Today I happened to go by the Niederhafen docks, and caught sight of a ship sailing out of Altdorf towards Marienburg and presumably farther shores. As the crew worked under the sails, they sang this little ditty that caught my fancy. Stangely enough this song was accompanied on a concert flute by a man capering about on deck, sometimes standing on one leg. An impressive feat indeed, although I’m not sure where he pilfered the flute.

The wind is on the river and the tide has turned too late,
so we’re sailing for another shore where some other ladies wait.
To throw us silken whispers: catch us by the anchor chains –
But we all laugh so politely and we sail on just the same.

For Karl and Country in the long dying day,
And it’s been this way for five long years,
since we signed our souls away.

We bring back gold and ivory; rings of diamonds; strings of pearls –
make presents to the government
so they can have their social whirl

With Karl and Country in the long dying day.
And it’s been this way for five long years
since we signed our souls away.

They build schools and they build factories
With the spoils of battles won.
And we remain their pretty sailor boys –
hold our heads up to the gun

Of Karl and Country in the long dying day.
And it’s been this way for five long years
since we signed our souls away.

To Karl and Country in the long dying day.
And it’s been this way for five long years
since we signed our souls away.

Adolphus Altdorfer
Konistag, Sommerzeit 9, 2522 IC

Since the last post gave the link to the excellent Under the Sails by Leif Ulrich Schrader, I couldn’t resist adapting Jethro Tull’s song Queen and Country to the Old World.

Well, “adapting” is a bit of a strong word. I substituted “Queen” for “Karl”, and that’s about it. It’s a great song, though. In case you’re wondering, that guy with the flute that Altdorfer took note off is the WFRP equvivalent of Ian Anderson, front man of Jethro Tull. I’ll stat him one day.

Magnus