Generals ain’t easy to love and they’re harder to
hold
They care more about the next battle than diamonds or gold
DeathStar destroyers and Amazon Heroes
And Dora Milaje are proof
You may not understand her, an’ she might die young
But she’ll shake the world to it’s roof.
Mamas, raise all your princesses up to be Generals
Instruct them in tactics and honor and pride
How to stand fast when they’re on the right side.
Mamas raise all your princesses up to be Generals
‘Cos they’ll take on the world and they’ll fight like a girl
To save the ones that they love
Generals take lovers who know that they go where they have to
Where the troops need them, and where the foe gathers to fight
Empires tremble when they take the field and then Fall in their moment of triumph
Cause they don’t know surrender, and if they retreat
The trap it leads into holds tight
Mamas, raise all your princesses up to be Generals
Instruct them in tactics and honor and pride
How to stand fast when they’re on the right side.
Mamas raise all your princesses up to be Generals
‘Cos they’ll take on the world and they’ll fight like a girl
To save the home that they love
Two the ocean races that of one blood remain;
A single skin encases the slayers and the slain,
But blood will blood deliver, though later comes the fee,
As every rushing river runs to one salt sea.
“One Salt Sea” by Cat Faber, inspired by the book of the same title in Seanan McGuire’s October Daye series. If you’re not familiar with the series the lyrics will sound kinda cryptic, but they’re cool enough that it’s still worth a listen.
Seven’s my favourite daughter
I know what’s best
I will protect her
You and your kind
Will be slaughtered
If you stand in the way
Of my favourite daughter
“Favourite Daughter” by Leslie Hudson, a chilling duet for Janeway and the Borg Queen. I got to see Leslie Hudson perform this live with Dr. Mary Crowell, and it was amazing.
It’s the wonders that I’m after,
even if I have to bleed,
and make very rash decisions
for the sake of what I need.
Dancing kisses on my cheek,
it’s the wonders that I seek,
and I swear I am not afraid.
“Wonders” by S. J. Tucker, which she dedicates to “all of us who dare to go on quests that we can’t see the end of.”
As centuries crumble the whispers of ancients
Last longer in stories, last longer in stories than stone.
“Longer in Stories than Stone,” the finale to Sundown, Sassafrass’s epic (pun intended) Norse Mythology song cycle.
The finale weaves in themes from a bunch of the earlier songs, making it a great sampler of all the cool stuff in the cycle, but I really recommend giving the whole thing a listen. Along with being gorgeous, it’s a great introduction to Norse Mythology.
Scottish songwriter Alex Campbell also translated the Danish translation of “Anna Lovinda” to English; that version can also be found on Youtube. Both the Danish and the English versions are very faithful to the Bye’s Norwegian original.
