Actual Bard Songs [Archive] - Wizards Community

Actual Bard Songs [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mr. the Hun
10-16-07, 09:28 AM I'm going to be playing a rogue/bard in an upcoming pirate campaign, and I'm looking for some decent, fantasy-esque songs that I can actually sing at the table when I'm doing my bardic music.

The character is a halfling pirate captain, from a Scottish-esque country. Barring the obvious "A Pirate's Life for Me." Some of the ideas I have are the classic "The Edge of Night" from RotK, as well as a plethora of orchestrated songs from a BBC radio play production of LotR. I stole a few from a production of Twelfth Night I'm in and also a mildly edited version of 'Shenandoah."

Any other suggestions/ideas for suitable music?
Kolytszusk
10-16-07, 11:55 AM Shamandalie by Sonata Arctica?
Olpolokk
10-16-07, 03:03 PM I had gone down that road and believe me in the end of it you will only find embarrassment but if you decide to do It anyway I recommend you to make up your own songs thats always fun.
Master_Vega
10-16-07, 09:28 PM Hope you're good at singing. :P

Another thing you might try is reading a few epics like Beowulf or the Iliad (really, really hated the Iliad, but it could help you). Look for passages that might reference strength, or wit, or whatever pertains to the emotion/ability your are trying to inspire.

Now take whatever legends are in the setting your playing, and write verses similar (not copying or altering the inspiring verses) to the lines you liked.

This is probably better for a bard who uses Perform (Oratory), but it's an idea. You could probably pull singing off if you're any good at writing music... and you can stand the corny feeling you'll get when singing about epic characters you or your DM made up. :P
Operation_Shoestring
10-17-07, 05:59 AM March of Cambreath is a good one for inspiring courage.

Song of Freedom could be a song from Les Miserables.
Thief_of_Hope
10-18-07, 02:46 AM Find some of the songs from the Playstation 2 and PC game "The Bard's Tale". At least, if you'd like some funny songs. I'm personally fond of "Beer Beer Beer" and "Bad Luck". :P

You can probably find them on Youtube.
Master_Vega
10-18-07, 01:45 PM Find some of the songs from the Playstation 2 and PC game "The Bard's Tale". At least, if you'd like some funny songs. I'm personally fond of "Beer Beer Beer" and "Bad Luck". :P

You can probably find them on Youtube.

Xbox as well. :P It cracks me up that the songs are in sing-along format, too. lol!
booze
10-18-07, 03:52 PM the obvious (not really that pirat-themed but well fitting for any bard)

Blind Guardian - The Bard's Song (In the Forest)

Now You all know
The bards and their songs
When hours have gone by
I'll close my eyes
In a world far away
We may meet again
But now hear my song
About the dawn of the night
Let's sing the bards' song

Tomorrow will take us away
Far from home
No one will ever know our names
But the bards' songs will remain
Tomorrow will take it away
The fear of today
It will be gone
Due to our magic songs

There's only one song
Left in my mind
Tales of a brave man
Who lived far from here
Now the bard songs are over
And it's time to leave
No one should ask You for the name
Of the one
Who tells the story

Tomorrow will take us away
Far from home
Noone will ever know our names
But the bards' songs will remain
Tomorrow all will be known
And You're not alone
So don't be afraid
In the dark and cold
'Cause the bards' songs will remain
They all will remain

In my thoughts and in my dreams
They're always in my mind
These songs of hobbits, dwarves and men
And elves
Come close Your eyes
You can see them, too
Moonslayer
10-18-07, 04:47 PM I'd suggest looking for some songs by the Irish Rovers. They do a lot of traditional Irish folk music, might be something there for ou.
Master_Vega
10-18-07, 06:16 PM Speaking of the above-mentioned stuff, Men of Worth has some good -and often, but not always, funny- Irish/Scottish folk music.
Mr_Seth
10-18-07, 07:19 PM "Salty Dog", by Flogging Molly.

Absolutely ANYTHING by Blind Guardian - especially anything from Nightfall in Middle-Earth. "The Bard's Song", above, is from that album.

Dragonforce, likewise, has the right theme, but is far too hard, and you'd have to pick through the lyrics. I admit, "Valley of the Damned" is a favorite of mine for cleric/bards with the Glory domain.

"Low Man's Lyric", by Metallica. I'm loathe to mention them, but the hurdy-gurdy music in this one won't leave my head.

"Rainmaker", by Brother. Most of their stuff is gold - www.brothermusic.com has some song clips.

Whilst dealing with bumpkins, "The Second Week of Deer Camp", by Das Yoopers. I'm pretty sure that's misspelled, but it's riotous.
NightHawkFalconis
10-19-07, 12:19 AM The absolute best song ever for a seafaring campaign: "St. Brendan's Faire Isle." Terrific song for it; in fact I've been thinking of running a campaign based entirely off the song... >.> :D
Operation_Shoestring
10-19-07, 03:57 PM oooh, oooh, fr inspire greatness, use Mulan's "be a man!" only works for a male character but funny.
carl_brisgamer
11-13-07, 11:18 PM I started playing a bard in Living Greyhawk only recently and have taken to writing songs at the table about the action/PC/NPC/places. Then I perform them at some point during the adventure as part of my character's bardsong.

It can be difficult and the results aren't exactly award winning but it is a lot of fun and the DM usually gives a circumstance bonus to my perform check!

For example:

“The Ballad of Lady Gertrude”
(sung to the tune of Greensleeves)
Written by the bard Artanis Knarf in Patchwall CY597. The song was first performed by Artanis at the Griffon’s Nest Inn, River Quarter, Free City of Greyhawk (DC40 Perform check).

"A maiden fair in Greyhawk born,
With flaxen hair and eyes of blue,
Her beauty rivals the glowing dawn,
Her heart a beacon of courage true.

She travelled far to learn her trade,
To ride and fight with sword and lance,
First a squire then a knight was made,
An expert player of the deadly dance.

To the Flanaess’ Jewel she has returned,
A mail clad champion of truth and law,
Battling evil at every turn,
A shining paragon of honour."
keepu
11-19-07, 04:58 PM If you're still looking, you might try poking around here: http://www.chivalry.com/jollyrogers/C3Lyrics.htm
Benghazi
11-24-07, 02:28 PM Rebels of the Sacred Heart, Salty Dog, and Seven Deadly Sins, all by Flogging Molly, are great pirate songs.
Mrculex99
11-26-07, 01:38 PM Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot.
He was not afraid to die, O brave Sir Robin!
He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways,
Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin!

He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp,
Or to have his eyes gouged out, and his elbows broken;
To have his kneecaps split, and his body burned away;
And his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Robin!

His head smashed in and his heart cut out
And his liver removed and his bowels unplugged
And his nostrils raped and his bottom burned off
And his pen--
Shiftkitty
11-26-07, 03:12 PM "Get Up and Bar the Door" is a vintage medieval tune I found while looking for the lyrics to one with a misleading title. ("Fly Up My C*ck" isn't what it sounds like...:P )

"Get Up and Bar the Door" is also pretty funny, if a little raunchy. It's about a stubborn couple, a cold night, and a couple of horny burglars.
Jager Mage
11-28-07, 02:53 AM I don't know who did it originally, but Metallica's cover of Whiskey in the Jar is also a good pirate-esque song.
Shiftkitty
11-28-07, 03:08 PM If you've got a really raunchy bent, you can always sing "The Good Ship Venus". When I first heard it, I was surprised to see it in the movie credits as a "traditional".
KIDS
11-28-07, 04:39 PM I am a bit skeptical towards singing at gaming table but again, it depends on you as a person and on your gaming group. Most I know would start cracking silly jokes...

Anyways, one nice pirate/sea/outlaw song I love is Smuggler, by McCalmans who perform Scottish folk. Likewise, that kind of folk music (and Irish too) has many good songs, not necessarily sea themed but kind of what one would expect of a bard to sing. Best luck to you!

SMUGGLER

1) The boat rides south o' Ailsa Craig, in the waning of the light,
there's thirty men in Lendalfit, tae mak our burden light.
There's thirty horse at Hazelholm, with the halters on their heads,
all set this night upon you hight, if wind and water speed.

Ch: Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine,
and the darkest night is the smuggler's time,
away we run from the exciseman,
it's a smuggler's life for me,
it's a smuggler's life for me.

2) O lass ye hae a cosy bed, and cattle ye hae ten,
can ye no live a lawful life, and live wi' lawful men.
But must I live with hamely goods, while there's foreign gear sae fine,
must I drink at the waterside, and France sae full of wine.

Ch: Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine,
and the darkest night is the smuggler's time,
away we run from the exciseman,
it's a smuggler's life for me,
it's a smuggler's life for me.

3) O weel I like tae see ye Kate, with the bairnie on thy knee,
but my heart is now wi' the gallant crew, that plough thro' the angry sea,
the bitter-gales, the tightest sales, the sheltered bay our goal.
It's the wayward life, it's the smuggler's strife, it's the joy of the smuggler's soul.

Ch: Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine,
and the darkest night is the smuggler's time,
away we run from the exciseman,
it's a smuggler's life for me,
it's a smuggler's life for me.

4) And when at last the sun comes up, and the cargo safely stored,
like sinless saints to church we go, God's mercy to afford,
and it's champagne fine for communion wine, and the parson drinks it too,
with a sly wink prays, 'forgive these men, for they know not what they do.'

Ch: Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine,
and the darkest night is the smuggler's time,
away we run from the exciseman,
it's a smuggler's life for me,
it's a smuggler's life for me.
Mad_Jack
12-11-07, 10:33 AM Google traditional Celtic music and you can come up with tons of stuff...

Modern bands that do covers of medieval and rennaisance songs can be found if you know where to look... Metallica's Whiskey In The Jar is a traditional Irish tune. The Corrs, Gaelic Storm, Celtic Woman, Loreena McKennitt, Susan McKeown, and Blackmore's Night (Ritchie Blackmore, from Deep Purple) all do either traditional stuff or trad-inspired tunes, and that's just the stuff I found looking at the pile of cd's on my desk within easy reach...
Cuaglar
12-12-07, 04:43 PM There's a short song by John Denver that would do well for a wandering bard. It sounds kinda cheesy, but in words it sounds a little better:

Lost and alone on some forgotten pathway,
Travelled by many, remembered by few.
Looking for something that I can believe in,
Looking for something that I'd like to do
With my life.

There's nothing behind me, and nothing that ties me to
Something that might have been true
Yesterday.
Tomorrow is open, right now that seems more than enough,
To just be here today

And I don't know what the future is holding in store,
I don't know where I'm going, I'm not sure where I've been
...
Crud. Forgot the rest. Sorry!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mr. the Hun 10-16-07, 09:28 AM	I'm going to be playing a rogue/bard in an upcoming pirate campaign, and I'm looking for some decent, fantasy-esque songs that I can actually sing at the table when I'm doing my bardic music. The character is a halfling pirate captain, from a Scottish-esque country. Barring the obvious "A Pirate's Life for Me." Some of the ideas I have are the classic "The Edge of Night" from RotK, as well as a plethora of orchestrated songs from a BBC radio play production of LotR. I stole a few from a production of Twelfth Night I'm in and also a mildly edited version of 'Shenandoah." Any other suggestions/ideas for suitable music?
Kolytszusk 10-16-07, 11:55 AM	Shamandalie by Sonata Arctica?
Olpolokk 10-16-07, 03:03 PM	I had gone down that road and believe me in the end of it you will only find embarrassment but if you decide to do It anyway I recommend you to make up your own songs thats always fun.
Master_Vega 10-16-07, 09:28 PM	Hope you're good at singing. :P Another thing you might try is reading a few epics like Beowulf or the Iliad (really, really hated the Iliad, but it could help you). Look for passages that might reference strength, or wit, or whatever pertains to the emotion/ability your are trying to inspire. Now take whatever legends are in the setting your playing, and write verses similar (not copying or altering the inspiring verses) to the lines you liked. This is probably better for a bard who uses Perform (Oratory), but it's an idea. You could probably pull singing off if you're any good at writing music... and you can stand the corny feeling you'll get when singing about epic characters you or your DM made up. :P
Operation_Shoestring 10-17-07, 05:59 AM	March of Cambreath is a good one for inspiring courage. Song of Freedom could be a song from Les Miserables.
Thief_of_Hope 10-18-07, 02:46 AM	Find some of the songs from the Playstation 2 and PC game "The Bard's Tale". At least, if you'd like some funny songs. I'm personally fond of "Beer Beer Beer" and "Bad Luck". :P You can probably find them on Youtube.
Master_Vega 10-18-07, 01:45 PM	Find some of the songs from the Playstation 2 and PC game "The Bard's Tale". At least, if you'd like some funny songs. I'm personally fond of "Beer Beer Beer" and "Bad Luck". :P You can probably find them on Youtube. Xbox as well. :P It cracks me up that the songs are in sing-along format, too. lol!
booze 10-18-07, 03:52 PM	the obvious (not really that pirat-themed but well fitting for any bard) Blind Guardian - The Bard's Song (In the Forest) Now You all know The bards and their songs When hours have gone by I'll close my eyes In a world far away We may meet again But now hear my song About the dawn of the night Let's sing the bards' song Tomorrow will take us away Far from home No one will ever know our names But the bards' songs will remain Tomorrow will take it away The fear of today It will be gone Due to our magic songs There's only one song Left in my mind Tales of a brave man Who lived far from here Now the bard songs are over And it's time to leave No one should ask You for the name Of the one Who tells the story Tomorrow will take us away Far from home Noone will ever know our names But the bards' songs will remain Tomorrow all will be known And You're not alone So don't be afraid In the dark and cold 'Cause the bards' songs will remain They all will remain In my thoughts and in my dreams They're always in my mind These songs of hobbits, dwarves and men And elves Come close Your eyes You can see them, too
Moonslayer 10-18-07, 04:47 PM	I'd suggest looking for some songs by the Irish Rovers. They do a lot of traditional Irish folk music, might be something there for ou.
Master_Vega 10-18-07, 06:16 PM	Speaking of the above-mentioned stuff, Men of Worth has some good -and often, but not always, funny- Irish/Scottish folk music.
Mr_Seth 10-18-07, 07:19 PM	"Salty Dog", by Flogging Molly. Absolutely ANYTHING by Blind Guardian - especially anything from Nightfall in Middle-Earth. "The Bard's Song", above, is from that album. Dragonforce, likewise, has the right theme, but is far too hard, and you'd have to pick through the lyrics. I admit, "Valley of the Damned" is a favorite of mine for cleric/bards with the Glory domain. "Low Man's Lyric", by Metallica. I'm loathe to mention them, but the hurdy-gurdy music in this one won't leave my head. "Rainmaker", by Brother. Most of their stuff is gold - www.brothermusic.com has some song clips. Whilst dealing with bumpkins, "The Second Week of Deer Camp", by Das Yoopers. I'm pretty sure that's misspelled, but it's riotous.
NightHawkFalconis 10-19-07, 12:19 AM	The absolute best song ever for a seafaring campaign: "St. Brendan's Faire Isle." Terrific song for it; in fact I've been thinking of running a campaign based entirely off the song... >.> :D
Operation_Shoestring 10-19-07, 03:57 PM	oooh, oooh, fr inspire greatness, use Mulan's "be a man!" only works for a male character but funny.
carl_brisgamer 11-13-07, 11:18 PM	I started playing a bard in Living Greyhawk only recently and have taken to writing songs at the table about the action/PC/NPC/places. Then I perform them at some point during the adventure as part of my character's bardsong. It can be difficult and the results aren't exactly award winning but it is a lot of fun and the DM usually gives a circumstance bonus to my perform check! For example: “The Ballad of Lady Gertrude” (sung to the tune of Greensleeves) Written by the bard Artanis Knarf in Patchwall CY597. The song was first performed by Artanis at the Griffon’s Nest Inn, River Quarter, Free City of Greyhawk (DC40 Perform check). "A maiden fair in Greyhawk born, With flaxen hair and eyes of blue, Her beauty rivals the glowing dawn, Her heart a beacon of courage true. She travelled far to learn her trade, To ride and fight with sword and lance, First a squire then a knight was made, An expert player of the deadly dance. To the Flanaess’ Jewel she has returned, A mail clad champion of truth and law, Battling evil at every turn, A shining paragon of honour."
keepu 11-19-07, 04:58 PM	If you're still looking, you might try poking around here: http://www.chivalry.com/jollyrogers/C3Lyrics.htm
Benghazi 11-24-07, 02:28 PM	Rebels of the Sacred Heart, Salty Dog, and Seven Deadly Sins, all by Flogging Molly, are great pirate songs.
Mrculex99 11-26-07, 01:38 PM	Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot. He was not afraid to die, O brave Sir Robin! He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways, Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin! He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp, Or to have his eyes gouged out, and his elbows broken; To have his kneecaps split, and his body burned away; And his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Robin! His head smashed in and his heart cut out And his liver removed and his bowels unplugged And his nostrils raped and his bottom burned off And his pen--
Shiftkitty 11-26-07, 03:12 PM	"Get Up and Bar the Door" is a vintage medieval tune I found while looking for the lyrics to one with a misleading title. ("Fly Up My C*ck" isn't what it sounds like...:P ) "Get Up and Bar the Door" is also pretty funny, if a little raunchy. It's about a stubborn couple, a cold night, and a couple of horny burglars.
Jager Mage 11-28-07, 02:53 AM	I don't know who did it originally, but Metallica's cover of Whiskey in the Jar is also a good pirate-esque song.
Shiftkitty 11-28-07, 03:08 PM	If you've got a really raunchy bent, you can always sing "The Good Ship Venus". When I first heard it, I was surprised to see it in the movie credits as a "traditional".
KIDS 11-28-07, 04:39 PM	I am a bit skeptical towards singing at gaming table but again, it depends on you as a person and on your gaming group. Most I know would start cracking silly jokes... Anyways, one nice pirate/sea/outlaw song I love is Smuggler, by McCalmans who perform Scottish folk. Likewise, that kind of folk music (and Irish too) has many good songs, not necessarily sea themed but kind of what one would expect of a bard to sing. Best luck to you! SMUGGLER 1) The boat rides south o' Ailsa Craig, in the waning of the light, there's thirty men in Lendalfit, tae mak our burden light. There's thirty horse at Hazelholm, with the halters on their heads, all set this night upon you hight, if wind and water speed. Ch: Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine, and the darkest night is the smuggler's time, away we run from the exciseman, it's a smuggler's life for me, it's a smuggler's life for me. 2) O lass ye hae a cosy bed, and cattle ye hae ten, can ye no live a lawful life, and live wi' lawful men. But must I live with hamely goods, while there's foreign gear sae fine, must I drink at the waterside, and France sae full of wine. Ch: Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine, and the darkest night is the smuggler's time, away we run from the exciseman, it's a smuggler's life for me, it's a smuggler's life for me. 3) O weel I like tae see ye Kate, with the bairnie on thy knee, but my heart is now wi' the gallant crew, that plough thro' the angry sea, the bitter-gales, the tightest sales, the sheltered bay our goal. It's the wayward life, it's the smuggler's strife, it's the joy of the smuggler's soul. Ch: Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine, and the darkest night is the smuggler's time, away we run from the exciseman, it's a smuggler's life for me, it's a smuggler's life for me. 4) And when at last the sun comes up, and the cargo safely stored, like sinless saints to church we go, God's mercy to afford, and it's champagne fine for communion wine, and the parson drinks it too, with a sly wink prays, 'forgive these men, for they know not what they do.' Ch: Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine, and the darkest night is the smuggler's time, away we run from the exciseman, it's a smuggler's life for me, it's a smuggler's life for me.
Mad_Jack 12-11-07, 10:33 AM	Google traditional Celtic music and you can come up with tons of stuff... Modern bands that do covers of medieval and rennaisance songs can be found if you know where to look... Metallica's Whiskey In The Jar is a traditional Irish tune. The Corrs, Gaelic Storm, Celtic Woman, Loreena McKennitt, Susan McKeown, and Blackmore's Night (Ritchie Blackmore, from Deep Purple) all do either traditional stuff or trad-inspired tunes, and that's just the stuff I found looking at the pile of cd's on my desk within easy reach...
Cuaglar 12-12-07, 04:43 PM	There's a short song by John Denver that would do well for a wandering bard. It sounds kinda cheesy, but in words it sounds a little better: Lost and alone on some forgotten pathway, Travelled by many, remembered by few. Looking for something that I can believe in, Looking for something that I'd like to do With my life. There's nothing behind me, and nothing that ties me to Something that might have been true Yesterday. Tomorrow is open, right now that seems more than enough, To just be here today And I don't know what the future is holding in store, I don't know where I'm going, I'm not sure where I've been ... Crud. Forgot the rest. Sorry!