Songs collated from many artists from, about, or related to the Empire setting

Empire Songs

The sounds of Anvil

A collection of some of my favourite Empire tunes 

A Marcher, a Marcher! Empire LARP playlist

Navarr and Empire

ANVIL BITCHES RAHH

LARP

larp

Empire LARP

A song made hastily for Profound Decisions' Empire LRP festival - celebrating Taric Thornsbane's famous drink!

Woeful-looking but wonderful-tasting: the 'Bregasland Brew'! Fresh from the heart of the Marches.

LYRICS

Here's a drink there's one for everyone,
Here's a drink there's one for everyone,
Here's a drink there's one for everyone,
One Bregasland Brew.

Here's a drink there's one for everyone,
Here's a drink there's one for everyone,
Here's a drink there's one for everyone,
One Bregasland Brew.

Give me one more drink,
One more song, one more dance and then I'm through!
While the nobles pine for the Dawnish wine,
They long for the Bregasland Brew!

Give me one more drink,
One more song, one more dance and then I'm through!
While the nobles pine for the Dawnish wine,
They long for the Bregasland Brew,
Oh they long for the Bregasland Brew!

Here's a drink there's two for everyone,
Here's a drink there's two for everyone,
Here's a drink there's two for everyone,
Two Bregasland Brews.

Here's a drink there's two for everyone,
Here's a drink there's two for everyone,
Here's a drink there's two for everyone,
Two Bregasland Brews.

Give me one more drink,
One more song, one more dance and then I'm through!
While the nobles pine for the Dawnish wine,
They long for the Bregasland Brew!

Give me one more drink,
One more song, one more dance and then I'm through!
While the nobles pine for the Dawnish wine,
They long for the Bregasland Brew,
Oh they long for the Bregasland Brew!

Here's a drink there's three for everyone,
Here's a drink there's three for everyone,
Here's a drink there's three for everyone,
Three Bregasland Brews.

Here's a drink there's three for everyone,
Here's a drink there's three for everyone,
Here's a drink there's three for everyone,
Three Bregasland Brews.

Give me one more drink,
One more song, one more dance and then I'm through!
While the nobles pine for the Dawnish wine,
They long for the Bregasland Brew!

Give me one more drink,
One more song, one more dance and then I'm through!
While the nobles pine for the Dawnish wine,
They long for the Bregasland Brew,
Oh they long for the Bregasland Brew,
Oh they long for the Bregasland Brew!

WAHEY

Bregasland Brew

A song written for William Guildenstern: the soon to be folk hero and legend of the live action roleplaying system 'Empire'.

LYRICS

I'll entreat you to a tale about a name you might recall,
Of a man named William Guildenstern, a hero to us all.
Not one detail here is wasted, not one detail's overblown,
Let my voice become your chisel as we write this down in stone.

Well he started as a blacksmith when he marched away from Dawn,
Fought the minotaurs in Skarsind and with grace he slew them all.

Then he joined up the militia, seven years he served to tell,
Of when he nabbed the bloody butcher and all of Temeschwar as well!

Then assassins came to bleed him, all attempts they tried did fail,
He's a man who's duelled trogoni and has lived to tell the tale.

He's a senator, a skirmisher, all brains as well as brawn,
And got so much damn charisma that he's even liked in Dawn!

Woah, oh ho!
I sing of William Guildenstern!
Senator and skirmisher, a league unto his own.
Woah, oh ho!
I sing of William Guildenstern!
A just and true commander, he's a hero to us all!

Fought in Skarsind, unto Holberg, unto Mournwold, unto Karsk,
Even fought a Jotun war-prince and he beat him on his arse!

Battled monsters, battled dragons, battles far beyond belief,
Defeated ogres in a hurricane in nothing but his briefs!

Guildenstern is strong as stone and no assault can pierce his hide,
Caught a falling star within his chest, and still he didn't die!

Took a troll curse to his mind so that the Marcher-folk would thrive,
Like a blackened blade it ran him through, but Guildenstern survived!

Woah, oh ho!
I sing of William Guildenstern!
Senator and skirmisher, a league unto his own.
Woah, oh ho!
I sing of William Guildenstern!
A just and true commander, he's a hero to us all! X2

William Guildenstern!

I Sing Of William Guildenstern

A song for Profound Decisions Empire festival event that celebrates one of the faction's newest generals: Amberlain P Black, the Fire of the Marches! Long may she lead!

LYRICS

I sing of a Marcher,
Hi Ho! Hi Ho!
Of a Marcher who walked out from Dawn.

With a sword primed for battle,
And flames in her hair,
She’s the fire of the Marches oh ho!

I sing of a soldier,
Hi ho! Hi ho!
One courageous and dangerous and strong.

Punched the teeth out and ogre,
And bashed twenty more!
She’s the fire of the Marches oh ho!

She’ll fight for the Marches,
She sings and she dances,
With hair made of summer realm flame.
If you don’t know her now,
Well I’ll tell you her name is:

Amberlain! Amberlain!
Amberlain Black!
Strength in my arm and the sword at my back.
Amberlain! Amberlain!
Amberlain Black!
She’s the fire of the Marches, oh ho!

I sing of the general,
Hi ho! Hi ho!
I sing of the general hi ho!

Who’ll fight back the Jotun,
And free Bregasland!
She’s the fire of the Marches, oh ho!

I sing of the general,
Hi ho! Hi ho!
Who gets victory clean from defeat.

She’s knocked out the Grendel,
Put slavers to sleep,
She’s the fire of the Marches, oh ho!

She’ll fight for the Marches,
She sings and she dances,
With hair made of summer realm flame.
If you don’t know her now,
Well I’ll tell you her name is:

Amberlain! Amberlain!
Amberlain Black!
Strength in my arm and the sword at my back.
Amberlain! Amberlain!
Amberlain Black!
She’s the fire of the Marches, oh ho!

She’ll free us from evil when all the while risking her neck.
She’s headstrong enough to keep Guildenstern firmly in check.
She’ll fight for the Marches,
She sings and she dances,
With hair made of summer realm flame.
If you don’t know her now,
Well I’ll tell you her name is:

Amberlain! Amberlain!
Amberlain Black!
Strength in my arm and the sword at my back.
Amberlain! Amberlain!
Amberlain Black!
She’s the fire of the Marches, oh ho!

The Fire Of The Marches

The Black Vigil patrols the dark roads of Bregasland, keeping the land safe from monsters and men alike - always keep your lantern lit!

LYRICS

Take a walk down to Bregasland,
Down to my home, that I do defend
Don't be hasty, go play it safe,
And seek the lamplight, that it will light your way.

And let the lantern light your way,
Let the lantern light your way,
Let the lantern light your way,
Let the lantern light your way.

Take a walk down to Bregasland,
The lines are drawn out; where do you stand?
With the Marchers on this chosen land?
Or with Mathilde and her Jotun friends?

Come the nightfall, come the fear,
Seek the lamplight, oh the Vigil's near.

And let the lantern light your way,
Let the lantern light your way,
Let the lantern light your way,
Let the lantern light your way.

Keep the light on, keep the light on,
To light your way, light your way yeah.
Keep the light on, keep the light on,
To light your way, light your way yeah.
Keep the light on, keep the light on,
To light your way, light your way yeah.

Take a walk down to Bregasland...

Lantern Light Your Way

Nobody fights like the Marchers do: fully armed and filthy.

LYRICS

I’m a fighting Marcher and a Marcher I’ll remain,
Crawling out the mud with but a billhook to my name,
Apple in my pocket just in case I meet the grave,
Fully armed and filthy as we march into the fray.

Oh!
Drag the field, sow the steel,
Take the Marcher way.
Drag the field, sow the steel,
Take the Marcher way.
Fully armed and filthy as we march into the fray
Oh!
Step in time, bills in line,
March into the fray!

I’m a fighting Marcher and a Marcher I’ll remain,
Grinding up the Jotun and Mathilde’s traitor knaves,
Blood will feed the barley and the barley’s what we crave,
Fully armed and filthy as we march into the fray.

Oh!
Drag the field, sow the steel,
Take the Marcher way.
Drag the field, sow the steel,
Take the Marcher way.
Fully armed and filthy as we march into the fray
Oh!
Step in time, bills in line,
March into the fray!
Oh!
Drag the field, sow the steel,
Take the Marcher way.
Drag the field, sow the steel,
Take the Marcher way.
Fully armed and filthy as we march into the fray
Oh!
Step in time, bills in line,
March into the fray!

I’m a fighting Marcher and a Marcher I’ll remain,
Fighting through our enemies and fighting through the pain,
We’ve got all to lose, but we’ve also got all to gain,
Fully armed and filthy as we march into the fray

Oh!
Drag the field, sow the steel,
Take the Marcher way.
Drag the field, sow the steel,
Take the Marcher way.
Drag the field, sow the steel,
Take the Marcher way, oh!
Drag the field sow the steel,
Take the Marcher way.

Oh!
Drag the field, sow the steel,
Take the Marcher way.
Drag the field, sow the steel,
Take the Marcher way.
Fully armed and filthy as we march into the fray
Oh!
Step in time, bills in line,
March into the fray! X2

I’m a fighting Marcher and a Marcher I’ll remain!

Drag The Field

Commission for Marcus Vine to commemorate a legend of the Empire LRP game setting: Tomothy Crowle and his fighting Hedgehogges - long may they fight the good fight.

LYRICS

My mother was a soldier,
My father was a drunk,
He told the old landlord to pour it faster.
Well it would be my luck,
That the two of them would fuck,
Now I’m a Marcher soldier and a bastard!

Singing aye, aye, aye,
Yeah we’ll fight until we die
And our enemies are gone forever more
(Forever more!)
Stacking bodies in the mud,
For the nation that we love,
We are the fighting Hedgehogges,
The bloody pricks of war!

My mother came to see me,
In the camp one day,
She’s served twenty years yeah she’s a sergeant.
My mate said she was hot,
I said you better not!
She’ll tie you up and use you for a target!

Singing aye, aye, aye,
Yeah we’ll fight until we die
And our enemies are gone forever more
(Forever more!)
Stacking bodies in the mud,
For the nation that we love,
We are the fighting Hedgehogges,
The bloody pricks of war!

The most beautiful shaft,
That I did ever see,
I dreamt that one day I’d get my hands on it.
I finally got my way,
I grasp it every day,
It’s the only one for me and it’s my billhook!

Singing aye, aye, aye,
Yeah we’ll fight until we die
And our enemies are gone forever more
(Forever more!)
Stacking bodies in the mud,
For the nation that we love,
We are the fighting Hedgehogges,
The bloody pricks of war! X2

Hedgehogge War Song

A cover of the original song Bregasland Brew, this version sees Rhaego, an extravagant Freeborn, tackle the song in his own style - more dramatic, more exotic, and more romantic.

Commissioned for Stu Lennon who also provided a great vocal performance on this track.

The "Rhaegasland" Brew [Cover]

This is a song for the Profound Decisions' live-roleplay system Empire.

This was recorded at my home.  The percussion and guitar were meant to be guide tracks only, but I liked the sound of the track with them included, so I left them in this version.

I also had a lot of fun with the backing vocals for this song and Navarr Running Song.  I even created characters in my head for the four singers  with very different voices, because... you know... roleplayer.  I think doing this helped to keep the sound ugly and brutal.

Call
As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

Response 1 (repeated after each line)
As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

Calls
As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

In the day or in the night we take our victory.
In the dark or in the light we're running through the trees.

Sure and swift, our arrows fly.
Upon our spears, all will die.

Know no mercy, heed no plea.
You cannot betray your enemy.

The blood will flow!

Response 2 (repeated after each line)
The blood will flow!

Calls
The blood will flow!

From the wounds of our foes!
From the wounds of our foes!

Their guts we'll spill!
With every kill!

KILL! KILL! KILL!
KILL! KILL! KILL!

As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

Response 1 (repeated after each line)
As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

Calls
As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

Know no mercy, heed no plea.
You cannot betray your enemy.

As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.
As Thorn. As Thorn. Navarri fight as Thorn.

Thorn Battle Cadence

Dig your heels in and fight hard for what you deserve.

LYRICS

I see smoke within your hearts,
And I see courage, I see fear.
Through the gate and unto battle,
For the lives that you hold dear,

This is my call - The call to arms,
This is my call - The call to arms,

Unto dust and and unto violence,
We will give them no reprieve,
Hold the line now, come together,
For the Empire we believe!

This is my call - The call to arms,
This is my call - The call to arms,

Hold the line on the field,
Hold together, never yield and,
Dig your heels in, oh yeah,
We're digging down!
We're digging down!

Nations come together to spill blood for shared belief,
When the council disregards us we will stand and grit out teeth,

This is my call - The call to arms,
This is our call - The call to arms,

They can talk of grace and virtue while we're broken on the wheel,
They cans tack the coins in Anvil as we die out in the field,

But we still go - We go to war,
This is our call - The call to arms

Hold the line on the field,
Hold together, never yield and,
Dig your heels in, oh yeah,
We're digging down!
Watch the cold enemy,
Come and break on my belief,
Dig your heels in, oh yeah,
We're digging down!
We're digging down...

You can push me til I'm broken,
You can cut me and I bleed,
You can beat me, you can break me,
But you won't take my belief!

I won't give up, I won't give in,
We're digging down, we're digging in
(x4)
We're digging down, we're digging in
(x7)
We're digging down!

Digging Down

A song for solemn farewells.

LYRICS

Sail on, sail on, gentle brother
Let a lantern light your way.
Now you don't have to fight any longer,
And your debts have all been paid.

So go on to the maze, you'll be welcomed
As the hero you became.
And your soul in my heart lives forever,
And I'll I never let you fade.

So sail away a lonely day
Until we meet, we meet again,
O sail away unto your calling,
O sail away
(x2)

I know in my bones there's an answer,
For the reason we're undone.
And I still hear your voice in a promise,
That you'll miss me when I'm gone.

But in life we still remain, to cast away the pain
And fall into the hole you left behind,
And I think "What would you say?"
With a smile upon your face,
Praying that we meet again someday.

So sail away a lonely day
Until we meet, we meet again,
O sail away unto your calling,
O sail away
(x2)

And we'll meet again someday,
When a lantern lights your way.

Sail Away

Brass Coast original composition. A cappella. Andalus/Moorish/Romani inspired.

Oranseri

Freeborn filk of Bear McCreary’s arrangement of “All Along The Watchtower” from the FANTASTIC series “Battlestar Galactica”.

All Along The Watchtowers

Freeborn filk of Lynrd Skynrd’s “Free Bird”.
Harp instrumental by Tiffany Envid.

Falcon on the Wing

Big Ole Boy is a state of mind - it's hard growing up...

LYRICS

When I was young I was stubborn and brave,
I dreamed to be big and be strong.
The call of adventure strong in my veins,
Even if I was too young.

But my mother she sat and she told me,
This world is much bigger than you.
I said to my mother, I'm set in my ways,
And one day she will see the truth.

I'll be a big ole
A big ole boy,
Oh yes I'll be a big ole
A big ole boy
Oh yes I'll be a big ole
A big ole boy
Oh yes I'll be a big ole
A big ole boy!

So I grew up and went out on the road
To make of the world what I may.
I'll drink and I'll fight and I'll reach for the heights,
That a man of my stature can make.

But my mother would always remind me,
That life comes with burdens to bear,
But I will be strong with a will to go on,
So I turn to my mother and say:

I'll be a big ole
A big ole boy,
Oh yes I'll be a big ole
A big ole boy
Oh yes I'll be a big ole
A big ole boy
Oh yes I'll be a big ole
A big ole boy!

Now that I'm old I've a place of my own,
And my youth it seems so far away.
I still hear the things my mother would say,
Even though she's long passed away.

Now I know now of life's obligations,
And I feel the burden of proof,
As time marches on I'll try to be strong,
And right all the wrongs of my youth.

Because...
I'll be a big ole
A big ole boy,
Oh yes I'll be a big ole
A big ole boy
Oh yes I'll be a big ole
A big ole boy
Oh yes I'll be a big ole
A big ole boy!

Journey On

Big Ole Boy

A song for star-crossed lovers, will-they wont-theys and passing ships in the night.

LYRICS

I met with a cambion
Was she Marcher or a Freeborn?
I don't know.

She looked in disguise,
But still her eyes invited me,
To see her show.

She told me she was leaving then she'd gone
If don't find the words to say then I would sing this song:

Come my love let's away together,
Dance all night for the world to see,
Tip our tankards in every bar,
So come, come and run away with me!

We'll up Highguard, down to Wintermark,
Then hit Navarr where the drink's on me
Take my hand 'cause the night's not over,
Come, come and run away with me!

I asked her "what's your poison?"
She said "Something with a taste you can't ignore"

I asked her what's her fancy
She said "Something that'll leave me wanting more"

She told she me was leaving then she'd gone
If I don't tell her how I feel, I'll never live this down.

Come my love let's away together,
Dance all night for the world to see,
Tip our tankards in every bar,
So come, come and run away with me!

We'll up Highguard, down to Wintermark,
Then hit Navarr where the drink's on me
Take my hand 'cause the night's not over,
Come, come and run away with me!

I'll never live this down...

Come my love let's away together,
Dance all night for the world to see,
Tip our tankards in every bar,
So come, come and run away with me!

We'll up Highguard, down to Wintermark
Then hit Navarr where the drink's on me
Take my hand 'cause the night's not over,
Come, come and run away with me!

Come And Run Away With Me

This song is written for and by the regulars of the drunken goose

The Drunken Goose

This is a song for the Profound Decisions' live-roleplay system Empire.

This was recorded at my home. I need to add bass drum and some more guitars, but I wanted to show the work in the progress.

Lyrics:

Wait, silent, and still.
Kneel, watching, ready for the kill.
Feel, the forest, beneath you.
Wait, we're holding, hidden from view.

It's time. There's a sign, from the left,
And we're moving.
Rise, from the ground, with no sound,
And we're making our way.
And we're picking up pace.
The touch, on your skin, of the leaves,
As they brush past your face
And we're picking up pace
Aware, the front lines, of both sides,
Have begun to engage,
But we're moving,
And we're sneaking,
And we're flanking.

The crunch, of a twig, on the floor,
It seems deafening.
The whip of the trees on our sides
But we've not been seen yet,
But we're picking up pace.
Catch, the first sight, on the right,
As their moving in place.
And we're picking up pace.
To stop, and disrupt, interrupt,
All their strategy and planning,
And we're moving,
And we're running,
And we're flanking.
Flanking.

Charge! We're running.
Whistling wind as the arrows are flying.
Charge! We're running.
Screaming out threats as the bloodlust is filling,
Our minds.
And we're picking up pace.
The fear, in their eyes, as their caught, by surprise, 
As we're running, 
And we're leaping
And we're bursting out the wood,
Spears colliding.

Duck, to the left, block the right.
Keep on moving.
Thrust, to the chest, and their lives,
You have taken away.
And they can't match our pace.
Weaving our way, through their lines,
Bringing death in our wake.
And we're picking up pace.
Sever, and break and dismember and take
Now we're leaving.
And we're running.
And we're breathing.
And returning to our wait...

...silent, and still.
Kneel, watching, ready for the kill.

Flank Attack From The Forest

A song to remind the Navarr that we have had great victories in Liathaven and we will one day again. Big thanks to The Norths for backing vocals/shouting ;) and backing vocals & drumming from Chris North.
IC names will be edited in when I know the spellings of them all...

7000 Thorns (original)

Recorded on my phone because my PC was being a dick. Very basic recordings which I hope to replace at some point soon. All lyrics and melodies are my own, but the chords, rhythm structure and rhythm for Rise Up was heavily inspired by 'Believer' by Imagine Dragons. It's not a direct filk, exactly, but I certainly can't claim it as completely original.  More songs will follow as I complete the songbook. 

From an RP perspective, there is a reasonable chance that you could have heard these performed as Tarik wanders the trods and performs in taverns to pay his way.

Wheel Keeps Turning (Prosperity)

Sing For The Mark (Pride)

Rise Up (Ambition)

Nowhere I'd Rather Be (Loyalty)

Ambient recordings from the larp Empire, by Profound Decisions

Empire 22

Last of my Striding

Ambient recordings from the larp Empire, by Profound Decisions.

Original song by Idwyn Splitroot (Gabrielle Falquero).

Call to the Labyrinth

Cover of the track - Jenny Of Old Stones by Florence + The Machine, 
as heard in Game Of Thrones.

Jenny Of Old Stones - Game Of Thrones

New songs debuted at Empire LRP's E1 event, 2019

Where Do You Stand (Rage)

A song about Navarri oath tradition, including one of my own oaths.

Painted

written some 4 years ago on my way to my first empire this is recording in progress of a song im very proud of.

Doing the 9

Work in progress.  Lyrics may change.   Will probably re-record and re-mix bits. This is version 4.

Lyrics:

Intro
We run fast and we stride,
And we run fast and we hunt,
And we run fast and we strike,
And we run fast and they hit the ground.
(repeat)

Chorus
We run and we… STRIDE!
(repeat)

Verse 1
Navarri, Grey Pilgrims, the 
time is soon nearing to stride.

(For the) feel of the trods, grants us
Magical purpose and pride.

When we,
walk with our stridings, we,
Fulfill a driving need,
To see our destiny,
End the Vallorn.

(Each) Morning we rise, and we’re
Revitalised,
And headily cry to the sky...

Chorus

Verse 2
(As we) cross the whole Empire there’s,
so much to learn and to see.

(Like the) Tombs of Necropolis
Witness our shared history

Or maybe we’ll journey far,
Into the Northern dark,
Well beyond Volodmartz,
Through Otkodov 

We fear not The Mallum, nor
Kalsea’s Jotun, so
Muster your courage and pride!

Chorus

Verse 3 (extended)
When the Bayous of Therunin,
Urge us to go out and roam…

When the Gold groves of Miaren,
Wave us good luck on the road…

Let’s go to Medruga.
Tassato, Segura,
to Weirwater, Semmerholm,
to Bastion.

To Kahraman and Bregasland
and on to Temeschwar  
To Kallavesa, Miekarova,
Casinea.  Still we’re roving 

North from Hercynia ,
West from Liathaven,
East from Brocéliande.
We walk the trods,

Through… Feroz, Reikos, Sarvos, Karov
Astolat or down to Morrow,
Sermersuaq, Hahnmark, Anvil
Ossium and all The Barrens

Mitwold, Mournwold, Upwold, Spiral
Skarsind, Holberg, Zenith, Redoubt,
Karsk.

Chorus x2

Outro
We run fast and we stride,
And we run fast and we hunt,
And we run fast and we strike,
And we run fast and they hit the ground.
We run fast and we stride
We run… and stride...stride...stride…

Stride

Award winning composer, sound designer and multi-instrumentalist based in Wiltshire, England - Silgor designs sound and music for use in television, film and video games.

Whilst adept at synthesiser programming and song writing in several genres, he is best known fantasy orchestral soundtracks and as a pioneer of "medieval tavern rock". His latest music offerings come include the album "Journey On" which helped to earn him the "Bard of the Year" award at the 2024 UK LARP awards following support from music and fantasy fans.