For space is wide and good friends are too few.
Vor is the name we won from our fathers.
Vor is the love that our mothers provide.
Vor is the honor we share with our brothers.
Vor is the duty that keeps us alive.
“Vor,” by Bill Sutton – a good, old-fashioned space hymn for the Vorkosigan Saga. This version features Bill and Brenda Sutton, plus Betsy Tinney on cello, Chas Somdahl on guitar, and Dave Clement, Becca Leathers, and Michelle Dockrey providing backing vocals – including a beautiful Russian counterpoint, written by Michelle.
We dig too deep
Trying to rival the deeds of our fathers
We dig too deep
The children of giants, trying to stand on their shoulders
“Legacy,” by Michael Kelly. He mostly does SCA events and the like, but I (dog mod) met him at a post-apocalyptic event, and he’s not only an amazing singer, but incredibly supportive and encouraging. He got me to sing into a microphone alone for the first time (in the desert, for people wearing only leather and spikes), which took some coaxing, so I feel obligated to plug his Patreon, where he releases new recordings regularly for donors.
This one’s for the dwarves of Middle Earth, hence the beard. But don’t let the beard fool you! It’s a beautiful song. Lyrics and chords under the cut.
Say it once, say it
twice, say it so you won’t forget
Live a life, live it
hard, live each day without regret
“Molly’s Wake Song,” written and performed by Drake Meed (@makingcosplay on Twitter) at the Hour of Honor Critical Role meetup at GenCon 2019. A touching tribute to a fallen friend, and Drake left an equally poignant comment on the video:
“Thank you all, so incredibly much, for listening and allowing me to
share this. And, more importantly, sing this. Share it. Pass it forward
with anyone who will listen, if you feel so compelled. It was written as
a bardic and in the spirit of being carried on.”
In the spirit of that, full lyrics are under the cut, as are the chords Alvaro Alemparte figured out and put in the YouTube comments. The transcription is mine, so take it with some salt.
To the tune of “Jogging”
Slytherins are evil
That’s what other houses say!
But as a Slytherin
I aim to change your view today
Slytherins aren’t terrible
We’re just misunderstood
Just because we’re little power-obsessed
Doesn’t mean we can’t be good
Chorus:
Oh Slytherin, oh Slytherin
They all think you’re bad
But a Slytherin will be the
Bestest friend you’ve ever had!
Slytherins can be so kind
They take care of their friends
They’ll find for you a meal
Cuz you “forgot your lunch again”!
They really are the sweetest
It just doesn’t always show
But don’t ask them where they got that sandwich
You don’t want to know!
Chorus
Slytherins watch out for you
They’ll make sure you’re ok!
They’ll tell your ex to [bleep] right off
And make them go away!
They’ll respect your choices
When you want to win or quit
And most of the time will manipulate you
only a little bit!
Chorus
A Slytherin will open up
If they think you’ll listen
You know they care about you
If they don’t just hold it in
Expressing their emotions
Is not their strongest trait
Unless, of course, you count the feelings
Sad, mad, fear, and hate.
Chorus
I hope I’ve helped you all to see
That Slytherins are fine!
You don’t have to reject us
You just have to have a spine!
Your Slytherin can be bad at knowing
Where some boundaries lay
That’s why we all need our Hufflepuffs
To keep us all at bay!
Chorus x2
“ Lady, long have I loved you
I will have you for my wife
I will stay upon your shoreland
though it robs me of my life.”
A beautiful illustration inspired by lyrics from “The Maiden and the Selkie,” written by Emily Holbert Kellam and recorded by Heather Dale
Moss Bliss did a great presentation of “A Flower and a Hufflepuff” at the recent GAFilk.
The lyrics are by Karl-Johan Norén, and the song is inspired by and to the tune of “En spelmans jordafärd” by Dan Andersson.
I ventured into Angband deep, hey, jolly Doomsman
And dancèd there in evil’s keep, and therefore make me room, man
Sent Morgoth’s court a-sleeping still, hey, jolly Doomsman
And from him stole a Silmaril, and therefore make me room, man
SONG: THE BLACKTHORN BLOOMS
By Talis Kimberley-Fairbourn
I’ve no magic words here
No dice left the throw
But the seeds that I’ve planted
Are willing to grow
We’re all feeling hopeless –
Disaster looms.
But still the bread rises
And the blackthorn blooms.
Here’s fury and fear
Here’s stunned disbelief
That we could lose so much
Our own leaders turned thief
I get that you’re numb
I get that you’re tired
We had a ticket to the future
But the future’s expired
I’ve no magic words…
They’ve played us as pawns
They’ve played us for fools
They want us divided
And to make us cruel
So kindness is sacred
It’s a choice, it’s an art
It’s an act of resistance
From the breaking of heart:
Can you carry a song?
Can you carry a light?
We did not deserve this
And it isn’t alright
We’re all feeling hopeless
Amidst the lies
But the blackthorn is blooming
And the bread will rise
I’ve no magic words
No dice left to throw
But the seeds that I planted
Are going to grow
I know we feel hopeless –
Disaster looms
But still the bread rises
Still the bread rises
Still the bread rises
And the blackthorn blooms.
_______________________________
Words & music by & © Talis Kimberley, 21st March 2019.
Talis Kimberley, one of the finest filkers and social justice bards I know.
Great sadness in the filk community: UK filker Zanda Myrande, better known through most of her filk career as Zander Nyrond, has passed away this week.
To the tune of “The Mermaid”
—
It was Wednesday morn when we engaged
Boldly going places man has never known
When up on the Bridge, they spied a Romulan ship
Far away from the Neutral Zone
Chorus:
And the planets they do roll, And the distant stars they glow
And we poor Ensigns are running round the ship
While civilians they lie down below (below, below)
While civilians they lie down below
Up spoke Number One of the Enterprise
And he was a handsome bearded man
He straddled a chair with his very long legs
And said, “Captain do we have a plan?”
Chorus
Up spoke the Captain of the Enterprise
And a well-spoken man was he
“I don’t want to tangle with the Romulans,
I would rather drink my hot Earl Grey tea!”
Chorus
Up spoke the doctor of the Enterprise
She was a strong willed woman in blue
She said, “Captain come on, you have to run this ship
All the crew is depending on you!”
Chorus
Up spoke Lt. Commander of the Enterprise
And a curious android was he
“Can someone please explain why this Romulan ship
Has decided to break the treaty?”
Chorus
Up spoke the pilot of the Enterprise
And a nerdy little genius was he
He said, “I think that we should…”
“Shut up Wesley!!”
Chorus
Up spoke the engineer of the Enterprise
And his visor was really high-tech
“I hope that this conflict doesn’t take that long
I’ve a date waiting on the holodeck.”
Chorus
Up spoke the counselor of the Enterprise
And a very pretty empath was she
“There’s a Romulan vessel outside of this ship
And I sense the Romulans are angry”
Chorus
Up spoke Security on the Enterprise
And a very moody Klingon was he
He said–
“Klingons do not sing space shanties.”
Chorus X2