Belt and Chain
words & music Copyright © William Ritchie (Morric Haast)
Editor's note: This is the one true original version of this song that is sung (and sometimes improperly credited) throughout the Knowne World. It was written by Master Morric Haast of Trimaris and no other. Spread the word!

The days are too fast, and the legends long past;
Yet some would dream of a place
A place of goodwill, where beauty lies still
A bastion of honor and grace;
A bastion of honor and grace

REFRAIN:
Will you wear the Belt and Chain
That this dream may yet live again
Swear your heart to Chivalry's art
Swear your sword to our gain.

Take the young lad and make him page
Teach the boy to come of age;
Teach him fealty, service and truth
Give him these gifts in his youth;
Give him these gifts in full sooth.

REFRAIN

Take the young man and make him squire;
Teach him arms to best his sire;
Teach him chivalry, strength without stain;
For one day he'll take belt and chain;
For one day he too will be chained.

REFRAIN

Wear the belt as a badge of your word,
Bear well the chain, for your oath is interred;
Hold fast to honor, as hard as it seems;
For you guard the halls of our dream;
For you guard the halls of this dream.

REFRAIN

Sing a Dream
words & music Copyright © William Ritchie (Morric Haast)

NEW! Listen to this song

Sing a dream and the dreams you have may sing beside you.
And it seems more dreams will come along.
She was young but her heart was keen and she sang like silver.
She'd just begun and all she left were songs.

REFRAIN:
Tho' we can not stave off time, we can curse the fates but they don't listen.
And the crime is that we know it all along.
There's little we can do, but seize the day and make them glisten.
Little we can do, but we can sing our songs.

A knight may fear that the honor paid's too high for comfort.
And in coming years, forswear to boast.
A child might smile to think of cats swung round in laughter.
And all the while, it was she who smiled the most.

REFRAIN:

If you had seen, her smile like sunlit amber treasure.
If you had been there to hear her weave her spell.
Then you mist know, that we've lost more than we dare to measure.
Yet we must go on and smile as well.

We can not stave off time, we can curse the fates but they don't listen.
And the crime, is that we know it all along.
There's little we can do, but seize the day and make them glisten.
Little we can do, but we can sing our songs.

You can not stave off time, we can curse the fates but they don't listen.
And the crime, is that we know it all along.
There's little we can do, but seize the day and make them glisten.
Little we can do, but we can sing our songs.

Troubadour's Challenge
words & music Copyright © William Ritchie (Morric Haast)

NEW! Listen to this song

So you say you're a troubadour with your own song
And that you would well wear this chain.
The challenge is set and the populace waits
So give us you're finest refrains.

We ask nothing more than the finest you have
The fruit of your heart and your voice
For those who sing with you will be judged as well
We offer no easier choice.

REFRAIN:
When we fight do you know how we feel?
The smell of warm leather and steel!
Have you held close your lord or your lady so tight?
Have you danced and then sung in the night?
Have you danced and then sung in the night?
When we fight do you know how we feel?
The smell of warm leather and steel!
Have you held close your lord or your lady so tight?
Have you danced and then sung in the night?
Have you danced and then sung in the night?


Do you know well the glimmer of soft candle light?
Do you know well the taste of mead?
Do you know well the fellowship of gentle folk?
For it's this and much more that you'll need.

Have you passed round the candle on cold winter nights?
Have you crafted things with your own hand?
Have your tears sprung unbidden for some soft lament?
Then step forth and make well your stand.

REFRAIN:

Can you bring out the silver of laughter and mirth?
Can you conjure the azure of tears?
Can you call forth the scarlet of sportsman like war?
Can you harken to past golden years?

Can you sing the war drums and make the floor shake?
Can you sing to the forest of green?
Can you sing to the velvet clad ladies and lords?
Can you make us see what you have seen?

REFRAIN:

Remember the lesson of rhyme, flask, and flame.
Remember the color of sleep.
Remember some evenings to sing the moon down.
And Arthur's ideals you must keep.

For if you sing rightly your road will begin
To carry forth music and word.
So belt up your verse and make sharp your rhyme
Stand fast until we have heard.

REFRAIN:
REFRAIN:

Sheildman
words & music Copyright © William Ritchie (Master Morric)
This should be taped to the inside of your V-Sheild!

The ignorant and the fool
Would say the shieldman's just a mule,
But the army's chiefest tool is the shieldman.

There's no charge without a wall;
They won't stand without us standing tall
And the bridge is sure to fall
Without the shieldman.

(Chorus)
We are the wedge,
We are the wall.
We hold the bridge,
We face them all.
We are the honor of the army,
We make the battlefield stand.
Oh, hell, it's a thankless task,
So drink to the health of the shieldman.

If you're struck down as you slew,
You've hurt yourself and the kingdom too;
So the kill's a passing few for the shieldman.

While some are keeping score,
By helmets bashed and nothing more;
The ones who win the war are the shieldmen.

CHORUS

Well, the foeman fears the pikes,
And the distance that he knows they strike.
But the prey that he most likes
Without the shieldman.

And the glaives will get their kills,
And the harriers will have their thrills.
But they do so by the skills of the shieldman.

CHORUS

CHORUS


CHORDS: D G C

Cold Iron
words & music Copyright © Elaine Starkey (AmaRyah)

'Cross the fields of ripening grain, the reavers laid to waste
Dreams of farmers, boyhood glories, bitter is the taste of

(Chorus:)
Iron, Cold Iron in the hands of unjust men
Iron, Cold Iron in the hands of unjust men

Rode they through the helpless ville, blood on ev'ry blade
Laughter on each bearded face at the carnage that they'd made with

(Chorus)

Call your troops to war, my friends, take those that you can trust
We must cleanse our land of those who profane the things they touch with

(Chorus)

We ride the morn at dawn's first break, it's here we'll take our stand
Righteous men must stand as one, when evil walks the land, and there's

(Chorus)

Peace is bought with life's sweet blood, let your children hear
That they must learn the ways of war, or forevermore they'll fear the

(Chorus)

Stick Jocks Is Easy
words & music Copyright © Elaine Starkey (AmaRyah)

They call me a Stick Jock, say I'm crazy from blows.
They scam all my beers, and they rip off my clothes.
Hon, you know it ain't easy, being chiv'rous and kind,
But just kiss on this bruise here, and you can call yourself mine.

(Chorus:)
Cause Stick Jocks is easy, take advantage of me
I'll remember your sweetness, when I'm chivalry
I can make you a queen, dear, and I swear that I will
Just keep the booze flowing, and my garb closet filled.

I live for the weekend, where I bond with my friends,
The daytime's for fighting, the night's for amends.
Talks of light ones and rhinos, and the sweet ones got in,
And if you think that's bout fighting, better rethink again

(Chorus)

Come sip from my goblet, share my cloak for awhile
I will fight for your honor, for the grace of your smile.
Just feed me and clothe me, that's all that I need.
Lovely ladies and armor, it's a fightin' man's creed.

(Chorus)

I'll treasure this moments, wear your token and fight
Your memory's precious, I'll always cherish this night.
Break your fast with me darlin', then I really must go.
Will I see you next weekend, maybe yes, maybe no

(Chorus)

Meat Song
words & music Copyright © Elaine Starkey (AmaRyah), and Jill Voss (Hurricane)

"This song was written by Ryah and Hurricane at GW 11. Jill said, you know, Ryah, you've written songs about just about everything, but I think that you should write one about meat. So we came up with these words."

The red letters are the guitar chords, and are before the syllable that the chord changes on.

G Came to D war a C confirmed vegetari-G-an
D tofu, soy and G beets
G then I D met a C bold trimari-G-an, D thought I would try me
some G meat

(Chorus)

now it's G meat for breakfast and D meat for lunch
C meat for D dinner and G snacks
G once you've tried it, I D think you'll like it
C and you'll D never go G back
G meat, D meat, C wonderful G meat,
D eaten with liquor & G cream
G meat, D meat, C marvelous G meat
D succulent, juicy & G lean


Broke my fast with bacon and eggs
Gently brought into bed
Now I know 'bout making some bacon
And why those hens should be fed

(Chorus)

Sun's on high, it's time to get spread
Salami, bologna, and dogs
Picnic lunch, there's something about
Sitting there on a log

(Chorus)

World's spinning round, that sun has gone down
Put a little fire to the grill
Gets so hot, there's bound to be smoke
So slap that steak in by feel

(Chorus)

The Worm Song
words & music Copyright © Mar 2000 Elaine Starkey (AmaRyah)

Came from the west, yes he did indeed
And swore that he'd fill ev'ry maiden's need
Made his boast
In a tavern toast
Now pale as a ghost
On the floor he bleeds

(Chorus)

And the color of his hair matched the blood of his wound
And the piper laughed at the Irish doom
Tall ye may be, aye to touch the moon
But food for the worms that ye are in the tomb

Bring me yer best, he'd cried and sat
With his back to the wall like a cornered rat
Grabbed a comely wench
From a nearby bench
Gave her quite a pinch
And you know where at

(Chorus)

And the room grew quiet when they heard her scream
But they shook their heads at the steely gleam
With covered eyes
But no surprise
When a paddy dies
By a bodkin keen

(Chorus)

Who would have thought that a knife so small
Could make such a big man cry and bawl
A flick of the wrist
A slice and twist
And no more bliss for the lad at all

(Chorus)

Raven Wings
words & music Copyright © 1993 Elaine Starkey (AmaRyah; written just prior to leaving Trimaris)

There is a place that I call home
It matters not where my feet may roam
Deep in hearts of friends I've found
Circled by love, and by oath I'm bound

Raven wings encompass me
Sweet, the camaraderie
Asgard

Bright our hearts when called to war
Led by a Duke worth dying for
Feared throughout the world's Knowne Lands
Shield to shield to shield we stand

Raven wings encompass me
Sweet, the camaraderie
Asgard

Honor, chiv'ry, duty bound
Death before these chains lay down
Give your service willingly
Stone cold the path to chivalry

Raven wings encompass me
Sweet, the camaraderie  Asgard

Raven wings forevermore
Raven wings at my hearts own core
Asgard

NEW! Two more of Baldar's songs:
Way Home
Counsel of Kings

Varangian Song
words & music Copyright © Alex Cooley (Duke Baldar)


(chorus)
We are Varangians,
We march in the morning sun,
Each shield has a raven,
Our axes gleam as one.

Formed into a column,
Tearing at the sod,
Rip their line asunder,
Like the fist of God
(Chorus)

Stretch into a shieldwall,
Against the foeman's tide,
We can hold forever,
Brothers side by side.
(Chorus)

Be it bridge or portal,
A killing machine,
They charge into the jaws of death,
And we crush them in-between.

The Baby Seal Song
I don't know who wrote this originally, but Sir Jean-Paul is certainly responsible for perpetuating it!

Way up north where it is cold
And you know there ain't no gold
People making money from the skins that they have sold
Some people hate the killing,
But I find it quite fulfilling
'Cause I hate to see a baby seal grow old

(Chorus:)
Don't bludgeon a seal 'cause you need a meal
Do it cause you wanna hear the little suckers squeal (squee!)
Hit 'em in the head
And do it just for kicks
And poke out their eyes with your eye poking sticks!

Chorus

My mother was a little mean
My father was a bit obscene
I guess that could explain the way I feel
I know you won't believe me but
My woman wants to leave me
I guess I'll take it out on a baby seal!

Chorus

Slice 'em, dice 'em, rotortill 'em
Chop 'em up or just plain kill 'em
Make 'em into little tiny bales
I know it won't be very long,
Baby seals will all be gone
So I'll have to start killing off the whales

Chorus

Greenpeace wants to lock me up
For what I've done to those seal pups
Lock me up and throw me in the keel
But momma momma don't you cry
'Cause you know that when I die
I'll be coming back as a baby seal

Chorus

---

Last Updated 2007.07.02 22:02 EST

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