Feb 2022 filk
Very rough demo for this one because I promised my bard I'd get it to her as the result of a lore check!! I'd like to do a better recording with more variation in the instrumentation (maybe I need to buy a drum? In my head this definitely has a drum track).
Anyway, this is some background on why bardic magic was Illegal during a certain era of my setting's history.
Right outside the city walls
They spied a stranger passing there
And those that heard & those that saw
They all cried out, “Beware, beware!
“For we have heard of stranger men
Who carry with them harps of bone
And they can bid the mountains weep
And draw forth blood from cobblestones
And we have heard of stranger men
Who carry with them drums of lead
And they can call up bones to dance
And make the earth give up its dead
And we have heard of stranger men
Who carry with them lyres of glass
And they can lull the stars to sleep
With dreams and nightmares unsurpassed.”
“Well I have not a harp of bone
And I have not a drum of lead
And I have not a lyre of glass
Nor any such,” the stranger said.
“I have nothing but my tongue
So ope’ the doors and let me in!”
Right outside the castle walls
They spied a stranger standing there
And those that heard and those that saw
They all cried out, “Beware, beware!
“For we have heard of stranger men
Who carry with them silver horns
And they can make a warrior bold
Of any body ever born.
And we have heard of stranger men
Who carry with them crystal bells
And they can bid salt earth to flower
And conjure fruit from cockleshells
And we have heard of stranger men
Who carry pipes of living weeds
And they can charm away the love
Of any wife or lord who heeds.”
“I have not any silver horns
I have not any crystal bells
I have no pipes of living weeds
Or any such, so all is well!
I have nothing but my tongue
So ope’ the door and let me in!”
Right outside the king’s chamber
They spied a stranger smiling there
And those that heard and those that saw
They all cried out, “Beware, beware!”
“For we have heard of stranger men
Who carry lutes of ebon coal
And they spread madness in their wake
And they can rend both heart and soul
And we have heard of stranger men
Who bear viols of burnished gold
And they can tear a kingdom down
If e’er their faerie song takes hold!”
“Well I have not viol or lute
Of coal or gold or any kind
I have naught else that you could name
My hands are empty; ease your mind.
I have nothing but my tongue!”
The door-ward bowed and let him in.
To to king’s great throne he strode
Not stopped or stayed by any guard
He smiled and smiled the king to see
And then he spoke, the faerie bard:
“I have nothing but my tongue
But it can bid the mountains weep
And it can make the dead to dance
And it can lull the stars to sleep
I have nothing but my tongue
But it can bring salt earth to flower
Your warriors’ strength, your lady’s love,
Your heart and soul are in my power.
I have nothing but my tongue—
But it can tear your kingdom down.”
@tawny249 Feb 2022
This is catchy and I love all the description and imagery. I thought it was going to be longer based on the lyrics but it actually moved at a nice brisk pace. Seems like a classic fae story, well told.
@wylddandelyon Feb 2022
Ah, yes, do not anger a bard, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup--oh, wait, I've got my memes mixed up!
Seriously, brilliant story. I loved it.
@jlampson Feb 2022
I will admit I am not likely the target audience for this song; however, I really enjoyed this epic saga of a song all the same. The way you build the intensity of the playing and singing kept me feeling like I was also on my quest and invested in the story, which definitely made the ending lines even more satisfying. Thank you for sharing this!