Ballads of Soldiery, by Christopher d'Ibelin

[thesmellypocket 1859]

A Collection of Ballads either compiled or authored by Christopher d'Ibelin, a soldier of the Honour Guard of Lorraine. 

 

LORRAINE

Over the Hills and Far Away

 

 

Hark now the drums beat up again

For all true soldier gentlemen,

Then let us list and march, I say,

Over the Hills and far away.

 

Over the hills and o'er the lands,

From d’Amaury to the Marchands,

Duke Lothaire commands and we'll obey,

Over the hills and far away.

 

All gentlemen that have a mind,

To serve Lorraine, that's good and kind,

Come list and enter into pay,

Then over the hills and far away.

 

Over the hills and o'er the lands,

From d’Amaury to the Marchands,

Duke Lothaire commands and we'll obey,

Over the hills and far away.

 

No more from sound of drum retreat,

While cavalry and footmen beat,

Bandits and Blackguards every day,

When over the hills and far away.

 

Over the hills and o'er the lands,

From d’Amaury to the Marchands,

Duke Lothaire commands and we'll obey,

Over the hills and far away.

 

(Sung only by common soldiery)

Old Augustus e’up and scratched his bum,

He says ‘Dreadlands ,lads, thee’s ‘ad thee fun

My men-at-arms will win the day

When over the hills and far away.’

 

Over the hills and o'er the lands,

From d’Amaury to the Marchands,

Duke Lothaire commands and we'll obey,

Over the hills and far away.

 

There’s ‘fifty minas on the drum,

For those who volunteer to come,

To list and fight the foe to day,

Over the hills and far away.

 

Over the hills and o'er the lands,

From d’Amaury to the Marchands,

Duke Lothaire commands and we'll obey,

Over the hills and far away.

 

Men of Metz

 

 

 

 

Hark I hear the foe advancing

Barbed steeds are proudly prancing,

Helmets in the sunbeams glancing

For God and my right!

Men of Metz lie ye dreaming?

See ye not their falchions gleaming?

While their penons gaily streaming

For God and my right!

From the rocks rebounding

Let the war cry sounding

Summon all at Lorraine’s Call

The haughty for surrounding!

 

Men of Metz on to glory

See your banner famed in story,

Waves these burning words before ye,

For God and my right!

Men of Metz! In the Hollow,

Do ye hear like rushing billow

Wave on wave that surging follow

Battle's distant sound?

 

Tis the tramp of enemy foemen,

Enemy spearmen, Enemy bowmen,

Be they knights or hinds or yeomen,

They shall bite the ground!

Loose the folds asunder,

Flag we conquer under!

The placid sky now bright on high,

Shall launch its bolts in thunder!

Onward! 'tis the country needs us,

He is bravest, he who leads us

Honor's self now proudly heads us,

Freedom, God and Right!

 

The Ramblin' Soldier

 

 

I am a soldier, blythe and gay,

That’s rambled for promotion.

I’ve laid the foe and blackguard low;

Some miles I’ve crossed the ocean.

I’ve travelled Lorraine and Crownlands, too,

I’ve travelled bonny mountains through,

I’ve caused some pretty girls to rue,

I’m a roving, rambling soldier.

 

When I was young and in me prime,

Twelve years I went recruiting

From crownlands to the Lorraine,

Wher’er there was no shooting.

I led a gay and splendid life,

In every town a different wife;

And seldom was there any strife

With the roving, rambling soldier.

 

In Johan’s town I courted Jane,

Her sister and her mother;

I mean to say, when I was there,

They were jealous of each other.

Our orders came, I had to start.

I left poor Jane with a broken heart.

Then straight to Metz I did depart,

The roving, rambling soldier.

 

With the blooming lasses in each town,

No man was ever bolder;

I thought that I was doing right,

As the Duke did want young soldiers.

I told them tales of fond delight,

I kept recruiting day and night,

And when I had made all things right,

Off went the rambling soldier.

 

Lothaire permission granted me

To range the country over,

From the Library to the capital,

From Metz down, and all over!

And in whatever town I went,

To court all damsels I was bent,

And to marry none was my intent,

But live a rambling soldier.

 

And now the wars are at an end,

I’m not ashamed to mention

His Grace will give me my discharge;

Minai and a pension.

No doubt some lasses will me blame,

But never once they can me shame,

And if you want to know my name:

It’s the Ramblin’ Soldier.

 

Lorraine's Rangers

 

 

In our army we’re the best,

From the north, south, east and west,

The best of boys are following the drum!

We’re mighty hard to beat,

I may say without conceit,

Faith, the enemy, are welcome when they come!

 

Be they Dwarves, Orcs or Elves,

Why, we’ll beat them ourselves!

We’re the boys to give them sugar in their tea!

 

For we’re Lorraine’s rangers,

The lads to face all dangers,

Gold in peace, steel in war,

Clear the way!

 

You may talk about your squires, boys,

Your mercenaries to hire, boys,

Your holy orders and noble Dwarves - without the forts!

The girls we drive ‘em crazy,

The foe, we beat them easy.

The rangers from old Metz....Huzzah!

The land across the sea!

 

Twas Barabanov who said,

As Adria he led,

“My Crows, are them the rangers, do you know?”

“Da” Says Crow “There’s no mistake! To our heels we better take!”

“I think it’s time for you and I to go!”

When friend or foe hears their step,

It makes their hearts to leap,

“Arrgh jewels, drink you to Edmond’s Day?”

 

For we’re Lorraine’s Rangers,

The boys to fear no dangers,

And we’re the lads who always take the sway.

 

You may talk about your squires, boys,

Your mercenaries to hire, boys,

Your holy orders and noble Dwarves - without the forts!

The girls we drive ‘em crazy,

The foe, we beat them easy.

The rangers of Lorraine....Huzzah!

The land across the sea!

 

Now there isn’t far to search for the lads who best can march,

The lads that never fear the longest day,

Faith, you easily will know, their dashing step will show,

Tis Lorraine’s boys who always lead the way.

If me words perhaps ye doubt, come join ‘em on a route,

I’m thinking you’ll not find it quite a treat!

You’ll see them in the van, you may catch them if you can,

Faith, you’ll have to travel fast or you’ll be late!

 

You may talk about your squires, boys,

Your mercenaries to hire, boys,

Your holy orders and noble Dwarves - without the forts!

The girls we drive ‘em crazy,

The foe, we beat them easy.

The rangers of Lorraine....Huzzah!

The land across the sea!

 

The Knights of Lorraine

 

 

Some talk of Saint Edmond,

And some Prophet Godfrey,

Of Ashfords and Horens,

Gallant in the Melee.

 

But of all the world’s brave heroes,

There’s none that can compare…

To the tow-row-row-row-row-row,

Of the Knights of Lorraine!

 

When’er we are commanded,

To storm the palisades,

Our leaders march with halberds,

And we with gleaming blades.

We charge for the breach,

Ever the foe’s bane,

And sing tow-row-row-row-row-row to the Knights of Lorraine!

 

Then let us fill a bumper,

And drink a health to those,

Who carry swords and shields,

And wear our Archduke’s clothes,

May they and their commanders,

Live happy and not slain…

With a tow-row-row-row-row-row to the Knights of Lorraine!

 

Chambery Lads

 

 

 

Away, brave boys, to Chambery jig,

The girls to kiss, the whiskey swig,

And each as merry as a grig…

Sing one and ALL!

 

But he that will not with us jog,

Shall kiss no girls and drink no grog,

For that he is a sorry dog…

Sing one and ALL!

 

Then let the bells of old Metz ring,

The Lorraine boys have come to sing,

We’re Chambery Lads, good drink we’ll bring!

Sing one and ALL!

 

To those who stand with sword and pike,

Around the land there’s no dislike,

From those gentlemanly and ladylike…

Sing one and ALL!

 

And those marines, so full of heart,

Shall be feared by those base and smart,

So we can drink, content to part...

Sing one and ALL!

 

Then let the bells of old Metz ring,

The Lorraine boys have come to sing,

We’re Chambery Lads, good drink we’ll bring!

Sing one and ALL!

 

And when these times are at an o'er,

Our services required no more,

We'll hail again our native shore...

Sing one and ALL!

 

And then good Chambery's volunteers, 

Shall meet kind, good; hearty cheers, 

Plenty of wine and good strong beer...

For one and ALL!

 

Then let the bells of old Metz ring,

The Lorraine boys have come to sing,

We’re Chambery Lads, good drink we’ll bring!

Sing one and ALL!

[Anderssn 1115]

"Very P O W E R F U L." Says Cullen Uhtredsson to the soldier.

[thesmellypocket 1859]

6 hours ago, SaintPaint said:

"Very P O W E R F U L." Says Cullen Uhtredsson to the soldier.

"Thank you, sir." The soldier replies with a sharp salute.

[Wendigo 786]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.