Just a placeholder at the moment, but feel free to submit links to your favorite game-appropriate songs and poems! I’m attempting to expand my repertoire, and I’d much rather sing things people can sing along to than some random song that no one has heard of.
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Aliased in-game as “The Necromancer’s Lament”, I give you: “Live” by Paul & Storm.
Hard work &
sciencemagic are all I have to give
And all I’m asking in return…
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And while I am on the subject of songs stolen from Paul & Storm (so, so many songs) here is Raf’s favorite fae song from the old country, “The Irish Sing-along”:
A few noteworthy lyric localizations:
Though now I live
across the seain a different Realm, me thoughts they often roam
And he said, “Dear boy, release me, and I’ll bring ye all me gold
And sing to thee the secrets of theCeltsFae in days of old”
Edited To Add: I also usually sing “clurichaun” instead of “leprechaun”, for personal reasons.
I love to court the ladies fair,
Killarney to Colerainefrom Kresa down to Frain
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Oh and obviously “The Herring Song”, which we talk about singing more than we actually sing.
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Also “I’m A Rover”, aka “Rover of High Degree” (which is superior to all other rover songs with which you may be familiar, fight me.)
Edited To Add: I made so many replies in a row that Discourse started yelling at me. In future, I will try to remember to put multiple songs all in one post, so as to not spam notifications.
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Speak for yourself re: Herring Song.
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Maid on the shore: I would be ecstatic to have others know this song. Probably would have been helpful before today.
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“When The Old Dun Cow Caught Fire” is an under-appreciated classic.
Lyric changes and localizations of note:
“What’s up,” says Brown, “Have you seen a ghost? Or have you seen your Aunt Mariah?”
“Me Aunt Mariah be buggered!Fuck your Aunt Mariah”, says he, “The bleedin’ pub’s on fire!”
"Hold on, " says Brown, "Don’t do that! Y’can’t do that in here.
“Don’t wash your pants in the port wine tub, when we’ve gotGuinnessLothlan beer.”
Then there came to the old back door
the Vicar of the local church.a merchant with a heavy purse.
And when he saw our drunken ways, he began to scream and curse.
"Ah, you drunken sods! You heathen clods! You’ve taken to a drunken spree!
“You drank up all theBenedictineVelliar wine, and you didn’t save a drop for me!”
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Tom T Hall’s “I Like Beer” isn’t technically a shanty (in fact, it belongs unreservedly to country/western, a genre I usually can’t abide.) But it’s got great audience call and response that makes it good fun.
This audience is too genteel to echo, “He likes beer!” every other line of the chorus, and confine themselves only to the last line. But a group around a fire circle should never be so restrained.
Only one noteworthy lyric change, I think:
My wife often frowns when we’re out on the town
And I’m wearing a suit and a tieWearing clothes that are quite gentrified
She’s sipping vermouth and she thinks I’m uncouth
When I yell as the waiter goes by
(Technically, spoilers for the as-yet un-aired Adventure Time series finale.)
Time is an illusion that helps things makes sense
So we’re always living in the present tense
It seems unforgiven when a good thing ends
But you and I will always be back then
You and I will always be back then x3
Singing: will happen, happening, happened
will happen, happening, happened
And will happen again and again
Cause you and I will always be back then
If there was some amazing force outside of time
To take us back to where we were
And hang each moment up like pictures on the wall
Inside a billion tiny frames so that we could see it all
It would look like:
Will happen, happening, happened
Will happen, happening, happened
And will happen again and again
Cause you and I will always be back then
Cause you and I will always be back then
Cause you and I will always be back then
That’s why
You and I will always be best friends
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Thank you for the bump! I’m going to end up taking over song book publication, so continue your submissions. 
Tagging @Ralkurian for visibility.
The Diamond is a ship, me lads
For Salendale we’re bound
The quay it is all garnished
With weeping lovers 'round
Captain Thompson gives the order
To sail the ocean wide
Where the sun it never sets, me lads
Nor darkness dims the sky
(chorus)
For it’s cheer up me lads
Let your hearts sing with me
For the bonnie ship the Diamond
Goes a sailin’ 'cross the sea
Along the quay at Kresa
Our sweethearts stand around
Wi’ their cloaks all pulled around them
And the salt tears runnin’ down
Don’t you weep for me, my true love
Though you be left behind
For the rose will grow on Frain’s ice
Before we change our mind
Here’s a health to the battle standard
Four lovely golden keys
The other half with sun and stars
To sail upon the seas.
We wear a ring of silver
With a gleaming ruby too
When we get back to Kresa
We’ll hae sweethearts enou’
It will be bright both day and night
When the Diamond she comes home
Our hold filled up with trade, me lads
And money to our name
We’ll make the cradles for to rock
And the blankets for to tear
And every lover young and old says
“Welcome home, my dear”
Noted.
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An adaptation of an old Viking poem I found, but didn’t quite memorize well enough for this event to recite while on the line:
Up onto the overturned keel,
Clamber, with a heart of steel.
Cold is the ocean’s spray,
Your death is on its way.
With maidens you’ve had your way,
All must die one day!
These lyrics pretty much work unchanged.
When I was a child my mother
Would tuck me into bed
And each night as she kissed me
These are the words that she saidShe said don’t go to bed with strangers
Don’t play with the dead
Always keep your wits sharp
Like an axe inside the shed[chorus]
Yay diridiri day diridiri day
Yay diridiri day daydaday
Yiridaydayday yirididaydayday
Dayday dayday daydayWell, when I was just a schoolboy
My father, he spoke unto me
He said, boychick, my son
Don’t trust anyone
And remember that nothing is freeAnd the world is full of strangers
The world is full of dread
The world is full of sharpened wits
And millions of tears you will shed[chorus]
Well, when I was a young man
My professor at university
Said advice is corrupting
Don’t ever be trusting
Don’t show your emotion
Human suffering is an ocean
And it’s dark at the bottom of the seaAnd there’s no such thing as a stranger
We’re all equally backwards and wrong
Sharpen axes, not wits
Bones are broken by sticks
And you never be free till you’re strong[chorus]
Well, young men grow older
And the world, it gets colder
Though it never was warm to begin
Don’t let down your guard
For the reaper works hard
And he will not take pause till you’re deadNow I’m old and I’m rusty
My troubles like sand on a beach
They can’t be calculated
I always have waited
For something just out of reachAnd I to myself am a stranger
My heart is an island of lead
My world is resounding
With miseries abounding
There’s only one thing to be saidI’ll say
[chorus]
“Peleset” songs (may need adaptations)
Leave Her Johnny Leave Her.
William Taylor
More cannon verses to “What Do You Do with a Mystic” song.
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You reminded me to edit up Willie McBride to fit. Thanks!
Years ago, for one of Narissa’s parties, I worked up this version of “Close Every Door to Me” - it’s not a sea song, but I think it’s pretty.
The Felicitoro Prisoner
Close every door to me,
Hide all the world from me
Bar all the windows
And shut out the lightDo what you want with me,
Hate me and laugh at me
Darken my daytime
And torture my nightIf my life were important I
Would ask will I live or die
But I know the answers lie
Far from this realmClose every door to me,
Keep those I love from me
I will be dauntless
Whatever befalls
For I know that my family
Will always be true to me
And that’s why I’m proud to be
FelicitoroClose every door to me,
Hide all the world from me
Bar all the windows
And shut out the lightSo crush up my ruby
And shatter the band
Melt down the silver
Forget who I am.
I do not matter,
I’m only one person
My name shall live on
Through the family I have.If my life were important I
Would ask will I live or die
But I know the answers lie
Far from this realmClose every door to me,
Keep those I love from me
Still I won’t tell you
What you want to know
For I know that my family
Will always be true to me
And that’s why I’m proud to be
Felicitoro
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Pirate Jenny. Originally from the Threepenny Opera. I’m particularly fond of the Shilpa Ray version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDuEy-NX4tY) and the Nina Simone version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyUruSCMhu8).
Posting lyrics of the Nina Simone version:
You people can watch while I’m scrubbing these floors
And I’m scrubbin’ the floors while you’re gawking
Maybe once ya tip me and it makes ya feel swell
In this crummy Southern town
In this crummy old hotel
But you’ll never guess to who you’re talkin’.
No. You couldn’t ever guess to who you’re talkin’.Then one night there’s a scream in the night
And you’ll wonder who could that have been
And you see me kinda grinnin’ while I’m scrubbin’
And you say, “What’s she got to grin?”
I’ll tell you.There’s a ship
The Black Freighter
With a skull on its masthead
Will be coming inYou gentlemen can say, "Hey gal, finish them floors!
Get upstairs! What’s wrong with you! Earn your keep here!
You toss me your tips
And look out to the ships
But I’m counting your heads
As I’m making the beds
Cuz there’s nobody gonna sleep here, honey
Nobody
Nobody!Then one night there’s a scream in the night
And you say, “Who’s that kicking up a row?”
And ya see me kinda starin’ out the winda
And you say, “What’s she got to stare at now?”
I’ll tell ya.There’s a ship
The Black Freighter
Turns around in the harbor
Shootin’ guns from her bowNow
You gentlemen can wipe off that smile off your face
Cause every building in town is a flat one
This whole frickin’ place will be down to the ground
Only this cheap hotel standing up safe and sound
And you yell, “Why do they spare that one?”
Yes.
That’s what you say.
“Why do they spare that one?”All the night through, through the noise and to-do
You wonder who is that person that lives up there?
And you see me stepping out in the morning
Looking nice with a ribbon in my hairAnd the ship
The Black Freighter
Runs a flag up its masthead
And a cheer rings the airBy noontime the dock
Is a-swarmin’ with men
Comin’ out from the ghostly freighter
They move in the shadows
Where no one can see
And they’re chainin’ up people
And they’re bringin’ em to me
Askin’ me,
“Kill them NOW, or LATER?”
Askin’ ME!
“Kill them now, or later?”Noon by the clock
And so still by the dock
You can hear a foghorn miles away
And in that quiet of death
I’ll say, “Right now.
Right now!”Then they’ll pile up the bodies
And I’ll say,
“That’ll learn ya!”And the ship
The Black Freighter
Disappears out to sea
And
On
It
Is
Me
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