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Ballads and Folk Songs

Rosie Rook | written by Cartographette

Rosie Rook is an ancient ballad that tells the sad tale of a woman who left a man in the face of a catastrophe. The man searches for her until their children have grown and left him, and eventually perishes in the course of his search. He imagines his lost love grieving over his death while he waits for her in the afterlife. The song is technically one of great devotion and love, but has a sinister undertone of "you'll get what's coming to you" that makes it a favorite of the humans. However, it is popular among all races and many different cultures. Its haunting melody is well known by all.

Rosie Rook she laid with me

And bore me my children three

But 'pon the storm what tore our home

She cried and she left me be.

How I search for thee!

Far across the sea

Forest, mountain, fen

Searching night and day.

Will you sing again

in my humble den

All your children have

Grown and flown away.

In a cistern on the sea

She floated the rolling deep

Her feathers torn, her heart forlorn

She cried and she wept for me.

How I searched for thee!

All across the sea

And I fell to sleep

Dreaming of my daughters.

Now I wait for thee

Calling night and day

Rosie, lay with me

Deep beneath the waters.

---

Ballad of Old Rose

This is a traditional song sung on ships and in taverns in Old Rose. It is generally interpreted to be a slave song from when the slave trade was in full force, before the days of Silas Hawke. However, many sailors feel it suits their own mixed feelings to returning to the Harbor after a long commission at sea. There are several different versions of this song, but these are the generally agreed-upon words.

Heave it up, boys! A storm is brew

There'll be no rest for you,

Tossing and turning in the ragged wind, oh!

Hey ho, tie it up tight,

We'll get no sleep tonight

Hold fast, and maybe we'll be free again!

When the sun comes up on Old Rose

Don't you heave a sigh

See that harbor looming near

Like a black spot in your eye,

Oh, your days are numbered

And oh, they move so slow

Till the day has come, Old

Rosie lets you go!

Heave it up, boys! The water's fine!

Break out the mooring line!

Go down, you boyos to the waiting shoreside

So long sailing the sea,

Not long enough for me

But Rosie is calling and she wants me more!

When the sun comes up on Old Rose

Don't you heave a sigh

See that harbor looming near

Like a black spot in your eye,

Oh, your days are numbered

And oh, they move so slow

Till the day has come, Old

Rosie lets you go!

Drinking Songs

The Green Shore | contributed by Fion Smith

Drinking song, sung very baudily. There are apparently more verses but once people hit the second "down, down, down" they tend to forget them. Refers to absinthe and dark brews, and it is commonly believed that vodka was in the second verse while it still existed in human memory.

Take me to the green shore,

Fill me with the darkest pour,

Give me more before I go,

Let me drown these sorrows so,

Let them all go down, down, down,

Before I fall and hit the ground,

Let them all go down, down, down.

---

Drinker's Lullaby | contributed by JaderGader

This popular drinking song is a traditional challenge for dedicated drunkards. Each line is seven syllables, and each couplet is sung rising in pitch in the first line and lowering in pitch in the second line. This song is sung over and over again, starting slow, and getting faster and faster. The intro and closing are often dropped after about the second round. Some people have had all-night parties attempting to hit all the drinks in that order. A favorite on St. Grumbles.

In this way my friends and I

Sing ourselves a lullaby.

Vodka, Dirty Chan, Chrove's erse,

Demcay Allcream, Green Mad'erse.

Starfly, Balshem's Cream and Chrove,

Blushing Hingle, Wine with Clove.

Queen's Corpse, Magma, Deal Breaker,

Tequila, Dentis Cobbler.

Chan and Whiskey, Hatcher Piss,

Vulker's Sap, and all the Whice.

All of these I drink to you,

Give a hand for potent brew!

Lullabies

Little Starfly | contributed by Merry Fitzborough

Oh hush now, little starfly, go to sleep

The day has faded fast

The stars are out at last

So dance away your time in slumber land

And I will keep you near

You’ll never have to fear

Dream well, my little starfly, be at peace

I’ll sing you lullabies

If you will close your eyes

Rest well, my treasure, do not be afraid

I’ll keep you safe and warm

Away from any harm

---

The Pilgrim's Lullaby | contributed by Alisoina Denore

This song is based on a tragic event: the loss of a small colony of humans, who tried to start a new life over the water and were never heard of again. This song is rather a more hopeful version, because it says they actually landed. Another version admits that they likely perished at sea, and the last two stanzas speak of the ship sinking and the pilgrim's drowning.

For love of thine, and your love of mine,

I cann’igh hope you’ll go wi’me

The seas are wide, and the storms are wild

To go where promise is free

Chorus

The sea, the sand

The stormy land

And so it goes on-

For life and love,

Those who rove.

And so it goes on-

The Night fades into the light,

I hope that it’s I you’ll follow

The land is hard, The dying herd

But here is the promise fallow

(Chorus)

Burnt the bread, and hope is dead

But still you come and stay

The ground is cold, with our young and old

And here the promise lay.

(Chorus)

Popular Songs

You Loved Me In Vienda

This song was probably crafted by an underpaid and under-appreciated writer, but it was popularized by Zelda DeVonne, the notable lounge singer from Vienda. Her smoky, husky voice is something of a cross-cultural hit, with many galdori owning a recording of this song on expensive phonographic records. This particular song has two things going for it; it references a heartbreaking situation with an absent lover, something many women can identify with, and shows a deep affection for Vienda (hinting at the city's notorious ability to bring lovers together).

If you ever loved me, you loved me in Vienda!

We walked along the boulevard at night,

Hand in hand we took in all the sights—

The time of year, the atmosphere and lights!

When the morning came, well, I called your name

Only to hear echoes in reply.

Darling, I remain, in solitude and pain

And all Vienda now can hear me cry.

Now I wait alone here, aching in my bones here,

Hoping against hope I'll hear you say:

"I loved you in Vienda, so darling in Vienda we'll stay!"

If you ever loved me, you loved me in Vienda!

You spoke those words so quiet, and I fell

'Neath the willows, whispered like a spell;

We swore that we would never say farewell!

In the moonlit shadow of the palace walls,

Underneath the icy collonade

Darling I will tread, sleepless out of bed

Wondering when the memories will fade.

Now I wait alone here, aching in my bones here,

Hoping against hope I'll hear you say:

"I loved you in Vienda, so darling in Vienda we'll stay!"

Ship-hop

This is a special style of music created by pirates. Apart from the usual sea chanties, it has become popular to create intricate rhymes set to a steady beat. All that boredom at sea can foster creativity. Ship-hop topics include life at sea, wenches, ale, killing a guy, wenches, and keelhauling.

MAIDEN VOYAGE | contributed by Ivan Mottoni

Attributed to the crew of the Blue Hingle

I like big hulls, and I cannot tell a fib,

Any salty sea dog worth the cut of his jib,

knows when ya see a gall-e-on with a strong bowline,

An a firstmate who knows to use a tail o nine,

you get STERN! (All hands on deck!),

Grab the cabin boy by the scruff of his neck,

Make im swab the flank, until she shine

Else he be walkin', this plank o' mine!

Unfurl the sails, and down yer grog,

Time to cut an run, lest ye receive a flog!

So, shimates! (arr!) shipmates! (yarr!)

Has your vessel got the sway? (clocks yes!)

Tell 'em to shake it! (Shake it!) Shake it! (Shake it!)

Shake that healthy ship!

Weigh anchor!

I like big hulls, and I cannot tell a fib,

Any filthy sea wench worth the cut of er jib,

knows when ya see a gall-e-on with a powerful wake,

An the bugger in the tugger gotta do a double take,

you get WEAK! (At the knees!),

cap'n's been a-askin' n ya say, "seaman please!"

get to the rudda worthless yella land lubber,

afore maiden voyage is through,

ye be rubbin yer back, n hittin' the sack,

Unless a wench come lookin' fer you.

So, wenches! (arr!) wenches! (yarr!)

Has your vessel got the sway? (clocks yes!)

Tell 'em to shake it! (Shake it!) Shake it! (Shake it!)

Shake that healthy ship!

Weigh anchor!

(Take er to the dry docks, she got rum futtocks) [4x]

---

THE SHOOT SHOOT SONG | Contributed by Aussiemum

Orig. The Cutlass, under capn. Lacey Lovell, after a particularly close encounter with a rather large prayer fish trying to take down the boat

Hey, yar - I wanna shoot, matey!

'Ere I go, 'ere I go, 'ere I go again (again?)

Crew, what's my weakness? (Rum!)

Ok then, sailin', sailin', mindin' my business (word)

Heard a clockin' sound an' I couldn' believe this

I swear, I stared, Alioe my witness

The ship had it shadow it were somethin' kinda...uh

Wicked, wicked (oooo) - had to check it

I'm not scared so I head fer th' back.

Oh No! Back now mateys!

See what I saw down thare were a prayer fish, arr.

Big as the ship, so I head back t' my bag of tricks

Then I thought fer a min', make me wanna shoot it

Kill it, like a Bad Brothers hit.

Came to my senses and I chilled for a bit

Don't know what to do, 'cept to do, what you'd do.

So well this hellfish, made me wanna shoot shoot shoot

Shoot shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot ba-doot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot ba-doot ba-doot

It were packed in th' stacks, right down th' back

Arr I wanna thank th' smithy fer a gun like that (thanks, Vik)

Can I get bang fer me click clicka shooty?

It needs t' be strong, an' somethin' I can use-y.

A shotgun - bang! What's up with that thang?

I wanna know how does it bang?

Straight up, wait up, hold up, Mr. Viktor

Like Noe said you're a sexy clocker-

Well-a, I need it t' be wild, shoot that fish from a mile,

Give it up, make me smile

Bring me th' gun, I wanna have some fun

Come (come) and (hmmm) give me some of that gun-fun

Brass trigger, silver clip, can I make it shoot? (please)

Baby, that hellfish, makes me wanna...

Shoot shoot ba-doot (Matey hey!)

Shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot ba-doot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot ba-doot ba-doot (Don't ye know I wanna shoot matey!)

Well let me bring you back to the subject, prayer fish pest

Make you get scared, make you work up a sweat

When you hand-me-th'-pistol me hearty

Not fallin' in love but I'm fallin' fer yer [shot-gun boom]

When I get it better believe it's a stop-clockin' saviour

[Yo, Lacey, I wanna like, help ye]

Getcha gun Vik coz its time t' get set.

On your mark, get set, go, let me go, let me shoot

To the fish in the back of me boat

I spend all me gold, on this beauty

Shoot fer some booty, like y'all should be.

Ooh I like this gun with its big gleam,

Gives me nice dreams, makes me wanna scream

Oooh I like what it do, when I do, what I do.

Makes me wanna shoot shoot shoot.

Shoot shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot ba-doot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot ba-doot ba-doot

[Oh, my goddess, crew, look at this

It is th' biggest clocker ever,

And it's comin' this way! Oooo!]

I and the A wanna kick with me, saavy (uh-huh)

Hit this fish clockin' swiftly! (yeah) It moves pretty quickly (that's right) I'll shoot it fer th' hell o' it, jus' watch out fer it,

Mmm mmm mmm, I think I hit it! (kill it)

They want th' bod, here's the grapple rod (grapple rod)

Twelve feet with a barb (damn) and have ya haulin' like a pass-ive (yeah)

Bad Brothers throw th' net on it 'fore I shoot you, pray I hit you

It's watcha wanna do,

Whatcha wanna do

Before I shoot, shoot, shoot.

Shoot shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot ba-doot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot

Shoot ba-doot ba-doot ba-doot

---

A PIRATES PRAYER | Contributed by Henri Lockey

A song sung by pirates returning from a long and tiresome voyage, desperate for the comforts of home.

Heave Ho! The Gally Do'

We ent got meat no Mo'

Down th' Hatch

An' Tend th' Latch

We'll weather this here storm!

On Beans 'n Grub

We'll filler Mug

Until we're back in Harbor

An' there 'n then

With Meat an' Gin

We'll Filler Port ta Starbor!

---

The Dyin' Rose! A sailors song about the Brother's influence on ORH submitted by calmwolf/ac

Old Rose girls ain't got no combs

Haul away, haul away

They brush their hair with poorman bones

And we're bound away for The Dyin’ Rose!

So heave away, me bully, bully boys

Haul away, haul away

Heave her up and don't you make a noise

And we're bound away for The Dyin’ Rose!”

Old Rose brats ain't got no toys,

Haul away, haul away, haul away brother!

They play with the bodies of the Brother's Boys!

And we're bound away for The Dyin’ Rose!

Old Rose men ain't got no spine,

Haul away, haul away

Cause Hawke makes em swim deep in the 'rine

And we're bound away for The Dyin’ Rose!

Old Rose cats ain't got no tails,

Haul away, haul away, haul away brother!

They lost them all in the Mugrobi gales

And we're bound away for The Dyin’ Rose!