“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
Literature
Author
Eliot Backwell
Genre
Poetry
Printer
Langdrum and Sons
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.
All ships to Hadar, all ships to Hadar,
Let us free ourselves from the menace of the Naylar.
All ships to Hadar, all ships to Hadar,
Our navy made us known to them who we truly are.
First Uesston, Allossa, then Ssesollosa fell,
Some had surrendered at first sight and were promised well,
Thanks to the Imperial Navy, we were promised peace,
when Fessa Huallo was brought down to its knees.
All ships to Hadar, all ships to Hadar,
Lets us free ourselves from the menace of the Naylar.
All ships to Hadar, all ships to Hadar,
Our navy made us known to them who we truly are.
Because of the holy war, the city's pride was renewed,
Putting the great nation of Regalia in a confident mood,
May the rest of the world look down to Hadar,
and know how we and we alone defeated the nation of the Naylar.
All ships to Hadar, all ships to Hadar,
Let us free ourselves from the menace of the Naylar.
All ships to Hadar, all ships to Hadar,
Our navy made us known to them who we truly are.
Trivia
Some of the other notable songs include “Highlands”, “Daen Ladies” and “The Coasts of Farah’deen”.
There is talk of a second edition being made to add more songs created due to the First Songaskian War.
