Ban the Fencers We won't put up with those! Then lie here and keep them all good company!" Duke William has sworn he will hear your death-rattle chorus words Traditional (adapted from Child #4) And take all of England to have and to hold Here in the Western kingdom music by Lisa Theriot We're inclusive as can be Yeah, ban the fencers © 1997 Raven Boy Music Now just two weeks before at a bridge up in Stamford We'd never rain on your parade Who are they to act like knights? King Harold had sent his own brother below Just 'cause we don't agree And that white scarf just makes me barf But now he faced William's knights armored for There's lots of ways to play this game We'll soon set things to right battle We want you to have fun We're gonna ban the fencers And fought us as though he were shod all in stone We'd never tell you what to do Visby 'Cause they don't know right from wrong Or what should not be done And if you should see to disagree chorus "Come sail to the mainland", they said to me, Then you'd best move along! If you are of the Nipponese "And there achieve our liberty King Harold was dead and his army was shattered Well, that's all right with us Adventure in battle and riches we'll find words and music by JP Andrews As we marched out of Hastings for old London Town We'll let you be a Samurai And leave this prison rock far behind." © Raven Boy Music, ASCAP We circled that city for two weeks unceasing And we'll not make a fuss But I do not share their lust or greed Then marched into London to see William crowned Sure, Western Europe's more our style To be a warrior is not to be freed But you're free to play your game This is my homeland, this island dear But we've word from the North the resistance is We'd never want to hem you in My heart's desire is nowhere if not here forming 'Cause it's really all the same Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight With traitors and rebels to Duke William's crown And I could never leave here if I tried We'll ride down upon them and cut them back chorus: In this traditional ballad, the bad guy makes the mistake of messing with a My every dream comes back in with the tide quickly But ban the fencers maiden on May Day, and finds himself neatly outsmarted (and dead). The And return here to London 'fore the snow hits the They're all hopeless thugs and thieves general moral here is that women are at their most dangerous when they chorus: get quiet... ground They're dangerous, too brightly dressed The world is nothing but a piece of land And recreating sleaze And fame and glory fit in the palm of your hand Lady Isabel sat at her window a-sewing chorus Let's ban the fencers Death will find me where I am today (Aye, as the gowans grow gay) 'Cause with us they don't belong And home is ever calling me to stay. When she heard an elf-knight on his bright horn words and music by JP Andrews And if you should see to disagree a-blowing © Raven Boy Music, ASCAP Then you'd best move along And so the restless ones put to sea (On the first morning in May) Only to find their lives to be And if you don't like costumes As empty as ever they were yesterday Oh, I wish I'd that horn that I hear blow so clearly And sewing is a bore Believing their dreams were one day away Agincourt And yonder elf-knight for to love me so dearly Just come to court in worn-out jeans We'd never ask for more And as their wooden ships sail out into the night I left my home to take the coin This maiden had scarcely the fatal words spoken It's more important what's inside I set my wood ablaze and build the fire bright King Henry's army for to join When in at her window the elf-knight has broken Than what you won't put on A knightly fee I seek to hold We'd never tell you differently chorus A belt to wear, and spurs of gold "It is a strange matter, fair maiden," said he For that would just be wrong "I canna blaw horn but you call out to me" words by Ken and Lisa Theriot Two accolades had King Henry And if you are of the Mongol Horde music by Ken Theriot Just one would be enough for me "But will you gang down unto yon greenwoodside Well, you need not come to court © Raven Boy Music, ASCAP So off we march from keep and town Come take a fair horse and together we'll ride" What does that matter, anyhow? To win my King a second crown With you we'll still consort He's leapt on a horse, and she on another And you can call us "chugwa" chorus: And they have gone down to the greenwood together Hastings 1066 Well, that just means "not tribe" For God, Saint George, and King Henry We're mindful of your hopes and dreams I've brought my men across the sea "Light down ye, light down ye, fair maiden," said he We sailed our way 'cross the treacherous channel Which we would not deride Honor and right we're fighting for "We are come to the place where ye are to die." To confront the usurper with promises old I'll win my spurs at Agincourt To take England's crown or to die in the battle chorus "Hae mercy, hae mercy, Sir Elf-Knight on me That the Duke should be King as King Edward I brought in train nine armored men foretold And when it comes to music 'Til aince more my father and mother I see" And bowmen steady, ten by ten Just play what e'er you will We've taken ship and come to land Twelve hours in ships as the wind blew us onward Beatles filks are quite alright "Well, seven King's daughters here have I slain On Normandy's green earth we stand To the white cliffs of Dover, and then to the shore We never get our fill And ye'll be the eighth will forever remain" We saddled our horses and struck out for Hastings Don't worry 'bout those "period" songs A hundred years of war we've known Where the priests told us that there was land we could Or about the way they're made "Come sit down awhile, rest your head on my knee Our King denied his second throne hold We'd rather hear the raunchy ones That we may take rest here before that I die" We'll beard the lion in his den About the girls you've laid And show the worth of English men! And she stroked his dark head and she whispered sae chorus: sweet So ride, ride, good knights of Normandy chorus So if you ever come up to the West Ready your weapons and pennants so bold You know we'll treat you right That the elf-knight was soon lulled fast, fast asleep Carry the Pope's banner onward before you To Harfleur Town we laid the siege We'll party 'til the cows come home and And England will fall before the winter turns cold Howl at the moon all night And she's taen his ain sword-belt & bound him around And little could I serve my liege We'll tell you, "Welcome to the West And with his ain dirk struck the fiend his death wound My men are sick, the rivers swell At Hastings we waited for Harold in battle How long must we bide here in Hell? Now please take off your clothes!" And sent him a message, his downfall foretold But leave your rapiers behind "Well, if seven King's daughters were slain here by ye Then Holland's men essay the gate For God, Saint George, and King Henry I love the sound of ringing metal defended bravely, but too late We gained a mighty victory Hey, there's one more for the kettle Now the time for long walk meadows Our guns are brought to breach the walls And I return, a squire no more I'm a Duke and you're not Now the summer, now the song And by surrender Harfleur falls I won my spurs at Agincourt! Come and get it while it's hot Borne from dawn 'til evening shadows Just set 'em up, I'll knock 'em down Sweetening scents grow lush and strong chorus Words by Lisa Theriot Pound those guys into the ground Music by Ken and Lisa Theriot I'm here to show you what I've got Cast we off the cloaks of winter King Henry stands in armor clad © 1999 Raven Boy Music 'Cause I'm a Duke and you're not Worn through Springtime's sudden chill And though we fear, our hearts are glad Warm in silence, cool light banter He calls us brothers, happy few When it comes to heavy fighting Bring me 'round your cup to fill I may die my liege, but I'll not shame you! There's some things I really like Portmore Lament First, there's the fact that I'm the winner chorus: At last the French are camped in sight I never have to buy my dinner Let us drink to love in Summer With battle planned for morning's light I love the melody of "Bonny Portmore", but I always thought it was much It doesn't matter what I'm sayin' All that shines and blossoms fair The minstrels sing with all their breath too nice for a tree, so I used it for a woman who dreads the coming Spring It's my will they'll be obeyin' Toast it with the wine of pleasure because she doesn't want to be reminded that life goes on.... The priests prepare our souls for death ('Sides, most people are just weenies Warm the sunlight in my hair All my Queens wear string bikinis!) For sorrow I weep, my heart is full sore But defeat I cannot reckon by I am really hot to trot Rise we in the rose-hued morning That I look for the last time on Bonny Portmore A prisoner I, my men to die? 'Cause I'm a Duke and you're not. Greet the sun to warm the day I've asked forgiveness from the Lord For I never did think I would see such a day Fill the air with sounds of singing So take my soul and bring my sword! That a coach it would be waiting to bear me away. chorus Laugh like children at their play chorus I was but a child when I first came to you Well, those other peers they think Find delight in every hour And as oaks grow from acorns, from children we grew They know a little 'bout the kingdom Warmth and joy to fill our days The Duke of York my men will guard You to Lord of your land, I to be your sweet wife And the way that things should be Newly-sown is now to flower My bowmen in the archers' yard And to dwell in Bonny Portmore all the days of my life. Yeah, but if they did they'd see 'Tis the solstice cup we raise No man may make it back alive That it's the fighting men that matter For each we have, the French have five But how soon we did part, you left before the Spring And the world would surely shatter first chorus And across the sea you traveled at the call of a King If I didn't play the game The battle's joined, the arrows fly Oh, how cruel is cold Fortune, how wicked is Chance Things would never be the same Let us drink to love in Summer The French on horse attack hard by For you lie dead and broken on some field of France. And that's why I'm at the top Time in Autumn to be wise A mighty press, the Duke is down 'Cause I'm a Duke and you're not Toast it with the wine of pleasure What price to pay for Henry's crown? Oh, the oak and the ash, they stand as before Warmed by sunlight in your eyes And the snowdrops wake up from the cold earth once chorus What miracle my eyes have spied more words by Lisa Theriot Our valiant archers turn the tide Oh, bloom not, you flowers, this Spring I would not see Now, I've heard that somewhere out there music by Ken Theriot Before them each a sharpened stave For my love is not coming back to Portmore and me. There some guy who likes to sing © 1997 Raven Boy Music From charging horse their life to save And likes to tell his little stories So farewell to this country, farewell to this day Oh, and wait, there's even more The charge falls back on their own ranks For without your love to bind me I'll no longer stay He's got a little tune he's singin' With arrows in their horses' flanks But if I had you now as I had once before 'Bout some fighters that he's zingin' Son of the Sea The wounded mounts run mad with pain No power under Heaven could make me part from And some say that one's about me The French line breaks, their plans in vain Portmore. But I won't give them cause to doubt me I ride the waves on Ocean Sweeper There's no reason to get hot My ship that bears no scrap of sail By English might the French are pressed words by Lisa Theriot 'Cause I'm a Duke and he's not No oars, but will alone that leads her King Henry fights like one possessed music Traditional/arranged by Lisa Theriot Behind the sun, before the rising gale The Duke will never rise again © 1997 Raven Boy Music I'm a Duke and he's not It falls to me to lead our men He can't block my option shots To Lugh I gave my sword of glory He doesn't even have a Crescent And armor weapons could not rend Will rallied cry our van attacks I'm a Duke and You're Not On the field he isn't present All to defeat the bold Fomorii The archers join with sword and axe I'm a Duke and he's not And so the men of Erin call me friend With banners high we meet the fray And all he can do is natter Well, I've heard some people talkin' Against all odds we win the day! He can have his chitter-chatter 'Bout the high road I've been walkin' chorus: Of the things that really matter Well it's really more about I'm the wind on the ocean, I'm one with the land chorus He's a little, I'm a lot The things that I can't live without I'm the mist rolling over the lea 'Cause I'm a Duke and he's not I have made human history and I am still here To London Town and songs of praise I've got the finest clothes they're makin' And the greatest care I've taken I'm Mannanan, the Son of the Sea In victory we proudly raise chorus The banner of Saint George's cross Not to dress like those below me Yeah, you who used to know me My cloak protects the vales of Erin To cries of, "Deo Gratias" words and music by JP Andrews Won't believe the things I've got And hides the Danaan in its folds © Raven Boy Music, ASCAP No foeman bold, no unbeliever But now I ride for my own lands 'Cause I'm a Duke and you're not Can pierce the secrets that it holds To serve the King as he commands chorus To keep the faith he placed in me My cloak is blue as skies in Summer With grace and might of chivalry Summer Solstice I'm a Duke and you're not And green as grass, and white as lime I can throw those option shots A song for long, warm days and balmy nights.... But shaken once between two lovers LAST: Will sunder them until the end of time Maldon He rises up to meet the sky I never knew that you could do that with a turnip Only to be cut down by the Harvest To eat it would be really such a crime chorus There's something green that's floating in a milky pool of Ealdorman Byrtnoth, King Ethelred's Earl chorus: slime Came riding to town in a fury I soar the skies on heron's feathers Round the seasons come and go My lord, please pass the basket with the bread here one more Come all you Saxons, companions in arms And stooping, dive to skim the sea below High and mighty are laid low time... In Summer sun or stormy weather I will lead you to war and to glory Hand the reaper what you sow From Erin shore to Blessed Isle I go Vikings have landed at Blackwater Bay For you will climb chorus It's revenge and our gold they be wanting But then it's time to be ready for the Harvest [The rancid meat's more period, it helps keep down the The race of man I have befriended But we'll send them our spearpoints and arrows fleas]

To guard your future, shape your past and blades, John Barleycorn will pay the price When on this earth your time is ended And we'll end this before 'morrow's dawning Our daily bread and grain to yield The cook went over budget on the peacock 'Tis I will lead you home at last Cut down as a sacrifice That's why we're getting gruel with every course I'm Aelfhere, the son of a Mercian lord Like youth upon a battlefield They say the candied herring soaked in mead's authentic chorus And I fight for my family and field What a gift he has to give Norse I vowed to this man I would do what I can That he should die that we might live This roasted meat is not half bad, but where's the words by Ken and Lisa Theriot So I took up my broadsword and shield Man can know no greater love Prince's horse? music by Ken Theriot Byrtnoth has chosen bold Maccus and me And we enjoy the blessings of the harvest © 1999, Raven Boy Music To hold off the Danes on the bridgeway And hold them we did 'til his arrogance bid him chorus I don't know how they got that shade of purple To trade in the hunt for the melee I can't begin to guess what's in the pies And in the gather do you feel The fish head stew's okay, but did they need to leave the My Queen Many brave warriors on both sides were lost One more turning of the wheel? eyes? As we yet held our ground from the foe Remember as you sow the seed And will our waivers cover us when everybody dies? These are not the lands that I grew up in But fast flew a spear from the ranks of the Danes The neck that feels the reaper's blade These are not the lands I grew to love And with desperate luck they did throw And so your life becomes indeed chorus These are not the fields that I walked in as a child Into the body of Byrtnoth it cut The corners turned and choices made [Just take the sheep's head right back to the kitchen, will Although the same stars shine above And he's sent to the ground dead and bleeding Remember as you seek the light you please?] And I am not a knight on honor's field Seeing this, Odda's son, Godric turned 'round To every morning comes the night I am no high Officer of State And on his lord's steed he went fleeing And when you feast and have your fill The suckling pig is only raw in places And I have often wondered just what brought me here Don't forget it's only 'til the Harvest I guess a bite of cabbage wouldn't hurt Though God alone must know my fate, but... Now before me were Vikings advancing They say it's more nutritious if you don't wash off the Behind me more Saxons were flying chorus dirt chorus: One choice brings me to my family tonight At least the next remove is safe-- how can they wreck My Queen you will always be And the other means "glory" in dying words and music by Lisa Theriot dessert? My Queen you will always be How could I know they'd forsake us like this © 1999 Raven Boy Music My Queen you will always be Leaving us out here alone? There's something frittered (best not look too closely) But to keep fighting now would be meaningless And sugared eggplant jiggling in the heat I've climbed the highest mountain in Cynagua death The Feast Song The pie looks just like cherry, but it's really made with I've sailed the rolling Mistland sea And a worse sin than I've ever known beet And crossed the burning desert 'neath the Aten sun Just pass the honey butter and I'll have my something To see the crescent moons of fair Caid "Now we must fall with our master," they cried, (note: third line different in each chorus) sweet I've served in courts and carnivals and armies "And we'll live on in song and in story" I'm never late for dining in the feast hall chorus With my own eyes seen the naked truth of war But I'll be damned if I'll die for a stake When dinner's called, I hasten to my seat [And if I ever win the Crown, we're going for Chinese! And through it all I've loved and lost and sown and In a misguided vision of glory It's not that I'm assuming that the meal will be a treat But 'til then just pass the butter reaped I kept my word to Earl Byrtnoth today But the first things on the table may be all I have to eat Let the Cook's Guild moan and mutter And if you'd but ask me I'd do more, for... And I fought 'neath his banner and rod And give me bread and butter, and cheese!] Others may shun me and sully my name chorus But my wife and my children thank God The bread and cheese are laid out on the table words and music by Ken and Lisa Theriot And butter, honeyed, mixed with herbs, or straight © 2000 Raven Boy Music But days of glory all too soon are ended I'm Aelfhere, the son of a Mercian Lord I'll tuck into them greedily and pile them on my plate To the sweetest things there still must come the night And I'll fight for my family and field For then there'll be no room and they'll believe me when And tomorrow's sun will see another hand upon the But different the causes for which men will die I state... throne And the causes for which they will yield Bestowed as prize for courage and for might chorus: Though time and distance someday must divide us Words and music by Ken theriot I'm sure the next remove's not on my diet In far future days that no man's eyes can see © Raven Boy Music, ASCAP I see that I cannot identify it I've heard it said that all men need a goddess or a [I'll pass on all the slimy stuff and anything with peas] Queen Just give me bread and butter, and cheese. And you have been both these to me, and... Harvest There must have been a special on cilantro chorus They tell a tale at Harvest time Or why else would it be in every dish? Of a man they call John Barleycorn They've cooked enough for armies, you can take all that you words and music by JP Andrews A young man cut down in his prime wish © Raven Boy Music, ASCAP So that his soul might be reborn But how much can you eat of boiled snouts and pickled His seed is put into the ground fish? And as the season turns around