The SCA birthday song

2008-01-03T20:43:58Z

Revengeofthenerds: /* The Birthday Dirge */

The '''SCA birthday song''' is an old, but happy [[tradition]]. It seems to have fallen out of favour recently (mostly because no-one can remember the words).
This [[song]] has has several names, such as 'The [[SCA]] Birthday Dirge', 'The [[Barbarian]] Birthday Song', 'The [[Viking]] Birthday Song' etc. and is sung to the tune of 'The Volga Boatmen'. After each "Happy birthday" is sung/chanted, it is followed by a thud or grunt you get if you lift something heavy. This isn't a copyrighted song, and variations run free through the [[SCA]] and can be found '''everywhere'''. There are loads of variations, but here are several:

== The Birthday Dirge ==

Happy Birthday! ''thud!'' Happy Birthday! ''thud!'' 
#Now you've aged another year Now you know that Death is near Happy Birthday! ''thud!'' Happy Birthday! ''thud!''
##So you've aged another year Now you know that Death is near
#Children dying far and near They say that cancer's caused by [[beer]]
##Children dying everywhere Women crying in despair
#Death, destruction, and despair People dying everywhere
##Doom and gloom and dark despair People dying everywhere!
##Doom, destruction, and despair Grief and sorrow fill the air
##Doom, destruction, and despair People dying everywhere
##Death and gloom and black despair People dying everywhere
##Pain destruction and despair People dying everywhere
#Typhoid, [[plague]] and polio [[Coffin]]s lined up in a row
#Now that you're the age you are Your demise cannot be far
##Now you are the age you are Your demise cannot be far
##When you've reached the age you are Your demise cannot be far

Other popular verses: 
#[[Black Death]] has just struck your town You yourself feel quite run-down
##Pestilence has struck your town You yourself feel quite run-down
#Birthdays come but once a year Marking time as Death draws near
#Long ago your hair turned grey Now it's falling out, they say
##Soon your hair will all turn grey Then fall out (or so they say)
#So you're 29 again Don't tell lies to your good friend
#So another year has passed Don't look now they're gaining fast!
#Fear and gloom and darkness but no one found out YOU KNOW WHAT
#It's your birthday never fear You'll be dead this time next year
#You must [[marriage|marry]] very soon Baby's due the next full moon
#Were I sitting in your [[shoe]]s I'd go out and sing the blues
#Though you're turning 29 Age to you is like fine [[wine]]
#Now you've lived another year age to you is like stale beer

The Viking/Barbarian Verses: 
#Burn the [[castle]] and storm the [[keep]] Kill the women, but save/spare the [[sheep]]
##Hear the women wail and weep Kill them all, but save/spare the sheep
##May the women wail and weep kill them all, but save/spare the sheep
##Women wail and men do weep kill them all, but save/spare the sheep
#Burn, then rape by firelight Add _romance_ to life tonight
#Indigestion's what you get From the enemies you 'et
#May the [[candle]]s on your cake Burn like [[city|cities]] in your wake.
##May the cities in your wake Burn like candles on your [[cake]],
#May the children in the street Be your barbequeing [[meat]]
##We love children, yes we do Baked or broiled or in a stew
#May your deeds with sheep and yaks Equal those with sword and axe
##May your deeds with [[sword]] and [[axe]] Equal those with sheep and yaks
#They stole your sword, your [[gold]], your house (They) Took your sheep but not your spouse
#This one lesson you must learn First you pillage, then you burn
#While you eat your birthday stew We will loot the town for you.

The SCA Verses: 
#We brought [[linen]], [[white]] as cloud Now we'll sit and sew your shroud
#You're a [[period]] [[cook]], its true Ask the beetles in the stew
#Your [[servant]]s steal, your wife's untrue Your children plot to [[murder]] you

And yet another version:
Death destruction and despair,
people dying everywhere.

May the Candles on your cake,
burn like cities in your wake.

I like children yes I do,
baked or boiled or in a stew.

[[category:SCAism]]

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The SCA birthday song