My buddy who plays guitar and recently became really interested in composing surprised me one day by asking if I would collaborate on a D&D song with him. I hesitated. I am not a song writer and the only songs I know of about D&D are mocking it and the people that play it. I told him I would try, but that I would try to make it a serious song, one D&D characters might sing. I love murder ballads and old blues and country songs so I thought I would try to give it a hardscrabble, melancholy feel if I could. Anyway, as my 998th post here's what I came up with:
Born in the mud to a crooked-eared sow
She'd cough up a pearl if she saw me now
covered in blood from my sword to my crown
I pulled myself up by travelling down.
Down, down, till we find us a dragon
we'll pry off it's scales and haul its loot home in wagons
Down, down, under the earth
we'll take what we find till we get what we're worth.
We scoured the ruins looking for thrones
and looted old tombs to find nothing but bones
The bastards I run with are all discontent
but I'll never stop searching till my breath is spent.
Down, down, till we find us a dragon
we'll pry off it's scales and haul its loot home in wagons
Down, down, under the earth
we'll take what we find till we get what we're worth.
Now, the sheriff is after me and my men
cause for each of his coins we've found us ten
but I stand here before you with this firm belief:
to take what's forgotten doesn't make you a thief.
Down, down, till we find us a dragon
we'll pry off it's scales and haul its loot home in wagons
Down, down, under the earth
we'll take what we find till we get what we're worth.
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I'd love for people to add more verses or do something with it.
That is awesome and is becoming a folk song in my campaign.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I like it. Kinda like s song you here twenty different verses everywhere you sit down, but everyone can shout the refrain...
ReplyDeleteBut regarding the not mocking rpg song:
http://rendedpress.blogspot.de/2012/12/i-have-found-rock-anthem-for-osr.html
Did you miss this?
"A song where you HEAR", off course...
DeleteNice. I especially like "we'll pry off his scales."
ReplyDeleteA recording of this needs to be uploaded!
Great stuff! I'll contribute a verse if I think of one! :)
ReplyDeleteFun! I'd love to hear a recording of this!
ReplyDelete"I sit hunched over my drink in the tavern,
ReplyDeleteThe barkeep will tell us a tale of the dragon
A darker tale we never did hear,
But what's more surprising he says the lair's near"
"A snick-snack the whips will crack,
But never could they send us back.
Though monsters creep and creatures crawl,
We always heed adventure's call"
"Who slinks down there in darkness, oh
We never know for friend or foe
Some say its true we walk that line
But naught will matter if we come out alive"
I'm sure I'll have some more later.
Thanks everyone.
ReplyDelete@R.J. Thompson: I should do that too, have some drunk npc make the party sing a couple verses with him.
@rorschachhamster: I like that idea, that there are local variations "where I grew up we always start with . . ."
Also, I saw that song and totally forgot, thanks for the link.
@Christopher: I like that part too. I was going for the "oh you want vicious murder hobos?, put some hungry, desperate men in a dungeon" vibe.
@Zach: While I have belted this out after a few beers by the campfire, I don't think I would ever have the cajones to upload me singing to the internet, maybe my friend will. I'll ask him.
@Jim/Welleran:Thanks!
@Zavi: Bravo, a new addition already */throws copper pieces in your hat :)
Broken and bleeding, dying in sin
ReplyDeleteThe stones took my body and the crows took my skin
They left me here in a hole in the cave
but I'll keep digging deep down through the grave
Down, down, under the earth
I'll take what I find till I get what I'm worth.