Henneth Annûn Story Archive

We've seen a lot of gloomy instrospective work on War, especially during the WWI poet's challenge (and why did my mind only think "Kipling! "Orcs, orcs, orcs, orcs, tunnelling up and down again. Orcs, orcs, orcs, orcs, as through the mountains we go" and that's the wrong war all together!) , but not every man found being a soldier onerous. There has always been a rah, rah cheerleading or humorous self-deprecating attitude in marching and drinking songs that celebrate war and the profession of soldiering. I happened to be at a science fiction convention this past weekend and we revisited a group of songs written for one of the more militaritistic of SF cultures. Some of them just cried out to be be re-filked into Middle Earth. For example, there's the original traditional Scottosh song "Drink to the Health of the Weavers" If it wasna for the weavers what would ye do? You wouldna hae a claith that was made o' woo' You wouldna hae a coat o' the black or the blue If it wasna for the wark o' the weavers Which was filked into a Dorsai song by Marty Burke, "Drink to the Health of the Dorsai" If it wasn't for the Dorsai, what would you do? Ye wouldna' have your freedom to take a drink or two. Ye wouldna' have the choice of the Devil or the Blue, If it wasna' for the work of the Dorsai! I can just see the Rangers sitting around a campfire before the next skirmish with the orcs singing: "Drink to the Health of the Rangers" We’re all here together to drink and to fight, With a star on our chests and our weapons in plain sight. There’s not an orc among ‘em who could back us down tonight, As we drink to the health of the Rangers!

If it wasn’t for the Rangers what would you do You wouldn’t have the freedom to take a drink or two You wouldn’t have a choice of the Dark or the Light If it wasn’t for the work of the Rangers!

There’s archers and there’s pikemen and there’s scouts who’ve seen it all There’s guards and charging horsemen, and great-sword fighters tall We’re drinking tonight before an orcish brawl. And we’ll drink to the health of the Rangers! You think you’re all secure and your walls will save your lives. An orcish horde is something that will catch you in your lies. We’re strong and gifted warriors and we’re proud to bear the signs That separate mere men from the Rangers! This was only lightly filked from the Dorsai version. Thanks, Marty! Or take "Sound the Pibroch": Sound the pibroch loud and high From John O'Groats to the Isle of Skye! Let all the Clans their slogan cry And rise tae follow Charlie! I can just see Boromir's recruiters going about the land and singing: No more we'll see such deeds again, But men like you can lend your hand. Pick up that weapon and learn again And strike for Gondor's glory. It could even be someting as extremely silly as "How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen MT?" The challenge is to write, filk or pay homage to a song that celebrates war or warriors. Any format, any length as long it includes, or is, a song. Although any war will do as inspiration, Liz gave me some links to real WWI songs, but she warns that some of them are 'crude', so beware before you click. Songs of the Great War world War I through Songs Songs of WWI Songs From the Great War Any takers? Gwynnyd

 

I'd definitely be interested! You can count me in. CLF

 

Hey, count me in on this one as well! Vistula

 

Gwynnyd, I think this is a great idea! Not to mention that I so thoroughly enjoyed your own recreations (a very needed respite from my workload today, thanks!) I would definitely love to try this. Starlight P.S. Thanks, Liz, for the links.

 

I would definitely love to try this. As would I. Gwynnyd, if you're in, I think we have five... Marta

 

Splendid stuff! Are you in, Gwynnyd? 4 victims and counting... Btw, what kind of deadline are you looking at? Edit: Check this out. Not all songs celebrate war and warriors, but they look interesting all the same: Folk Music of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and America: Songs of War. cheers, nrink

 

I'm slightly confused on this one. Are we supposed to take another World War 2 or other war poem, and "Tolkienize" it, or do we write our own LoTR war poem? CLF

 

I'm slightly confused on this one. Are we supposed to take another World War 2 or other war poem, and "Tolkienize" it, or do we write our own LoTR war poem? As a dedicated filker, I am opposed to neither choice! If you prefer to use an historic poem/song and 'Tolkienize' it, that's fine. If you want to write an original one, that's fine too! As long as it celibrates a good war or good warriors it's fine by me. As for deadlines... hm... songs are pretty short. Shall we say - oh, I know!!! How about December 14th? We can have a bunch of rousing chorsuses for the EE - DVD release. and I am definitley IN. blushes - This is the first time I've sponsored a challenge... How does it get moved to the challenge list? Gwynnyd

 

We're filking again? Oh I'm in. -Arandil

 

Hi Gwynnyd, As for deadlines... hm... songs are pretty short. Shall we say - oh, I know!!! How about December 14th? We can have a bunch of rousing chorsuses for the EE - DVD release. Sounds good. 14 Dec it is then! With 6 suffering victims, you've got yourself a challenge! Congratulations! This is the first time I've sponsored a challenge... How does it get moved to the challenge list? I do hope that you'll experience the joys of nuzgul flinging again soon. Liberating, isn't it? Don't worry about shifting the challenge over to the challenge list. Your friendly neighbourhood CMs will take care of that. I'll try to do that now, but my internet line has gone a bit wonky - so you mayn't see it up till a good few hours later. Apologies in advance if that happens. ;-P cheers, nrink

 

Ah, My connection hasn't let me down after all! The challenge is up here. Gwynnyd, let me know by e-mail if you need any change in the wording. Please feel free to set your little critter on other unsuspecting victims and give it a home in the Story Discussions forum! cheers, nrink

 

I'm coming in a bit late. But I'm in. Even if I don't manage to write something new, I think I've got a couple of old pieces.

 

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