A couple of Sartarite Ditties...

From: Ashley Munday <Ashley.Munday_at_liffe.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 11:19:39 +0100


Sartarite Songs

Collected by Senillius Flat of the EFDSS (Esrolian Folk Dance and Song Society)

Blowing Her Lover's Name


(Written by Erik of Nochet in Sartarite as a lament to Ade of Janstead for his new wedded wife. He was killed in the 1613 rebellion, the day after being married. Translated to Esrolian by SF)

Why do you wake so early my love?
Why is your face so haunted?
I must away, fight the Red Moon,
And I hear the wind calling my name.

Why do you rise so early my love?
Come back to be, be with me,
I can't, I can't, I go war.
And I hear the wind calling my name.

Why do you arm so early my love?
Undress, it's warm with me,
My love, I go to war,
And I hear the wind calling my name.

Why do you ride so early my love?
It's cold, before break of day,
I ride with my liege into a storm,
And I hear the wind calling my name.

The men of Janstead rode away,
'Ere Yelm had risen,
Her love fought and fell at Kallyr's side, And she heard the wind calling his name.

Translator's Notes: A lovely song, sounds a bit better in Sartarite. Their uncouth language nicely counterparts the tenderness of the song. It's written in a traditional style, but the use of certain idioms shows it up to be not strictly traditional, even if it's quite popular in Sartar.

Let's Get Pissed


(Traditional Sartarite, translated by SF)

[chorus]

Well me boys,
Here we are again,
At the closing of the day,
It's night, it's night, there's nought to do, Sooooo lets gets pissed and drown our sorrows!

Well me boys,
I am the Housecarl bold,
The mightiest in the land,
Today I slew the evil Red Moon,
But you were too pissed to notice!

[Chorus]

Well me boys,
I am the Storm Voice wise,
Confident to Orlanth,
Day by day, I talk with the wind,
But tonight it's all hot air and bollocks!

[chorus]

Well me boys,
I am the Earth Mother dear,
Matron of all the land,
During the day I'm all your mums,
But tonight you want to fuck me!

[chorus]

Well me boys,
I am the Trickster sly,
Funniest in all the land,
I dosed the bottles with Senna seed,
So how come I'm constipated?

[chorus]

Well me boys,
I am Babeestor Gor,
Defender of all the Earth,
By day I watch you flaunt your dicks,
But I've got a bigger chopper!

[chorus]

Well me boys,
I am the Spring Virgin pure,
Most virtuous in all the land,
If I get as drunk as you,
Tomorrow I'd be as pure as Thed!

Well me boys,
Here we are again,
At the dawning of the day,
It's light, it's light, there's loads to do, Ooooow shit, why did someone wake us?

Translator's Notes: A rather coarse song from a coarse but emotional people. There are many different versions circulating, some with many more verses. Usually different singers take different verses. It is traditional for the burliest man with the deepest voice to take the part of Voria and the version I saw performed by involved several obscene actions.

Historical Note: Senillius made the mistake of actual publishing his research on Sartarite traditional songs at a time when the Esrolian government had to deal with a major cultural crisis: The matriarchy was having a hard time maintaining it's political and social power after the Lunars were expelled. Certain songs ("Let's Get Pissed", "The Prickly Bush and the Gallows Pole", "The Cuckoos Nest", "Hunting Girl" and "The Nutting Girl") got Senillius into trouble because they implied a disregard for women that some of the populace found offensive.


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