"Legionnaires"

Juan Carlos Santiago y Benevidez de Villa Lobos
March 2,
AS XXXIII
1999 Gregorian

A long, long while ago
I can still remember, though,
(The memory, it makes me smile)
The kings of Ansteorra and
Trimaris came to our fair land
And made themselves a war here for a while.

The march weather made us shiver,
with every raindrop it delivered,
the pain in every instep
as all the marching men step.
All the warriors stood hard by
When they saw black tabards fly
It scared them all so deep inside
The day the kings all cried...
Oh...

(Refrain)
"Hey there, you Legionnaires,
Lend us your shields, for we have no time to spare,
There's a cadre of knights giving our line the stare,
And can't you see our flanks are all bare
Can't you see our flanks are all bare."

Kane said, "show us your treasure trove,
And if you've got gold enough,
Then my men will follow you;
But if you don't have a lot of beer
Then I and my lads will fly from here
And give the other side our shields and bows."

Well, Gulf Wars came and went that year,
And warriors from both far and near
They all said our times would come;
(You should've seen how fast they'd run!)
They were a motley band, and had some pluck,
With our scutums high, and their heads all ducked,
But they knew that they were out of luck
The day the kings all cried.
The kings were shouting...

(Refrain)

We've spent the years hiring out our own,
Earned gold, and beer, and high renown,
And showed them how it oughta' be.
We're all Jesters to the King and Queen,
But on the field we're fighting mean,
I tell you we're a sight to see.

Oh, and if the king is looking down,
Our warhorns ‘round him, they resound,
The court has been adjourned;
the time for war's returned!
And while heralds read letters of marque,
Our fighters practice in the park,
Our foes sing dirges in the dark,
The day the kings all cried.
They were crying...

(Refrain)

Fighters yelp, and in the summer swelter,
from our merry men there is no shelter,
Our lines move advancing fast.
We'll knock you down on the grass,
And laugh as you fall on your ass,
We'll fight you all, right down to the very last.

Now the spring air is sweet perfume,
And Thunder plays a marching tune,
Your lines try to advance,
Oh, but you never get the chance.
‘Cause our fighters move to take the field,
Our shield walls, they refuse to yield,
But, don't you know, your fates were sealed,
The day the kings all cried?
The started crying...

(Refrain)

Our lines advance at easy pace
To put our weapons in your face.
It's too late now to run away.
Oh, you may be nimble, and even quick,
But our polearms never miss a flick,
And you lie dead now in the fray.

And now, looked on by knave and page,
Your fists balled up in useless rage,
Like angels born of Hell,
We marched on as your lines fell.
Now as we party on, into the night,
our vict'ry pyres burning bright,
Our band recalls with great delight
The day the kings all cried.
They were crying...

(Refrain)

Lady Ilissa's dancing now,
She passes as we deeply bow,
Then she just smiles and turns away.
We sent someone down to the store,
And we got drunk likeyears before,
And Rolling Thunder'd brought their drums to play.

And now the time has come again,
For battling armies, marching men,
The battle plans are spoken,
"Our lines will not be broken."
But now the ones you fear the most,
Sir Kane, and his unholy host,
We're packed and headed for the coast,
To hear the kings all cry.
And they'll be crying...

(Refrain)

(Repeat Refrain, slowly and softly)

==
Juan Carlos Santiago y Benevidez de Villa Lobos
mka Leif Hassell
Evensong Forest (Jonesboro, AR)
juanofevensong@yahoo.com
Per Bend Sinister Gules and Sable, a Bend Sinister Argent,
a Wolf's Head Argent in base, a Quill Argent in chief.
(Pending Heraldic approval)