Sing me a song of the thunder and rain,
Sing me a song of the flowering fields,
Sing me a song of the mountains of snow,
And I'll sing you a song of the Northshield.
Sing me a song of the arrow and ax,
Sing me a song of the fury of steel,
Sing me a song of the rapier's bite,
And I'll sing you a song of the Northshield.
Sing me a song of the horse and the hound,
Sing me a song of the turn of the wheel,
Sing me a song of the light of the Star,
And I'll sing you a song of the Northshield.
Sing me a song to chase sorrow and pain,
Sing me a song of our fates that are sealed.
Never will we be alone or afraid,
For we sing the song of the Northshield.
Intended for Northshield Coronet Tourney and Investiture in Coldedernhale, November 11, A.S. XXXV
©9/10/00 J. Friedman
I have already complained on my webpage about how bad my first performance of this song was, through no fault of my own. It was a genuine bardic disaster that won't be rehashed here. But I am glad to say that it has survived and people actually seem to like it now. It helps if people can bang along on something as I sing it--maybe it gratifies people's need to participate? We are very participatory in Northshield bardic circles. Anyway, the rhythm of the song thrives on a good steady insistent beat (unlike some of my songs which need flexibility, and get boxed into a corner when someone who doesn't know the song starts banging away in accompaniment).
Let it be said, however: this is the closest I'll ever come to a song about war or martial activities.