Shanties from Across the Empire

Shanties from Across the Empire
Literature
Author	Eliot Backwell
Genre	Poetry
Printer	Langdrum and Sons

“Shanties from Across the Empire” is a collection of several dozen sea shanties compiled by a retired sailor, Eliot Backwell. When he retired at the age of fifty-seven after spending almost his whole life serving on all manner of naval vessels (merchant vessels, fishing ships, and Imperial battleships), he was approached by Langdrum and Sons to present his accumulated nautical tunes. Published in 300 AC, the short book is commonly found around the port of many different cities across Aloria. ((The following texts are excerpts and do not reflect the full possible text.))

Shanties from Across the Empire

Ithanian Women

I’ve taken my ship from port to port, all over Aloria

But I never found a treasure worth half as much as a woman from Ithania.

The beauties up in Isldar have hair as white as snow

With glacier eyes and skin like ice, but hearts that’re just as cold

I’ve taken my ship from port to port, all over Aloria

But I never found a treasure worth half as much as a woman from Ithania.

If you take a wife in Regalia, it won’t be a life of peace

She’s a pretty little frau, she’s a jewel in the crown, but she’ll cost as much at least

I’ve taken my ship from port to port, all over Aloria

But I never found a treasure worth half as much as a woman from Ithania.

I met a lass in Farahdeen who was surely like no other

But I’m ashamed to say that I was kept at bay by her old Songaskian father.

I’ve taken my ship from port to port, all over Aloria

But I never found a treasure worth half as much as a woman from Ithania.

To Regalia

The mustering hall, the inn the tavern

that’s where you’ll find them all they’re havin’

a drink a brawl

a girl a friend

So gather round ye maids and men.

And hark ye now, come sit a while

till dark is out and when sun rises

we’ll talk and sing

drink and fight

For in Regalia this is life

To Regalia! In Regalia!

The girls’ll make a man o’ ya!

To Regalia! Set your sails abroad!

It’s better than the lives we know back home.

We’ve dreamed so long to go and finally

sing this song and now we know that it

won’t be long

and soon we’ll see

What makes Regalians Royalty.

The mustering hall, the inn the tavern

that’s where you’ll find them all they’re havin’

a drink a brawl

a girl a friend

So gather round ye maids and men.

The Noble

Never met a man who couldn’t be a sailor

(Working on the Noble)

The captain was an Allar and his first mate was Ailor

(The ship we called her Noble)

Working on the Noble

The ship we called her Noble

Anyone alive could work on the freighter

(Working on the Noble)

With an eye on the stars was an Ashan navigator

(The ship we called her Noble)

The chief cook was a stout man four feet tall

(Working on the Noble)

The rats and mice ran through the hall

(The ship we called her Noble)

Working on the Noble

The ship we called her Noble

Steward was an Ero whose Common was broken

(Working on the Noble)

And the second mate a Maraya couldn’t give an order spoken

(The ship we called her Noble)

Scrubbing off the barnacles a Qadir lad was prowling

(Working on the Noble)

And to sound the dinner bell was a Avanthar howling

(The ship we called her Noble)

Working on the Noble

The ship we called her Noble

All Ships to Hadar

There was once an empire in the land known as Hadar,

Home to the reptilian race of the Naylar,

When they planned an invasion, action had to be taken,

So when Regalia attacked, Hadar was already forsaken.