For space is wide and good friends are too few.
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.
“A Thousand Ships” by Ju Honisch and Katy Droege-Macdonald, a look at Helen of Troy’s side of the story.
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.
Lyrics are available on Bandcamp. If you’re interested in learning more, the Sundown libretto and score are also available for purchase.
“Mary O’Meara”, Poul Anderson’s classic filk song, has been featured here using Anne Passovoy’s melody. Originally, Anderson was inspired by and used the melody of the song “Anna Lovinda”, with lyrics and melody by the Norwegian songwriter Erik Bye. Here Sissel Kyrkjebø, Bjørn Eidsvåg and Åge Aleksandersen present the song.
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.
[submitted by anonymous]
“Go From Hence” by Canadian filker Vanessa Cardui, a deceptively upbeat song about going to ones’ execution.
It’s not explicitly about pirates, but I think it makes an excellent pirate song, regardless.
“Tribbles” by Julia Ecklar, a heartfelt lament from our dear Captain of the Enterprise.
Lyrics, chords, and sheet music are included in the Traveller Songbook, which is available for free download from Prometheus Music as a scanned PDF.
“Ophelia” by Playing Rapunzel, a gorgeous song for a missing scene in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Lyrics are available on Bandcamp.
Content warning – this song is set immediately before Ophelia’s suicide by drowning, and delves pretty deeply into her headspace at the time. Be especially careful if suicidal ideation is an issue for you.
“Merlin,” a fantastically creepy interpretation of Arthurian legend by Doug McArthur, performed here by Kathy Mar. If you’re familiar with the BBC TV show version of the character, this is… pretty much the exact opposite of that.
Lyrics are available here, and the song is available for free download from Prometheus Music.
15 years…
Columbia has fallen, from a brilliant azure sky,
And left a wake of smoke and flame, thirty-eight miles high,
And seven of our very best, are gone forevermore,
Flesh and steel paid the supreme price to explore…
[submitted by rocket-song-acoustic]