The SCA birthday song: Difference between revisions

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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).
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:
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 ==
== The Birthday Dirge ==
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#Now you've aged another year<br>Now you know that Death is near<br> Happy Birthday! ''thud!'' Happy Birthday! ''thud!''
#Now you've aged another year<br>Now you know that Death is near<br> Happy Birthday! ''thud!'' Happy Birthday! ''thud!''
##So you've aged another year<br>Now you know that Death is near
##So you've aged another year<br>Now you know that Death is near
#Children dying far and near<br>They say that cancer's caused by beer
#Children dying far and near<br>They say that cancer's caused by [[beer]]
##Children dying everywhere<br>Women crying in despair
##Children dying everywhere<br>Women crying in despair
#Death, destruction, and despair<br>People dying everywhere
#Death, destruction, and despair<br>People dying everywhere
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##Death and gloom and black despair<br>People dying everywhere
##Death and gloom and black despair<br>People dying everywhere
##Pain destruction and despair<br>People dying everywhere
##Pain destruction and despair<br>People dying everywhere
#Typhoid, plague and polio<br>Coffins lined up in a row
#Typhoid, [[plague]] and polio<br>[[Coffin]]s lined up in a row
#Now that you're the age you are<br>Your demise cannot be far
#Now that you're the age you are<br>Your demise cannot be far
##Now you are the age you are<br>Your demise cannot be far
##Now you are the age you are<br>Your demise cannot be far
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Other popular verses:<br>
Other popular verses:<br>
#Black Death has just struck your town<br>You yourself feel quite run-down
#[[Black Death]] has just struck your town<br>You yourself feel quite run-down
##Pestilence has struck your town<br>You yourself feel quite run-down
##Pestilence has struck your town<br>You yourself feel quite run-down
#Birthdays come but once a year<br>Marking time as Death draws near
#Birthdays come but once a year<br>Marking time as Death draws near
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#Fear and gloom and darkness but<br>no one found out YOU KNOW WHAT
#Fear and gloom and darkness but<br>no one found out YOU KNOW WHAT
#It's your birthday never fear<br>You'll be dead this time next year
#It's your birthday never fear<br>You'll be dead this time next year
#You must marry very soon<br>Baby's due the next full moon
#You must [[marriage|marry]] very soon<br>Baby's due the next full moon
#Were I sitting in your shoes<br>I'd go out and sing the blues
#Were I sitting in your [[shoe]]s<br>I'd go out and sing the blues
#Though you're turning 29<br>Age to you is like fine wine
#Though you're turning 29<br>Age to you is like fine [[wine]]
#Now you've lived another year<br>age to you is like stale beer
#Now you've lived another year<br>age to you is like stale beer


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


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

Latest revision as of 07:43, 4 January 2008

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!

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

Other popular verses:

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

The Viking/Barbarian Verses:

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

The SCA Verses:

  1. We brought linen, white as cloud
    Now we'll sit and sew your shroud
  2. You're a period cook, its true
    Ask the beetles in the stew
  3. Your servants 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.

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