

It's all so cozy
bundled up and warm
An easy trophy
In spite of the controller feeling-- a little foreign

Gettin' points for everyone you know.
Bonus if you find mistletoe.
It's my merry Christmas Level 1

Gettin' points for everyone you know.
Bonus if you find mistletoe.
It's my merry Christmas Level 1

They're singin' Merry Christmas one and all.
They're singin' Merry Christmas one and all.
It's all so, so cheery, but even then I'm sure (They're singin' Merry Christmas one and all.)
That this is, is merely to prep me for the even cooler levels coming later. (They're singin' Merry Christmas.)

Gettin' points for everyone you know.
Bonus if you find mistletoe.
It's my merry Christmas Level 1

Now it's points for everyone you know.
Bonus if you find mistletoe.
It's my merry Christmas Level--
Walkin' in a wintery Christmas Level--
Have a merry Christmas Level 1

Christmas Level 1 (2015)

The World is Saved, reworked as a piano/vocal piece. A big thanks to Connor for asking about having piano-only music for his vocal performance of TWiS!

The World is Saved - Piano version

Backing for Pandamusk's "Guardians, Ho! Destiny X Thundercats" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4LpnhdumQA

Guardians (Destiny parody of the Thundercats Opening Theme)

Angels, from the Realms of Glory (2012)

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE BY THE AMAZING PANDAMUSK: https://youtu.be/CLTJT4LBj5I

Looking Up
Written by Danny and Tori Wiessner
Vocals: Danny and Tori Wiessner
Guitar: Chris Dunleavy
Arrangement, Programming: Danny Wiessner
Mixing: Anthony Razo
Mastering: Blake Bickel
Art: Pandamusk
Animation: Pandamusk

Written: April 2020
Released: June 12, 2021

Lyrics:
Would you look at that.
A midnight of delicate lights.
I wonder sometimes if they're drifting like I am.

There's all so many,
But there's still just so much space.
Can something so beautiful,
Inspiring,
Still feel a little bit isolated?

So I'm looking up, way out there - 
I see you tonight - 
To say thank you, all of you, just for being there.
Showing me that even when we're all out of sight
I still shimmer in the dark
As we're floating in the air.

Looking up, way out there - 
I see you tonight - 
To say thank you, all of you, just for being there.
Showing me that even when we're all out of sight
I still shimmer in the dark
As we're floating in the air.

(As we're floating in the air.)

I sit here in the dark struggling with self-worth,
Wrestling to find my value in these shadows of earth.
I lift my eyes to those who've always been there.
They don't know me,
But they've still been a part of my story,
And I know they're struggling and hurting,
Pushing on through fights that must be fought.
We're not alone in our burdens,
Though mine might be small while theirs is not.
But I'm here and you're there,
And you're not alone,
I'm not alone,
We're not alone.
So I look up and say:

Would you look at that.
A midnight of delicate lights.

(So I'm looking up, way out there - 
I see you tonight - 
To say thank you, all of you, just for being there.
Showing me that even when we're all out of sight)
I still shimmer in the dark
As we're floating in the air.

I still shimmer in the dark
As we're floating in the air.

We still shimmer in the dark
As we're floating in the air.

Looking Up

"Go / Beyond" is an anthem created in the spirit of IGN's Podcast Beyond, video games, anime theme songs, and saving the world. The amazing video by pandamusk was featured on the live 300th episode of Podcast Beyond.

You can download the track fo' FREE right here but that only works so many times each month. (I guess it's a bandwidth thing? Beats me.) The track'll be at iTunes, Amazon, etc. for convenience, but a name-your-price download can be had (also free by asking to pay $0.00) at the Bandcamp link above and below.

Lots and lots of love went into this project for awesome people like you. We hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening!

BEYOND!

Danny and Tori | 2-Player Co-op
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/artist/danny-wiessner/id379891550
BandCamp: http://dannywiessner.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tuanews
MyIGN: people.ign.com/tuanews
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tuanews

pandamusk
Art: http://ohsomusky.com/
MyIGN: people.ign.com/pandamusk
MyIGN Blog: www.ign.com/blogs/pandamusk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pandamusk

Eric Wiessner (drums) and Chris Dunleavy (electric guitar) can also be found at https://soundcloud.com/eric_wheez and https://soundcloud.com/chris-dunleavy - check 'em out!

>>Get it at Bandcamp!

Go / Beyond

Text by Horatio Spafford
Tune by Philip Bliss
Arrangement and Programming by Danny Wiessner
Vocal Performance by Kota Wiessner

It Is Well (2020)

A song that Tori wrote for our third son that we delivered stillborn at 20 weeks, two years ago today.

Happy heavenly birthday, Ari. We miss you.

Ari's Song

A tune inspired by the first Story of Eras, Ferius Foxfur and the Bottle of Violet. Clements paints a nighttime scene in which Ferius encounters the awe-inspiring and ember-flecked Ardere Fox on the edge of the woods. The fox leads him on a breathless chase through the forest toward an end that Ferius could never have guessed.

The vision of the entire set played out in my mind like something out of a Studio Ghibli film, projecting a chase more romantic and adventurous than hurried and frantic. The character half-clumsily bounds through the branches and roots in side-scrolling profile while the glowing embers of the Ardere Fox linger in the air and on the forest floor amidst the night's dark pallet.

In the same way that Ferius Foxfur and the Bottle of Violet stands as a sort of introduction to its successor, The Maiden of Sea Sky, "Chasing The Ardere Fox" stands to do the same here in Beggars and Sailors.

Concept: Ryan D. Clements
Tune and Arrangement: Danny Wiessner
Cajón: Eric Wiessner
Cover Art: Pandamusk

Find "The Maiden of Sea Sky (The Story of Eras Book 2)" by Ryan D. Clements on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/The-Maiden-Story-Eras-Book-ebook/dp/B00IQ3V7M8

Updated: 02/16/15

Danny and Tori - 2-Player Co-Op

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